The Resurgence of Onitsha Market Art And The Theatricality of Prophet Odumeje

Abstract

Pentecostalism has been a movement that has gained immense prominence since its advent at the dawn of the renaissance following the break away from the middle age church. More recently, it has gained wide acceptance and followership as modernity and its attendant consequences puts humanity in a consistent quest for answers to life’s many questions. This study takes a cursory look at the trend of the new age gospel and the new generation Pentecostal movement, especially its deployment of theatrical craftsmanship in its quest to gain the admiration of large audiences across the globe. The study focusses on the trajectory of the comical Onitsha Market Art and the ministry of Chukwuemaka Cyril Ohanaemere popularly known in most religious circles as Prophet Odumeje aka Indaboski Bahose, the General Overseer of The Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry. The study adopts the method of descriptive analysis of contents of clips from the acts of Prphet Odumeje as contained in both social media and other live internet video streaming services. The approach to this study is the post-dramatic theory and the objective is to explore the interconnections between religion and dramatic arts. The study also further gives credence to the fact that religious practices overtime have now been laced with elements of dramaturgy and the activities of Prophet Odumeje provide a rich resource for triangulating the data around the discourse of theatrical spiritualities. The study hence recommends that the study of drama and all its elements of stagecraft be viewed beyond conventional and mainstream spaces to include other Congregational houses such as churches, mosques, and other religious sanctuaries. Theatre is fast becoming a veritable tool in ecclesiastic activities and other religious circles, and more study needs to be done to situate the power of the arts in a fast-paced contemporary world.