Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Scholarly interest in Tess Onwueme's The Reign of Wazobia has remained strong, reflecting its continued relevance to discussions of Nigerian and African literary identity.

Despite the volume of criticism devoted to The Reign of Wazobia, its use of dramatic irony in relation to post-colonial disillusionment has not been exhaustively examined, leaving room for closer textual analysis.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While Tess Onwueme's The Reign of Wazobia is widely studied, there is no settled critical consensus on how its dramatic irony functions specifically in relation to post-colonial disillusionment. This study undertakes a close textual analysis to address that gap.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the use of dramatic irony in Tess Onwueme's The Reign of Wazobia.
2. To analyze how dramatic irony contributes to the portrayal of post-colonial disillusionment.
3. To assess the effectiveness of dramatic irony as a stylistic/thematic tool in the text.
4. To situate the findings within the broader context of Nigerian literary/linguistic scholarship.

1.4 Research Questions

1. How is dramatic irony used in Tess Onwueme's The Reign of Wazobia?
2. In what ways does dramatic irony contribute to the portrayal of post-colonial disillusionment?
3. How effective is dramatic irony as a stylistic/thematic tool in the text?
4. How does this reading relate to the broader body of Nigerian literary/linguistic scholarship?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to students and teachers of theatre arts, offering a close reading of Tess Onwueme's The Reign of Wazobia that can support classroom discussion and further critical work. It also contributes to the broader body of scholarship on Nigerian literary and linguistic studies.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to a close textual analysis of dramatic irony within The Reign of Wazobia, reflecting a clearly defined scope; it does not extend to a full survey of the author's other works.