Cowards of the Republic

Description

Cowards of the Republic is a play by Dr. Jean Claude Zigama and Mr. Bonface Otieno, first published in 2023. Unlike many others, this play investigates contemporary tragedies of political unrest, coups d’état and politically aligned injustices on innocent members of a nation. It connects the colonial periods while focusing on modern political experiences through a powerful juxtaposition. Roughly five decades after independence, the Republic state is still characterised by an oligarchic form of governance where a relatively small privileged class comprised of those who had been presumed best gratified to rule continues to jeopardise the government’s affairs as well as the general welfare of the people of the republic.

Jean Claude Zigama is currently a Lecturer and Leader of Innovation in the Department of Education Arts of the School of Education at Kabarak University. After teaching and lecturing in in various universities in Rwanda, he worked at the University of Eldoret, in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, School of Education as a Lecturer and coordinator of the General Teaching Methods course. He teaches, publishes and researches on a range of aspects of 21st Century skills’ pedagogy, Teacher education and integration of ICTs in learning in university and professional settings, especially in relation to Teacher Education. His recent research and publications focus on Teacher Education and Professionalisation, and using modern technologies.

Bonface Otieno Okinyi is a self-motivated, adaptable, goal-oriented, detail-oriented and a welcoming Bachelor of Education graduate from Kabarak University, Kenya. He is a teacher of English Literature, founder and president of Bleeding Ink Global Writers Society. He is an editor, a columnist and literary critic at The Scholar Media Group Africa, a public speaker and mentor. He is a published poet, playwright, and author of at least four titles: his debut poetry, Wicked Agadapidi & Other Songs; co-author of the play, Horror in the Storm; the Anthology Song of My Dreams & Other Songs, and the play Cowards of the Republic. He has had many contributions to online platforms, renown poetry festival; Kistrech Annual Poetry Festival and Bleeding Ink Global Poetry exchange. Otieno is an enthusiastic writer whose view and mission with creative writing is professional. He is a believer of self-reliance, writes about socio-political justice, and activist of proper cultural practices. He promotes indigenous African cultures through African literature in vernacular language. Otieno is also a lover of popular music and an actor.