TFD, Environmental Degradation and Health Issues

Theatre-for-Development is becoming a fast rising theatre genre in Nigeria and Africa as a whole because of its focus on Development. The issue of development especially of rural communities in Nigeria has become a worrisome issue to Theatre Practitioners. It is no new phenomenon that the mainstream development strategies have so far failed to carry most of the rural communities along, neither is it also new that modes of communication the elites and the ruling class have employed have disregarded the rural populace who also consist of majority of the poor. TFD over the years in Nigeria is evolving to intervene in so many issues that will foster development in rural communities. The University of Abuja TFD Project, 2006 focused on Theatre and the Environment. This paper aims to contribute in the ongoing discourse that places TFD in a strategic position in theatre practice and development studies in Nigeria. The 2006 TFD project was carried out in Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT. The theme: Theatre and the Environment seemed apt because of the state of the surroundings in Gwagwalada. This paper also seeks to tease out ways theatre can contribute to protecting the environment.