IDEAL INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL

The collapse of value has been a major challenge in postcolonial Nigeria. It is discovered that much attention is yet to be paid on the interrogation of social value systems in the works of Chris Anyokwu. This paper seeks to explore value systems in selected plays of Chris Anyokwu with a view to unravelling the values portrayed in the plays in the light of postcolonial construct. The paper adopted Mahatma Gandhi’s (1933) postcolonial theory in ‘Hind Swaraj’ which provides contextual values that are relevant in investigating the social, economic, educational, religious and political issues in the plays selected based on their depth of coverage of issues related to value system. Findings revealed that educational, political, economic, and social values permeate the selected plays. Further findings revealed that the conscious use of Gandhi’s ‘soul force’, which enables an individual to deliberately develop a conscience that supersedes the social conscience that is essential if the individual must uphold values pertinent to national development. The paper concluded that value systems could be used to address social, political and economic problems in a nation by prioritising those values which can engender attitudinal change and promote national development.

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