Folk Opera as a Medium for Social Commentary in Yoruba Entertainment: A Study of Selected Works

This study analyses folk opera as a medium for social commentary in Yoruba entertainment, examining selected works that deploy indigenous musical performance traditions to address contemporary social challenges. Yoruba folk opera, as pioneered by figures such as Hubert Ogunde and later Duro Ladipo, integrates music, dance, poetry, and dramatic narrative to engage audiences on moral and political issues. The research examines how contemporary Yoruba folk opera practitioners have adapted this tradition to comment on current social realities including poverty, corruption, and family disintegration. Textual and performance analysis was employed to examine scripts and video recordings of selected folk opera productions staged between 2019 and 2024. The study finds that contemporary Yoruba folk opera retains its satirical and didactic function while incorporating modern musical elements and topical references to maintain audience relevance. The integration of Nollywood aesthetics and social media promotion has broadened the reach of folk opera productions to younger audiences. The research concludes that Yoruba folk opera is a resilient and adaptive performance tradition that continues to serve as a vehicle for popular social critique. Keywords: folk opera, Yoruba theatre, social commentary, performance, popular culture.