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ABSTRACT
The contribution of Rotimi and Oseyomon to the understanding of Benin tradition and culture through drama remains a milestone in the historical development of drama and theatre in Nigeria. Their careful selection of historical materials to unburden historical truth is highly commendable. This study has explored war and responsibility through the dramatic form of historical tragedy in Rotimi’s Ovonramwen Nogbaisi and Oseyomon’s Queen Idia respectively. The subject of war in the plays is examined through focus on the causes of war in both plays. Three causes are identified and treated in this essay. The first cause of war is cultural denigration. It is established that the people feel that the forceful and illegal entry of Benin by night by the British forces during Ague festival in Ovonramwen is a flagrant disregard to Benin culture and consequently the soldiers are decapitated. This action by Benin chiefs provokes a reprisal attack on the Kingdom leading to a full blown war.
