“Ezigbo, the Spirit Child” by Max Bush, Essay Example

Max Bush is a director and a freelance playwright of plays that are broadly produced on educational and professional stages around the country. The author won numerous awards that include Individual Artist Grants from Michigan Council for the Arts, Distinguished Play Award from AATE and IUPUI National Playwrighting Competition. Max Bush has been awarded the Charlotte Chorpenning Cup for his contribution to the nationally significant works for young audience. He has been commissioned by Emmy Gifford Theatre, Lexington Children’s Theatre, Nashville Academy Theatre, Honolulu Theatre for Youth, etc.

“Ezigbo, the Spirit Child” is a one set play written by Max Bush from the original Igbo story described by Adaora Nzeilbe Schmiedl.  The story is told with the Nigerian songs, games, dances and chants. However, the very heart of the play is essential and universal because it touches the topic of the value of children and an ongoing struggle to keep them secure and safe.

The story tells us that long time ago when spirits and humans were in close contact with each other, the wife of a influential chief craved to have a child. The problem was not that the woman could not have children but that her womb was seized by the spirit called Ogbanje. The spirit of Ogbanje is a spirit child that exists among people and at times strives to become part of the human world. If mother were to have a baby she would always have “to protect her child from the Ogbanje”. When the baby is born, it leans more towards the comfort of the friends and the spirit world. The spirit of the river calms mother by letting her know that she will have a child. Seven weeks later woman gives birth to baby Ezigbo. As little Ezigbo grows mother, Ngozi, Ezigbo’s best friend, and medicine woman fight to maintain her in the human world, while the spirit of Ogbanje tries to call her home.

Works Cited

Nwobani, Chinyere. “Ezigbo – the Spirit Child.” (Rewritten Igbo oral tradition story): 4. Chi Creation Stories CIC.