Title: Checkmate
Subtitle: A Play of Betrayal and Justice
Author: Ola Olusola
Publisher: Amazon
Publication Year: 2025
Number of Pages: 34
ISBN: 978-1-54417-876-9
Genre: Drama / Historical Fiction / African Literature
Language: English
Description:
Checkmate: A Play of Betrayal and Justice is a riveting five-act drama inspired by true events in Igede Ekiti, Nigeria. Ola Olusola masterfully crafts a compelling narrative around Temilola, a determined septuagenarian woman, who courageously battles to reclaim her ancestral land from corrupt forces driven by greed and deceit.
The play opens with a seemingly mundane land transaction but quickly unravels into a fierce legal and political confrontation involving village elders, a manipulative monarch, and scheming relatives. Through vivid dialogues, powerful monologues, and emotionally charged scenes, Olusola exposes the dynamics of traditional leadership, the fragility of justice in the face of corruption, and the strength of a woman unwilling to be silenced.
Each act builds suspense, culminating in a climactic fallout where betrayal begets destruction, and justice—though delayed—is dramatically served. Rich with cultural nuances, moral reflections, and symbolic imagery, Checkmate is not just a play; it is a mirror held up to society, showing the timeless struggle between truth and treachery.
Whether performed on stage or read in quiet reflection, Checkmate is a thought-provoking tribute to resilience, tradition, and the enduring human spirit.
