As implied in the title of this play, there are four principal characters in Once Upon Four Robbers by Femi Osofisan. They are Major, Angola, Hasan, and Alhaja. Other characters in the play include Aafa who also doubles as the narrator of the play, Sergeant, soldiers, and market women. We shall analyse these characters, their identities, and roles in the play.
Major
Major is one of the four robbers in Once Upon Four Robbers. He is perhaps the most complex character among the robbers. Initially, he wants to leave the group after witnessing the execution of the group’s leader. He begins to rethink his involvement in crime. He changes his resolve only when Aafa offers them a potent and non-violent way to rob.
Major starts as a loyal member of the group but soon grows cynical about their chances of success under the harsh new decree against armed robbery. He believes their way of life is doomed and decides to betray his companions during their second robbery. Threatening the others with a gun, he takes all the stolen money and valuable possessions for himself. He is desperate to escape poverty, even at the cost of betraying his friends. Major’s betrayal is motivated by his desire to survive, a pointer to his preference of pragmatism over idealism.
In the process of robbing his fellow robbers of their proceeds from their second robbery, Major is shot by the soldiers, who come for the robbers after regaining their senses. He, however, survives being shot by soldiers and is condemned to death by firing squad.
His character arc illustrates the desperation of those living in poverty and the lengths they might go to change their circumstances. This is in congruence with the playwright’s position that ‘slogans about “returning to the land”, sermons of bourgeois morality, are empty words to a man who is born condemned to poverty.’
Hasan
Hasan is another key member of the group of robbers and one of the major characters in Once Upon Four Robbers. Hasan, unlike Major, does not question their lifestyle. He remains steadfast in his belief that they must continue robbing, though he agrees to the conditions set by Aafa. He is less pragmatic than Major and more willing to take risks. He turns out to be the Sergeant’s (Ahmed) blood brother. This revelation shows the thin line between those who enforce the law and those who break it. His character humanises the robbers and demonstrates how circumstances can lead people down different paths. That the two brothers find themselves on opposite sides of the law is enough evidence that the play’s characters are all victims of the same corrupt and unjust system.
Angola
Angola is another member of the group and plays a significant role in the group’s decisions. Angola is hot-headed and determined. He is driven by a thirst for revenge after their leader’s execution. His idea of justice is retributive and characterized by the eye-for-eye approach. He is fiercely loyal to the group’s mission and shows a willingness to use violence when necessary.
Unlike Major, he doesn’t seem to waver in his commitment to the group, even in the face of danger. He views the new decree and the growing risks as challenges to be overcome rather than reasons to change their way of life. Angola is deeply suspicious of Major, sensing his growing hesitation and eventual betrayal.
After Major’s betrayal, Angola is furious at Major for breaking the group’s code of loyalty. For this reason, he initially refuses to intervene in the public execution of Major. But with the lives of Alhaja and Hasan on the line, he is compelled by his unwavering commitment to the group to intervene. Consequently, he initiates the enchanting song at the end of the play to save his comrades from an apparent execution order.
Alhaja
Alhaja is the only female member of the group, and she was married to their former leader, who was executed at the beginning of the play. She is portrayed as strong and deeply affected by her husband’s death. She mourns his loss but remains pragmatic and continues to participate in the group’s activities. She is resourceful, loyal, and driven by a sense of duty to the group.
She takes part in the robberies and handles the money after their first success using Aafa’s magic. Her anger and grief after her husband’s death motivate her to continue the life of crime. However, she also exhibits moments of vulnerability, especially when Major betrays the group and forces her to collect the money for him.
Alhaja is a manipulative woman. This is evident in how she employs her feminine wiles in attempt to free Major from his impending doom. She disguises herself as an orange hawker who throws herself seductively at the soldiers and appeals to their sense of injustice between the rich and poor. This way, she successfully persuades the three soldiers to free Major. Besides, Aafa hints at her role during the war when she maintains sexual engagements with soldiers from both sides.
Her emotional outburst when Major is about to be executed exposes her and Hasan to vulnerability. They are recognised by both the condemned soldiers and the robbed market women. She is subsequently condemned to death by firing squad on the instruction of the sergeant.
Other Characters in Once Upon Four Robbers
Consult Literature PADI’s Study Guide: Once Upon Four Robbers by Femi Osofisan for other characters in the play.
Further Reading:
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