Let Me Die Alone (John Kargbo)

About Let Me Die Alone (John Kargbo)

The dramatic text “Let me Die Alone” was written in sierra leone and initially, it was written in one of the sierra Leone’s vernacular, Krio. It satirizes the ills of the country’s colonized society since it criticizes the corruption, ineptitude and extreme quest for power which is common in sierra Leonean ruling class. All these attitudes provoked Kargbo’s spirit to write this drama and he was later forced to go to exile in Nigeria where he continued his education and wrote more satiric plays. The play “Let me Die Alone” is set in Mende tribe of Sierra Leone in the pre-colonial era. The play centres on feminist struggles that are common themes in African literature today, and this permeates the entire play.

John K. Kargbo, in his play, Let Me Die Alone, sums up the prevalence of betrayal in a typical African traditional society. Its setting in Senehun and Moyamba villages of the Mende Kingdom, the play brings to prominence the evils and disasters the desperation for power and the infidelity of one’s trusted persons can inflict on the society. There is a reflection of what evil excessive desire for power portends.

The duo of Musa and Lamboi, blinded by their inordinate crave for power (i.e the throne of the chief), betray two successive chiefs. They are also directly involved in the murders of both Gbanya and Jeneba and by extension, the suicidal death of Yoko.