The State as Terrorist: A Pictorial Reading of the Visual Theatre Play Harvest of Ghosts

Terrorism as a phenomenon finds expression in diverse forms and is located within varied spheres of the human population. There are contestations, however, as to what exactly qualifies as terrorism and who fits the profile of a terrorist. These contestations arise principally because of how certain acts and persons are perceived, depending on what side of the divide one stands. A terrorist to one person is a freedom fighter or social crusader to another. An act seen as terrorism by one person may be seen by another as legitimate response and protection of one’s interests/rights. Beyond all of these, however, is the perception that terrorism can only be perpetrated by individuals and groups/organisations. Many persons do not acknowledge the fact that governments and states can also be terrorists. Worse off is the fact that such governments and states may in fact carry out such terrorist acts against their own people that they swore to protect. It is this thesis that propels this study, to determine at what point the state becomes culpable of terrorism, particularly against its own people. This investigation shall be embarked upon using the instrumentality of a pictorial reading of the play “Harvest of Ghosts”, co-written by Sam Ukala of Nigeria and Bob Frith of the United Kingdom