The Last Candle is a powerful and educational play by Dr. Richie Adewusi, created to equip pre-teens, teens, and young adults with the knowledge and skills to navigate the challenges of adolescence responsibly, in the face of reproductive health challenges, including substance use and abuse issues.
Through engaging drama, the play tackles issues of HIV/AIDS, sexuality, reproductive health, and substance use, emphasizing the importance of parent-child communication, peer support, and informed decision-making.
The story follows Mulero, a 19-year-old girl whose life is turned upside down by parental tragedy.
After her father, brother, and sister die from AIDS-related complications, and her mother battles illness, Mulero becomes the family's sole hope, the "last candle."
Pressured by a rich young man, Luta, and struggling with poverty, she succumbs to unprotected sex, ultimately contracting HIV.
As the play opens, Mulero faces the weight of her mother's illness and hospital bills, highlighting the devastating cycle of vulnerability, lack of information, and socio-economic pressures.
Through Mulero's story, the play demonstrates that "the root of Mulero's problems starts from lack of adequate information on these issues", and that mutual, sincere parent-child communication could have altered her fate. The play also addresses substance use as a catalyst for risky behavior.
Mulero's consumption of Irish Cream impairs her judgment, showing how alcohol and other mind-altering substances can prevent individuals from making safer choices.
The Narrator ties the story together, providing context, commentary, and practical advice on HIV prevention, voluntary counseling and testing, and care for People Living With HIV and AIDS .
The play's use of Pidgin English ensures accessibility to a wider audience, while proper English engages in-school youths, making the content relatable and understandable.
Themes of abstinence, fidelity, condom use (the ABC of safer sex), peer education, care for AIDS orphans, and the consequences of poor parental guidance are interwoven.
Dr. Adewusi's approach demonstrates that "if they are told about it, they will forget; but if they are involved, they will take it seriously."
The audience witnesses the effects of HIV/AIDS on families, the role of poverty, and the importance of informed decision-making, and encourages young people to make responsible choices, to resist peer pressure, and develop supportive friendships that reinforce positive behaviors.
IN THIS PLAY, YOU WILL FIND...
- The dangers of inadequate parent-child communication on sexuality issues.
- The social and personal impacts of HIV/AIDS on adolescents and families.
- The role of poverty and socio-economic pressures in increasing vulnerabilities.
- How substance use can impair judgment and heighten risk-taking.
- Examples of positive peer support and responsible friendships.
- Insights into care for people living with HIV/AIDS and the importance of VCT.
- Practical lessons on the ABC of safer sex: Abstinence, Being faithful, Correct and consistent use of Condoms.
- The consequences of ignoring gender equality and responsible decision-making.
- A relatable narrative designed for adolescents and young adults.
This play is more than entertainment; it is a call to action for families, schools, and communities to engage young people in meaningful dialogue about sexual health, substance use, and social responsibility.
By bringing the challenges and consequences of HIV/AIDS and poor decision-making to life, The Last Candle equips audiences with the knowledge and courage to make safer choices, support their peers, and become agents of positive change in society.
