My love for theatre prompts me to
attend any theatrical event advertised in Accra. I have attended so many of
them. However, the Africa UMOJA-The
Spirit of Togetherness was a different experience for me altogether. I
watched it at the Ghana National Theatre on May 2, 2011.
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| Event Logo |
Africa UMOJA-The Spirit of Togetherness was a two hour explosion of
song, dance and drama performed by an energetic and creative South African crew.
It tells the saga of South Africa, its people and the changes that the years,
especially those of the Apartheid era, have had on them. I have heard a lot
about them so I was eager to watch them when I heard that they were coming to
Ghana.
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| One of the vigorous theatrics |
Their costume was a unique one. It consisted
basically of stripes of cloth covering the genitals but the upper parts of the
body were exposed. Breasts stuck out; protruding sensationally. I learnt it was
to expose energy and natural beauty. The men too displayed their ‘warrior’
muscles and enticing chests. African beads form an essential part of their
costume.
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| Performers |
The performance itself was full of
energy. There was lots of calculated choreography that was full of jumping,
running in circles, ululation, drama and story-telling. One can classify the
performance as dance-drama as stories were told with stylistic theatrics. One key
story I got from the performance was the slave trade. I can vividly recall how
the performers were chained and whipped and the resistance put up by ‘victims’.
I shed tears at the climax.
I wish Africa UMOJA-The Spirit of Togetherness would be staged again and soon
so that I can relive those moments.
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