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From the archive, 9 July 1979: World art festival brings culture shock to Berlin From the archive, 9 July 1979: World art festival brings culture shock to Berlin
(2 months later)
According to Joe de Graft, the Ghanaian playwright and founder of the drama institute at Ghana University who died last year in Nairobi, there were three Ladies Macbeth who incited their husband to murder his uncle, who incidentally was not Duncan, King of Scotland, but a tired old businessman by the name of Brempong who'd just appointed his nephew as vice-chairman of his multi-million company. Needless to say, Macbeth himself has changed his name to Mambo, and Banquo is now called Tanga.According to Joe de Graft, the Ghanaian playwright and founder of the drama institute at Ghana University who died last year in Nairobi, there were three Ladies Macbeth who incited their husband to murder his uncle, who incidentally was not Duncan, King of Scotland, but a tired old businessman by the name of Brempong who'd just appointed his nephew as vice-chairman of his multi-million company. Needless to say, Macbeth himself has changed his name to Mambo, and Banquo is now called Tanga.
The presentation of Mambo by the School of Performing Arts from Legon, Ghana, at West Berlin's Academy of the Arts was part of a massive programme of concerts, art exhibitions, and theatrical performances from 21 African countries, mainly from south of the Sahara. There were also items from Brazil, Jamaica, Haiti, Paris, and London.The presentation of Mambo by the School of Performing Arts from Legon, Ghana, at West Berlin's Academy of the Arts was part of a massive programme of concerts, art exhibitions, and theatrical performances from 21 African countries, mainly from south of the Sahara. There were also items from Brazil, Jamaica, Haiti, Paris, and London.
Altogether about 400 performing artists, writers, painters, and film directors are taking part in this first Festival of World Cultures which will make this city resound from the beating of the atumpan-, lunga- and donno-drums, and the gyilli-xylophone until the middle of the month.Altogether about 400 performing artists, writers, painters, and film directors are taking part in this first Festival of World Cultures which will make this city resound from the beating of the atumpan-, lunga- and donno-drums, and the gyilli-xylophone until the middle of the month.
Centre-piece of all that is going on is the first major exhibition in Europe of twentieth-century Art from Haiti, comprising 150 paintings and tin cut-outs, and an even more extensive exhibition of contemporary Art from Africa, including posters, trade signs, sculptures, and those wonderful serial paintings from Ethiopia.Centre-piece of all that is going on is the first major exhibition in Europe of twentieth-century Art from Haiti, comprising 150 paintings and tin cut-outs, and an even more extensive exhibition of contemporary Art from Africa, including posters, trade signs, sculptures, and those wonderful serial paintings from Ethiopia.
Some Africans living in West Berlin have been highly critical of the whole enterprise, claiming that their personal experiences contradict the official goodwill towards black culture. Others complained about such countries as Angola, Namibia, and Mozambique being omitted. In his opening address the Nigerian writer, Chinua Achebe dealt with a different problem. "Equality is something that the Europeans are quite obviously incapable of granting to others," he said, "least of all to Africans."Some Africans living in West Berlin have been highly critical of the whole enterprise, claiming that their personal experiences contradict the official goodwill towards black culture. Others complained about such countries as Angola, Namibia, and Mozambique being omitted. In his opening address the Nigerian writer, Chinua Achebe dealt with a different problem. "Equality is something that the Europeans are quite obviously incapable of granting to others," he said, "least of all to Africans."
To illustrate the condescending attitude of the whites towards the blacks he cited Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness, "which I am told you all value highly as a literary masterpiece." The reason for this, he suggested, was that, though cleverly written, it confirmed the fears and prejudices of white people with regard to Africa. And he pointed out that though the story was swarming with Africans, Conrad had allowed only two of them some form of human communication: the cannibal chief who is quoted as saying "Catch them! Give them to us! We'll eat them!" and a halfbreed uttering the famous "Mistah Kurtz - he dead!"To illustrate the condescending attitude of the whites towards the blacks he cited Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness, "which I am told you all value highly as a literary masterpiece." The reason for this, he suggested, was that, though cleverly written, it confirmed the fears and prejudices of white people with regard to Africa. And he pointed out that though the story was swarming with Africans, Conrad had allowed only two of them some form of human communication: the cannibal chief who is quoted as saying "Catch them! Give them to us! We'll eat them!" and a halfbreed uttering the famous "Mistah Kurtz - he dead!"
However, even Chinua Achebe who together with his fellow countryman Wole Soyinka and about 30 other African writers gave a reading from his own works, would hardly deny that at least a beginning has been made to let the Africans speak for themselves. Moreover, the ensembles of musicians, singers, and dancers from Ghana, Mali, Madagascar, Zaire, and the Sudan who night after night performed various tribal ceremonies in front of a packed house, will have nothing to complain about. Indeed, one night a spellbound audience stayed on until three in the morning to listen to the griots - traditional African storytellers - and their music.However, even Chinua Achebe who together with his fellow countryman Wole Soyinka and about 30 other African writers gave a reading from his own works, would hardly deny that at least a beginning has been made to let the Africans speak for themselves. Moreover, the ensembles of musicians, singers, and dancers from Ghana, Mali, Madagascar, Zaire, and the Sudan who night after night performed various tribal ceremonies in front of a packed house, will have nothing to complain about. Indeed, one night a spellbound audience stayed on until three in the morning to listen to the griots - traditional African storytellers - and their music.
Back to Macbeth. The performance of Mambo was unfortunately not of the kind which in London would suggest a transfer to the West End. Except for a few dancing interludes, accompanied by the drums of the Agoromma-Ensemble from Ghana, the acting was rather amateurish.Back to Macbeth. The performance of Mambo was unfortunately not of the kind which in London would suggest a transfer to the West End. Except for a few dancing interludes, accompanied by the drums of the Agoromma-Ensemble from Ghana, the acting was rather amateurish.
But there was one actress, Joyce Misa, who played old Brempong's secretary making common cause with the treacherous Mambo in the hope of becoming wife No. 4, and one actor - Kofi Dovlo - acting the part of an all-knowing messenger boy, who, given the proper parts in the right settings, could have them cheering in the aisles anywhere in the world.But there was one actress, Joyce Misa, who played old Brempong's secretary making common cause with the treacherous Mambo in the hope of becoming wife No. 4, and one actor - Kofi Dovlo - acting the part of an all-knowing messenger boy, who, given the proper parts in the right settings, could have them cheering in the aisles anywhere in the world.
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