THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
The young actors and actresses of the Cactus Junges Theater from the federal state of North Rhine-Westfalia (NRW) and the Tete Adehyemma Dance Theatre & Youth Home Cultural Group from Ghana were very busy this summer. In Tamale, in the north of Ghana, they spent the month of August rehearsing a new play entitled QUESTIONS.
The new piece is a co-production between the two theatre groups. A country partnership has existed between the State of Nordrhein-Westfalen NRW and Ghana for many years to promote sustainable development through projects in various areas.
Partnerships exist between churches, universities and cities – such as the recent twinning between Dortmund and Kumasi. The partnership projects are for the most part in the areas of medical, educational or economic cooperation.
This theatre collaboration, which uses art to impart knowledge and encourage people to reflect on their own points of view, proves that successful projects for sustainable development do not only have to take place in business, medicine or education.
QUESTIONS focuses on the future of the young generation in Ghana and Germany and on how colonialism, post-colonialism and the associated effects on current relations between Europe and Africa, Germany and Ghana affect them. Questions about ‘mental slavery’ and the ‘blind spots’ in German history as well as forgotten chapters of Ghanaian history are also playfully illuminated.
The young actors and dancers created the play together based on ideas by Gifty Wiafe and Barbara Kemmler. Though these two are the driving force, they left plenty of room for personal experiences and interpretations. Above all, however, the young participants embarked on an artistic search for their very own fantasies.
And for ideas on how a future based on mutual respect can be created. The colourful costumes were also developed jointly and combine traditional styles from both sides. In some scenes, dancers in traditional smocks, wide robes made of coarsely woven fabric that are mainly worn by men in the northern parts of Ghana, are seen swirling and spinning round and round.
In other scenes, actresses are adorned in Dirndls, traditional German dresses that have been made famous by the Oktoberfest. The ones worn in QUESTIONS have been designed from colourful African prints. Thus, the costumes also build a bridge between Ghana and Germany.
While the colourful costumes and lively dance choreographies are a feast for the eyes, the play also provides a great deal of historical and current content for reflection and, as the title implies, raises questions as well – for both Ghanaian and German audiences.
QUESTIONS premiered in Tamale, Ghana on 28th August 2024 in a hall bursting at the seams. The NRW premiere will take place on 26 October at the Theater im Pumpenhaus, Münster. The play will then be performed at many other venues in NRW.
The artistic project is supported by the Stiftung für Umwelt und Entwicklung NRW, the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, ENGAGEMENT GLOBAL gGmbH, the Cultural Office and Office for International Affairs of the City of Münster, and the Goethe Institute Ghana.
Tina Adomako
All photographs © Gifty Wiafe
