Theatre and Drama in Francophone Africa
A Critical Introduction

This study is entirely devoted to African literary drama in French, a major component of African theatre.

John Conteh-Morgan (Author)

9780521034715, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 14 December 2006

256 pages
22.8 x 15.2 x 1.4 cm, 0.393 kg

"Without any doubt, Theatre and Drama in Francophone Africa is a substantial contribution to the field. The book is not only comprehensive in scope but also marks a shift in the critical approach to the genre." Lifongo Vetinde, Comparative Drama

This study is entirely devoted to African literary drama in French, a major component of African theatre. Beginning with a detailed analysis of its relationship to a variety of pre-colonial, but sometimes still contemporary traditions of performance which constitute part of its roots, Conteh-Morgan examines this drama both in its literary and theatrical dimensions. He discusses its development, themes and techniques and considers its attempts, since the 1980s, to move away from the predominantly text-based drama of first generation playwrights to a more performance-oriented one. The book is divided into two sections: part one offers a theoretical and historical background and part two analyses key individual plays central to the repertoire, including two from the Caribbean. All quotations from play texts are translated into English.

Acknowledgements
Intoduction
Part I. Theoretical and Historical Studies: 1. The traditional context of Francophone drama
2. From oral performances to modern drama: on the growth and development of a genre
3. Francophone drama: the thematic dimension
Part II. The Plays: 4. Aimé Césaire: La Tragédie du roi Christophe
Une Saison au Congo
5. Bernard Dadié: Béatrice du Congo
Iles de Tempête
6. Cheik Ndao: L'Exil d'Albouri
7. Jean Pliya: Kondo le requin
8. Tchicaya U'Tamsi: Le Zulu
9. Guillaume Oyono-Mbia: Trois prétendants … un mari
10. Senouvo Zinsou: On joue la comédie
11. Zadi Zaourou: L'Œil
12. Werewere Liking: La Puissance d'Um
Conclusion
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Theatre studies [AN]