(First published in the Herald newspaper Wednesday 8-9 March 2006)
The University of Buea is planning a series of theatrical performances in Buea and Yaoundé. The brain behind the performances, Hilarious N Ambe, who lectures theatre, drama and criticism at the University of Buea, talks on the upcoming activity and on the theatre in Cameroon, in this chat with Douglas Achigale. Excerpts:
I understand some lecturers of the University of Buea (UB) are planning to organize a series of theatrical performances in the country. Could you shed light on that?
The UB theatre is going to do the performances. I am actually responsible for that. When I recently got recruited as lecturer of drama, theatre and criticism in that university, I thought it expedient for such performances to take place. My purpose is to relaunch the practice of theatre in UB, in the Buea municipality and in the South West Province in general.
Which plays are you going to perform?
The first is Professor Zemzi’s Last Rehearsal, written by Fidelis Okoro, a Nigerian playwright. This play is a strong indictment of issues that should not be done in universities. To be more precise, the play is a hilarious and impacful satire on mediocrity, duplicity and moral decadence in a fictitious university called Usamba. On this campus, while some students work dedicatedly and pass their exams, others- the lazy females- focus on their sexuality. And there are many lecturers who get caught and stuck in the “sweet ladies” underpants. Again issues such as teaching and research are subverted by some deviant lecturers and administration in the same manner that research grants are prostituted.
The other work is Bate Besong’s award-winning play, Requiem for the Last Kaiser which is a drama of conscientisation and empowerment. This play dramatizes the collective struggle of disadvantaged social groups and working peoples in the fictitious Agidigidi setting, to restore the rule of law, justice and equality.
Why these choices of Okoro’s and Besong’s plays?
From the contents of Fidelis Okoro’s play, one can think that he came and stayed in our universities in Cameroon before writing it. The issues that are identified in the play are things that are of interest to a university community. So it would be of interest to all our universities to receive a production of professor Zemzi’s Last Rehearsal. For its part, Besongs Requiem…deals with the absence of structured leadership. And I think the play is very necessary in any postcolonial society where such a virtue is lacking. Besides, the play is a drama of conscientisation and revolution; thus it has a place in our present dispensation.
Theatre does not seem to be very much loved by the Cameroonian public. What could you say is the cause of this and how do you intend to mobilize people to attend your performances?
At first, theatre halls used to be full during theatrical performances. But this is not the case today. I think, fundamentally, the question is the systematic decline or the absence of that theatre culture. And you know that where that culture doesn’t exist, you shouldn’t expect to find people in the theatre hall. So the absence of a permanent structure or place where performance can be given regularly is largely responsible for this lack of interest. I think it is a challenge to people with good intentions: to build such a structure or structures. Once such a structure is existent, people would start developing interest in theatre again.
When are the performances scheduled, and how many performances have you planned altogether?
We’ll begin in April 2005. The grande première of the Professor Zemzi performance will be given at UB’s Amphi 750 on 7 April 2006. On 13 April, we’ll give another performance, again at UB. Then there’ll be another one down town Buea on 6 May 2006. We’ll thereafter move over to Yaoundé and give the last performances of that play in the Amphi 700 of UNIYAO I.
Thereafter, we’ll start the Bate Besong play. In all, we plan to give eight performances. You see, it is something we’re starting all over because the culture of theatre doesn’t seem to exist in Cameroon any more. Since 2004, for instance, there has not been a single referenced performance produced at UB. So our efforts are geared towards bringing back that culture.
"Picaresque" as we called him I will always remember your last words to me on the 5th of March when i finished my First semester exams. I had written three papers beginning from 8:30 am to 6pm. I was tired and feeling worn out and meeting You infront of the Faculty of Arts You Said " some times things are difficult but Rev. Siste Know that they are Possible" I will remember these words when life is tough. Rest in the Lord and pray for all of us your students.
Posted by: wirsiy mary ophilia kemjei | March 16, 2007 at 05:44 AM