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Cameroon: Theatre, a Privileged Tool for Development
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The Post (Buea)
4 April 2008
Posted to the web 4 April 2008
Walter Wilson Nana
University dons and students, the department of culture, Southwest Province and enthusiasts of theatre arts have found in this genre of arts and literature a tool for development.
This was the focus of this year's World Theatre Day as commemorated in the University of Buea, UB, in collaboration with the Southwest Provincial delegation of Culture, recently.
On the theme; Theatre, The Engine For Development In Africa, UB's Head of Department, English, Dr. George Dopgima Nyamndi had this analysis; "Theatre is the privileged framework within which we rehearse life's realities. If we cannot act out these realities, we cannot live them.
In today's African world, when development is a primary concern, theatre seems to me to be the privileged tool not only for the rehearsal of development strategies, but also for the enactment of those strategies. If we discover in theatre, its primary role of education, intensification of ideas, then by all means we're on the right footing."
According to Nyamndi, James Ene Henshaw's This Is Our Chance, that was performed by the UB Theatre Troupe as part of the spice of the day's activities gives meaning to the everyday Cameroonian society. "It goes way beyond the play to reach into our society. Cameroon, right now has a chance and all it need do is seize on it and make sure it fructifies," he commented.
Narcisse Monthé, a student in the Department of English, UB, argued that theatre is a unique medium to preach peace in our society and the world in general. "The play we acted has a message of peace. Peace is what is keeping Cameroon intact. Theatre has a force to influence the people's mind. There are indications that theatre can help in the development of Africa through the various messages it carries," he said.
Ifana Kwallar, a student of UB expressed glee with the enthusiasm students of UB have for theatre, but will quickly chide the UB administration for not rendering the much needed prop for it to blossom on campus. "I expected the cream of UB administration to be with us during the activities of the International Day of Theatre, 2008 but they weren't there.
We the students felt slighted. However, we're not dampened in spirits; the administration should support us and make us do more shows on campus. They are the only people who can do it for us," she entreated.
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Delegate of Culture, Southwest Province, Roger Lita, saw in theatre an instrument for social cohesion and enhancement of peace within people.He appealed for massive support for theatre activities in and off the campus of UB.
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