Azore Opio
10 October 2008
After hibernating for 11 years, the Musinga Drama Group International has relaunched production with a series of breathtaking plays.
The shows kicked off on October 4 at Alliance Franco Camerounaise, AFC, with Tuku," and starring Victor Elame Musinga.The rebound in Buea has come on the heels of dark times that seem to bring dark drama, too.
The Tuku drama with actorly brilliance from Musinga and a feminine edge provided by his wife Mbolo, played by Mrs. Ebanja, successfully essays the misfortunes that befall Tuku, a wealthy, kind man.
Tuku's misfortunes begin, when, while counting his money as he walks along the road, he happens upon a corpse with a knife sticking out of its abdomen. Shocked, he flails his arms in the air, throwing the banknotes on the ground.
Thinking that he is the Good Samaritan, he bends over the corpse, examining it with awe. That is when a policeman comes by. A perfect murder scene - a corpse, the murder weapon and motive; money!
Tuku is led away to the police station with the corpse over his shoulder. His trouble doubles when Kolo consults a witchdoctor to mess up Tuku so that he (Kolo) can get away with the FCFA 1 million that he had borrowed from Tuku.
Then to triple the troubles, the palace advisors, one of whom happens to be Kolo's relation, boils up an adultery story - that Tuku is fornicating with the Queen! A photograph is tendered as evidence.
The world crumbles for Tuku behind bars. But by a twist of fate, he is found not guilty. Kolo loses his sight, hangs himself. Tuku is released from prison; the palace guards are arrested on the chief's orders and Tuku becomes top palace advisor.
The show ultimately poses thoughtful questions about humanity, a flavour of corruption, backstabbing and the role of fate in the society. The entire production is marked by a delicacy of witty dialogues void of clichés.
The sole drawback of this otherwise intriguing and funny run is the role-switching by the lead actor, from Tuku to chief to Kolo.You really want to see these shows and you don't need to buy a ticket. They will be on every Saturday of October at Alliance Franco Camerounaise, starting at 7.30 pm.
The Musinga Drama Group went into recess in 1997 to evaluate what it had achieved so far. But a twist of fate extended the recess in 2000 when the director, Musinga, lost his wife. The group is back after dusting off.
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