History of African Theater

Date of paintings depicting African masks (Afrikanza)

9000 BCE

Although the use of the masks depicted are unknown, masks like them were and still are used in traditional African theater. They along with costumes, drumming, dance, and more made up the "language" of traditional African theater. (Brockett et al. 317)

Ancient Egypt formed around this time, bringing the birth of their theater

3100 BCE

Ancient Egyptian theater is one of the earliest forms of theater in history. Like the theaters of ancient Greece, they were religious in nature, but they were unique in that they were not meant for entertainment. (Encyclopedia.com) The religious authorities performed the roles, and the performances took place at temples. (Encyclopedia.com)

The Berlin Conference is held, leading to the Scramble for Africa

1884

During the Scramble for Africa, Europeans attempted to do away with the traditional African theater (as they disliked the non-Christian aspects of it) and replace it with their own theatrical forms. Theater companies were established in Africa, some of the theater practices resembling those of European medieval theater. (Geography.name)

Apartheid Regime in South Africa

1950

Apartheid in South Africa separated the black and white populations under discriminatory laws targeting the black population. It became a totalitarian state under which the black population was forced into low-quality housing and work and was completely segregated from the white population. (Brockett et al. 322) Theaters and playwrights focused their plays on the injustice of apartheid, especially the Market Theater with its mixed-race audience. (Brockett et al. 323) The regime fell in 1990.

Ngugi wa Thiong'o's first major play, "The Black Hermit," is performed at the National Theater in Kampala, Uganda (Howard University)

1962

Ngugi wa Thiong'o is a Kenyan playwright who used the Kenyan protest theater to portray the struggles and hopes of Kenyans. (Britannica) The language of his plays (along with his name, which used to be James Ngugi) shifted from English to his native Kikuyi. (Britannica) He has thirteen Honorary Doctorates in total and is the Distinguished Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Irvine. (Howard University)

Ghanian playwright Efua Sutherland's "Foriwa" and "Edufa"are first performed (Britannica)

1962

These plays and many more like them were used to portray issues regarding colonization, independence, and slavery. Efua Sutherland wrote many plays and founded institutions to train writers. She founded the Drama Studio, which performed her plays, including "Foriwa" and "Edufa." (Britannica) Another prominent female playwright of the time was Ama Ata Aidoo, who wrote two major plays "The Dilemma of a Ghost" (1965) and "Anowa" (1970). (Britannica)

"Sizwe Banzi is Dead," written by Athol Fugard, John Kani, and Winston Ntshona, premiers (Britannica)

1972

This play and many like it protested apartheid in South Africa. Among the prominent playwrights were Athol Fugard, who consistently used his plays to criticize the apartheid government (and is considered the most famous playwright in South Africa), and Gibson Kente, who inspired and trained countless playwrights in his own garage and is known as the father of South Africa's township drama. (McGregor)

Emperor Haile Selassie overthrown by Marxists in Ethiopia

1974

Theater in Ethiopia had always been prevalent, but was suppressed by the Marxist government once it established control over Ethiopia. (Britannica) This government was later overthrown and theater in Ethiopia was reestablished. Theater in Ethiopia portrays many subjects such as Ethiopian history and Italian colonialism. (Britannica)

Angola and Mozambique gain independence

1975

Theater in these countries had previously been hampered by censors, and once they gained independence, civil wars made theatrical production difficult. (Britannica) The plays that were produced served to criticize colonialism and authorities, educate the populace, and spread propaganda. (Britannica) The Mutumbela Gogo (founded in 1986) advocated indigenous theater, most of this theater was imported. (Britannica)

Wole Soyinka awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, making him the first African to receive the prize (Brockett et al. 319)

1986

Wole Soyinka is a Nigerian playwright and activist who wrote many plays criticizing the Nigerian elite. He was arrested in 1967 after calling for a cease-fire in an article and was held in prison for two years. (Biography.com) Another great Nigerian playwright is Hubert Ogunde, who established the first theater company in Nigeria, earning him a reputation as the father of Nigerian theater. (Britannica)