Claire Shepherd writes on

Bumni Papoola and the Reflection Theatre Company

Claire Shepherd

It is a celebration to the human spirit that individuals are still attempting to write and perform meaningful drama which has an authentic voice within black communities. One example comes from Nigerian Bumni Papoola. His play looks at the trappings of power, and of how an army private who is impersonating a General fantasises about absolutist rule and prepares his post-coup speech to the masses.

'Preparation' according to Papoola, is a satirical comedy about dictatorship. "It is a play written out of necessity. I had wanted to write a play about a dictator since 1986 the year after Ibrahim Babangida came to power in my homeland Nigeria. After witnessing the often-brutal way in which Nigeria was governed between 1985 and 1993, the desire was made stronger. Although Nigeria experienced several coups since 1966, Babangida's rule was exceptionally ruthless because of the way it criminalised Nigerian citizens both at home and abroad. The dictator's reign legitimised and intensified the corruption, which already existed to a point, which was previously unknown".

Coming of age
In 1986 Papoola wrote and performed what he claims to be the piece which represented his 'coming of age as a writer'. In his play 'The Imprisoned Mind' he became more conscious of the writing of drama as a process in which he engages with the audience, and the importance of this. This play, on mental health, looked at how Africans can be mis-diagnosed in psychiatric institutions. It was staged in the United States and here in Britain as part of the Edinburgh Festival and in mental care centres as part of World Health Day in 1995.

Experimental theatrical devices attracted him because he was able to bring his own intellectual concerns to a piece. According to the playwright "after drama school I had more of a language to express what I wanted to express and also to be more self critical in my writing".

Theatrical devices
"I always think about how my work is to be executed because I write to be produced. Because of this I always think in terms of minimalist theatrical devices. Therefore I used the character of the rank of an unnamed Private, to look at the General Mathama, because in so doing I could avoid a more lavish and expensive costume. Devices, structure and approach depend on what I have in front of me."

A performance of 'Preparation' is scheduled for the Hackney Empire this summer.

Claire Shepherd is a free-lance writer and chair of the Camden Black Sisters support group.