A History of theatre in Africa /

Taking on the entire continent's performance history, these 18 valuable essays were written by scholars who are either indigenous to their area of discussion or who have vast experience within the region. In the opening essay, "Concepts of History and Theatre in Africa," Kole Omotoso lays out the importance of examining tribal and cultural differences in performance traditions. Each of the subsequent chapters includes an informative survey of theatrical practice, generally organized regionally and using linguistic terms and chronology. Among the more extensive chapters are "Francophone Africa South of the Sahara," "South Africa," and "Southern Africa," each highlighting the use of distinct language, styles, and notable performances. Other areas of discussion include, in North Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, and Sudan; in Anglophone West Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Cameroon; and, in East Africa, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Portuguese-speaking African countries are also mentioned, as are the remote islands of Mauritius and Reunion, cut off from mainland Africa. Although the study does not extend to African American theater, it closes with Osita Okagbue's essay "Surviving the Crossing: Theatre in the African Diaspora," which looks at the Caribbean and South America. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. E. C. Ramirez formerly, St. Philip's College