{"product_id":"african-theatres-and-performances-theatres-of-the-world","title":"African Theatres and Performances - Theatres of the World","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of African Theatres and Performances, the reviewer finds a focused, ethnographic study that will appeal to students, scholars, and readers curious about performance across West Africa. Osita Okagbue offers close, firsthand observation of four distinct theatrical forms and the single biggest reason to buy this book is its sustained effort to question western frames while documenting how performance is made, who it is made by and for, and the social functions it serves in community life.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEthnographic focus:\u003c\/strong\u003e Detailed, first-hand observation and interviews give readers direct insight into performance practice rather than secondhand summaries.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRegional range:\u003c\/strong\u003e The book examines distinct forms from Eastern Nigeria, Northern Nigeria, Senegal, and Mali, offering comparative perspective across West Africa.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMasquerade theatre chapter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Describes how masquerade is constructed and performed, clarifying its cultural role and material production.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTrance and possession analysis:\u003c\/strong\u003e Documents the ritual theatre of the Hausa with attention to trance states and spectator relationships.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMusic and oral tradition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Covers Mandinka musical and oral practices in Senegal, highlighting how sound frames narrative and memory.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComedy and satire insight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Explores Bamana comedy in Mali and its social commentary and audience dynamics.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book is aimed primarily at readers in performing arts, anthropology, and theatre history who want a rigorous, field-based account of African performance traditions. Graduate students and instructors seeking case studies for courses in \u003cstrong\u003etheatre history\u003c\/strong\u003e or African studies will find the material useful and well grounded in interviews and observation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThose looking for a broad, illustrated coffee-table overview or a how-to manual for staging these forms should look elsewhere; the text is analytical and descriptive rather than richly illustrated or instructional about staging techniques.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvides careful, first-hand ethnographic description that supports comparative analysis of West African performance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAddresses cultural context and audience relationships, making social functions of theatre clear.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes distinct case studies (masquerade, trance, music, satire) that together broaden understanding of regional diversity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eThe format is analytical and text-centered, so readers expecting extensive visual documentation or practical staging guidance may be disappointed.\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAfrican Theatres and Performances\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSeries\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTheatres of the World\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOsita Okagbue\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRegions covered\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEastern Nigeria, Northern Nigeria, Senegal, Mali\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePerformance forms examined\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMasquerade, trance and possession ritual, Mandinka musical oral tradition, Bamana comedy and satire\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMethod\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFirst-hand observation and interviews\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfrican Theatres and Performances is a concise, evidence-driven study ideal for scholars and students of \u003cstrong\u003eperforming arts\u003c\/strong\u003e and African cultural history who need grounded case studies. Its value lies in firsthand documentation and critical framing that resists simplistic western comparison, making it a worthwhile purchase for academic libraries and courses.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this book include field interviews?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. The discussions are based on first-hand observation and interviews with performers and spectators.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhich regions does the book focus on?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt examines performance forms in Eastern Nigeria, Northern Nigeria, Senegal, and Mali.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this a how-to guide for performance?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. The book is analytical and descriptive rather than an instructional staging manual.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Osita Okagbue","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48774027706587,"sku":"0415304539","price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/614SeTwZf5L._SL1360.jpg?v=1778768687","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/african-theatres-and-performances-theatres-of-the-world","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}