Sankofa
An Uncle Ebo Whyte Play.
How many have sat in a Ghanaian university and been lectured by a Ghanaian lecturer, and found the lecture to be more of a "bless the minions with my immense knowledge session"?
How many have sat in a Western university and been lectured by a foreign lecturer, and found the lecture to be more of a "knowledge sharing, exchange of ideas session"?
What accounts for the difference?
Interestingly, most of the Ghanaian lecturers had their higher education in the West, and did experience these knowledge sharing and exchange of ideas sessions, so what happens when they become lecturers and they enter Ghanaian lecture halls? I say Ghanaian lecture halls, because trust me, lectures in the West by Ghanaian lecturers are nothing like lectures in Ghana by Ghanaian lecturers.
Can the Ghanaian remain in Ghana and achieve his/her full potential?
Sankofa tells the story of two distinguished Ghanaian professors, one of whom could have been credited for mentoring a Nobel prize laureate, but threw this opportunity away when he chose rather to frustrate this Nobel laureate. Many years later, this professor finds himself kowtowing to his former student in Australia. Serves him right? Well, as if that's not enough, he literally threw his own daughter away. A decision he has come to regret terribly.
Is it just me or do a lot of Ghanaian professors think they are all the way up there, and the rest of us are all the way down there? And this attitude exhibits itself in all aspects of their lives, from professional to personal, from work life to family life.
And what's this with parents deciding what their children should study in school and what profession they should be engaged in?
Sankofa, Uncle Ebo's 3rd quarter production will give us an insight into all of this, while making us laugh our heads off.
Venue: National Theatre
Date: 27th, 28th August and 3rd, 4th September
Time: 1st show 4pm, 2nd show 8pm
Rate: GH¢80.00
Tickets are available at all Airtel Shops; Shell Shops at Tema Community 11, Sakaman, Mallam, Dansoman, Achimota & East Legon; Joy FM; Frankies in Osu; Jane-Ann Supermarket and Motorway Supermarket, Tema.
Alternatively, tickets can be paid for via Airtel Money.
1. Dial *500#
2. Select Buy Goods
3. Select Other
4. Type "ROVERMAN"
5. Enter Amount
6. Enter your name, show date & time as Reference Number (e.g Efua Dentaa, 28th, 4pm)
7. Confirm payment details with your Airtel Money PIN
8. Present the confirmation text that'll be sent to you at the gate for entry.
Great Dentaa! Thanks
ReplyDeleteGlad you liking it Vivi.
DeleteNice piece Dentaa! A definite must see! Very funny play!
ReplyDeleteNana Sam
DeleteNana Sam
Nana Sam
Thank you (I so wish I could do a voice note here).
One of the reasons why Ghanaian lecturers in Ghana lecture the way they do is that although most of them had their education in the west it was a long time ago and lecturing in the West has evolved and moved on to become a knowledge sharing experience whilst in Ghana things remain the same. If they do go abroad they are forced to adapt and to use knowledge sharing approach instead of the rote learning that they encourage in Ghana. One thing about knowledge sharing is that you always have to be abreast with the latest knowledge and that calls for preparation otherwise your students will find you to have a knowledge deficit which can spell your doom. In Ghana most things remain the same as our colonial master bequathed us. The law profession, health care and many areas remain static whilst the advanced countries are striving for continuous improvement in all that they do. Thats why judges no longer wear wigs in court in the UK and the same applies to nurses but in Ghana once we find a way for doing things it never changes whether the method or system being used is found to be deficient. We take pride in this is how we do things here and you are either to take it or to leave it which is sad because we can do with continuously improving the way we do things.
ReplyDelete101% true!
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