https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHUxw8t45Ug (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHUxw8t45Ug)
The “Lost Fishermen” are back at the National Theatre (http://francisdoku.blogspot.com/2011/02/lost-fisherman-are-back-at-national.html)
(https://www.abibitumikasa.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-PFyXSWGUFPw%2FTWfGAxblsqI%2FAAAAAAAAADg%2FCkStOddReyw%2Fs400%2Flostfishermen%252540655.jpg&hash=41d85b968dd5866fffec79bbbddef6dcafa38834) (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PFyXSWGUFPw/TWfGAxblsqI/AAAAAAAAADg/CkStOddReyw/s1600/lostfishermen%2540655.jpg)
TO say that Saka Acquaye was one of Ghana's foremost sculptors, painters and playwrights is as factual as saying that darkness comes in the night (don't bother to remind me that in some parts of the world it does not go dark in the night during certain periods of the year).
Another fact that needs to be acknowledged is that among all the great plays he wrote, one of the most definitive of his works and one that many critics and lovers of the arts would acknowledge as a great piece of work is "Lost Fishermen".
The "Lost Fishermen" is classified as a folk opera and it is acknowledged as "the most renowned work of the author, the late Saka Acquaye." It is sad though that for over 20 years it was left idle until last June when it was revived for the pleasure of theatre goers.
What really is the story of the "Lost Fishermen"? It tells the story of Ataa Amasa, a Ga chief who had no choice but to end up making a living as a fisherman, as a result of the reckless behaviour of his eldest son, Kotey.
Kotey who is without doubt the black sheep of his family, convinces his father and his entire crew of fishermen that Tuesday, a day on which fishing is strictly forbidden, is just another fishing day. In their ignorance, the fishermen paddled out to sea on a forbidden expedition, breaking an age –old taboo in their society. They are caught by a storm and are forced to endure series of harrowing and tragic experiences.
The play has been produced again and would be played at the National Theatre of Ghana this Sunday. According to Nii Addokwei Moffat, who directed the production, it "offers theatre lovers a rare 'edutainment' package, which is a treat for the emotions, the eyes, the ears, and the intellect."
Moffat goes on to say that "the production is an intricate blend of choral, poetry, drama and dance and enjoys wonderful choreography alongside fantastic audio-visual effects and scintillating lighting which deliver all the thrills of a folk opera….in the end, the experience leaves the audience breathless and spellbound."
"Lost Fishermen" would be performed at the National Theatre, on Sunday 27th February and will run twice at 3pm for children and 7pm for the general public. "There after the production will tour some selected cities, district capitals and second cycle institutions in Ghana," says the director who also added that the play will tour some parts of eureurasia and partake in some theatre festivals around the world.
You don't have to be a lover of theatre to know that a play by Saka Acquaye is a rare masterpiece that should not be missed if the opportunity to experience it is presented. Make a date this Sunday and see how Nii Addokwei Moffat and his motley of actors, actresses, lights, sound and all the necessary accoutrement would bring back to life this great work by the legendary Acquaye.
Come see how the fishermen found their way back home, if indeed they did!
Posted 25th February 2011 by dondoku (http://www.blogger.com/profile/05745457660206957369)
The 'Lost Fishermen' Is Backmyjoyonline
10 February 2007 | General News (https://www.modernghana.com/section/GeneralNews)
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THE "Lost Fishermen", a play by Saka Acquaye that last performed 19 years returned to the stage at a packed National Theatre last week.
The play, a musical, teaches society not to take for granted the myths surrounding certain natural phenomena deemed to be sacred.
Kotey is one of the fishermen from Accra but feels he knows everything and will dare what man has been forbidden not to do.
As is the custom with fishermen in Accra, they are not allowed to go fishing on Tuesdays and this is known even by the youngest person in the city of Accra.
Kotey however succeeds in luring his father and the rest of the fishermen to go fishing on a Tuesday and for their recalcitrance, they paid dearly for it. Their boat got missing in the deep seas until it is washed ashore at an island.
The drama unfolds at this island where they meet the women in the island whose beauty and charm made the fishermen, except their father who refused all decided to find their way back home but rather to get married and settle there in the island.
Here too Kotey mishaves and tries to bully Sackey because the woman he loves and want to marry is in love with the latter.
He kills both Sackey and the woman so the gods forbid him to go back to Accra with his father and the other members in the fishing team.
Because his father obeys the voice of the god and disallows him to follow them, he threatens to kill his father and this leads to his father disowning him.
Although the play ends tragically with the death of Kotey, together with Sackey and the woman they were both in love which, it portrays in comic sense the typical Ga fisher folk.
There is naked use of insults and foul language and spiced with rich traditional Ga songs and good traditional dances.
The play was staged by a cost of more than 30.
When later asked what he hoped to achieve with such piece, Mr. Saka Acquaye told Times Weekend it is meant to correct society.
He likened Kotey to the loud mouth in society, especially some priests and Christians who take for granted tradition and cultures regarding some sacred places.
"Some people call themselves Christians and so will not obey anything said concerning taboos in our societies," he said.
He said some politicians too are as loud mouthed as Kotey himself who promise everything on earth but have nothing to offer society.
Ancient History Sourcebook:
Tales of Ancient Egypt:
The Shipwrecked Sailor, c. 2200 BCETHE wise servant said, "Let thy heart be satisfied, O my lord, for that we have come back to the country; after we have been long on board, and rowed much, the prow has at last touched land. All the people rejoice and embrace us one after another. Moreover, we have come back in good health, and not a man is lacking; although we have been to the ends of Wawat [Nubia], and gone through the land of Senmut [Kush], we have returned in peace, and our land---behold, we have come back to it. Hear me, my lord; I have no other refuge. Wash thee, and turn the water over thy fingers; then go and tell the tale to the majesty."
His lord replied, "Thy heart continues still its wandering words! but although the mouth of a man may save him his words may also cover his face with confusion. Will you do then as your heart moves you? This that you will say, tell quietly."
The sailor then answered, "Now I shall tell that which has happened to me, to my very self. I was going to the mines of Pharaoh, and I went down on the sea in a ship of one hundred and fifty cubits long and forty cubits wide, with one hundred and fifty sailors of the best of Egypt who had seen heaven and earth, and whose hearts were stronger than lions. They had said that the wind would not be contrary, or that there would be none. But as we approached the land, the wind arose, and threw up waves eight cubits high. As for me, I seized a piece of wood; but those who were in the vessel perished, without one remaining. A wave threw me on an island, after that I had been three days alone, without a companion beside my own heart. I laid me in a thicket, and the shadow covered me. Then stretched I my limbs to try to find something for my mouth. I found there figs and grain, melons of all kinds, fishes, and birds. Nothing was lacking. And I satisfied myself; and left on the ground that which was over, of what my arms had been filled withal. I dug a pit, I lighted a fire, and I made a burnt offering unto the gods.
"Suddenly I heard a noise as of thunder, which I thought to be that of a wave of the sea. The trees shook, and the earth was moved. I uncovered my face, and I saw that a serpent drew near. He was thirty cubits long, and his beard greater than two cubits; his body was as overlaid with gold, and his color as that of true lazuli. He coiled himself before me. "Then he opened his mouth, while that I lay on my face before him, and he said to me, "What has brought you, what has brought you, little one, what has brought you? If you say not speedily what has brought you to this isle, I will make you know yourself; as a flame you shall vanish, if you tell me not something I have not heard, or which I knew not, before you.'
"Then he took me in his mouth and carried me to his resting-place, and laid me down without any hurt. I was whole and sound, and nothing was gone from me. Then he opened his mouth against me, while that I lay on my face before him, and he said, "What has brought you, what has brought you, little one, what has brought you to this isle which is in the sea, and of which the shores are in the midst of the waves?'
"Then I replied to him, and holding my arms low before him, I said to him, "I was embarked for the mines by the order of the majesty, in a ship, one hundred and fifty cubits was its length, and the width of it forty cubits. It had one hundred and fifty sailors of the best of Egypt, who had seen heaven and earth, and the hearts of whom were stronger than lions. They said that the wind would not be contrary, or that there would be none. Each of them exceeded his companion in the prudence of his heart and the strength of his arm, and I was not beneath any of them. A storm came upon us while we were on the sea. Hardly could we reach to the shore when the wind waxed yet greater, and the waves rose even eight cubits. As for me, I seized a piece of wood, while those who were in the boat perished without one being left with me for three days. Behold me now before you, for I was brought to this isle by a wave of the sea.'
"Then said he to me, "Fear not, fear not, little one, and make not your face sad. If you have come to me, it is God who has let you live. For it is He who has brought you to this isle of the blest, where nothing is lacking, and which is filled with all good things. See now, you shall pass one month after another, until you shall be four months in this isle. Then a ship shall come from your land with sailors, and you shall leave with them and go to your country, and you shall die in your town.'
'"Converse is pleasing, and he who tastes of it passes over his misery. I will therefore tell you of that which is in this isle. I am here with my brethren and my children around me; we are seventy-five serpents, children, and kindred; without naming a young girl who was brought unto me by chance, and on whom the fire of heaven fell, and burned her to ashes. As for you, if you are strong, and if your heart waits patiently, you shall press your infants to your bosom and embrace your wife. You shall return to your house which is full of all good things, you shall see your land, where you shall dwell in the midst of your kindred.'
"Then I bowed in my obeisance, and I touched the ground before him. "Behold now that which I have told you before. I shall tell of your presence unto Pharaoh, I shall make him to know of your greatness, and I will bring to you of the sacred oils and perfumes, and of incense of the temples with which all gods are honored. I shall tell, moreover, of that which I do now see (thanks to him), and there shall be rendered to you praises before the fullness of all the land. I shall slay asses for you in sacrifice, I shall pluck for you the birds, and I shall bring for you ships full of all kinds of the treasures of Egypt, as is comely to do unto a god, a friend of men in a far country, of which men know not.'
"Then he smiled at my speech, because of that which was in his heart, for he said to me: "You are not rich in perfumes, for all that you have is but common incense. As for me, I am prince of the land of Punt, and I have perfumes. Only the oil which you say you would bring is not common in this isle. But, when you shall depart from this place, you shall never more see this isle; it shall be changed into waves.'
"And behold, when the ship drew near, according to all that he had told me before, I got up into an high tree, to strive to see those who were within it. Then I came and told to him this matter, but it was already known unto him before. Then he said to me, "Farewell, farewell, go to your house, little one, see again your children, and let your name be good in your town; these are my wishes for you.'
"Then I bowed myself before him, and held my arms low before him, and he, he gave me gifts of precious perfumes, of cassia, of sweet woods, of kohl, of cypress, an abundance of incense, of ivory tusks, of baboons, of apes, and all kinds of precious things. I embarked all in the ship which was come, and bowing myself, I prayed God for him. Then he said to me, "Behold you shall come to your country in two months, you shall press to your bosom your children, and you shall rest in your tomb.' After this I went down to the shore unto the ship, and I called to the sailors who were there. Then on the shore I rendered adoration to the master of this isle and to those who dwelt therein.
"When we shall come, in our return, to the house of Pharaoh, in the second month, according to all that the serpent has said, we shall approach unto the palace. And I shall go in before Pharaoh, I shall bring the gifts which I have brought from this isle into the country. Then he shall thank me before the fullness of the land. Grant then unto me a follower, and lead me to the courtiers of the king. Cast your eye upon me after that I have both seen and proved this. Hear my prayer, for it is good to listen to people. It was said unto me, "Become a wise man, and you shall come to honor,' and behold I have become such."
This is finished from its beginning unto its end, even as it was found in a writing. It is written by the scribe of cunning fingers, Ameni-amenaa; may he live in life, wealth, and health!
Source:
From: Eva March Tappan, ed., The World's Story: A History of the World in Story, Song and Are, (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1914), Vol. III: Egypt, Kmt, and aAmwia, trans. W. K. Flinders Petrie, pp. 41-46.
Scanned by: J. S. Arkenberg, Dept. of History, Cal. State Fullerton. Prof. Arkenberg has modernized the text.
Shipwrecked SailorBlackmanCreated on 2008-08-05 by Mark-Jan Nederhof. Last modified 2015-01-25.The hieroglyphic of The Shipwrecked Sailor, following the transcription on pp. 41-48 of Blackman(1932). Blackman omitted positions 77 and 110, which we determined by means of De Buck(1948), pp. 100-106, and Golénischeff (1912), pp. 1-10. Further changes are:
Attached files Shipwrecked.pdf (https://www.abibitumi.com/wp-content/uploads/ppMigration/233944=10057-Shipwrecked.pdf) (729.6 KB)
QuoteObadele Kambon;233944 wrote: Shipwrecked SailorBlackmanCreated on 2008-08-05 by Mark-Jan Nederhof. Last modified 2015-01-25.The hieroglyphic of The Shipwrecked Sailor, following the transcription on pp. 41-48 of Blackman(1932). Blackman omitted positions 77 and 110, which we determined by means of De Buck(1948), pp. 100-106, and Golénischeff (1912), pp. 1-10. Further changes are:
This story is pretty deep! There is a clear narrative pattern linking the experiences of one being to the next, and the next after that via "let me tell you something similar happened to me..." .
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I agree. I'll be working with a colleague do a comparison between the first one mentioned (a play), this one and a third one, which is a Wolof movie. All of them have similar themes.
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I'm interested in what your findings will be from that comparison. Narrative structures that originate and are unique to us is a vital thing in my field.
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QuoteKreative Force;233973 wrote: I'm interested in what your findings will be from that comparison. Narrative structures that originate and are unique to us is a vital thing in my field.
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Then take a look at the pre-press proof of this article, which should be coming out by the end of this month:
https://www.abibitumikasa.com/forums/showthread.php/125412-Video-Parallels-between-Akan-Ananse-Stories-and-Yoru%CC%80ba%CC%81-I%CC%80ja%CC%80pa%CC%81-Tales?p=206208&viewfull=1#post206208 (https://www.abibitumikasa.com/forums/showthread.php/125412-Video-Parallels-between-Akan-Ananse-Stories-and-Yoru%CC%80ba%CC%81-I%CC%80ja%CC%80pa%CC%81-Tales?p=206208&viewfull=1#post206208)
There have been a few revisions--mainly for length--but all of the salient points have been retained between this version and the final version.
I'll be sure to share my findings on this here at AK.
Thank you. Ah yes I recall a video lecture you did on this very comparison. It was great. I can say the Dikenga as narrative structure theory is not just a theory. It is a functional structure.
I work alone & rather slowly unfortunately, but proof will be forthcoming.
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QuoteKreative Force;233976 wrote: Thank you. Ah yes I recall a video lecture you did on this very comparison. It was great. I can say the Dikenga as narrative structure theory is not just a theory. It is a functional structure.
I work alone & rather slowly unfortunately, but proof will be forthcoming.
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Thanks! I'm glad you appreciated it. Theory here doesn't mean something that isn't functional (or perhaps something that hasn't been experimented on and isn't proven as it may mean in other contexts), but rather that which helps us to explain, predict, and understand phenomena. It also refers to that which can be applied in other contexts on the basis of ease of application, appropriateness, and explanatory power cf. the quote from Fu-Kiau (1994: 26) “nothing exists that does not follow the steps of the cyclical Kongo cosmogram.” This speaks directly to the versatility of a theoretical framework using dikènga not only for literature, but for everything that has ever existed, exists now and ever will exist. If/when you are able to show and prove its functional validity in other contexts, it shows the strength of the theory.