by crossriverwatch admin
The foundation established to relive the literary legacies of one of Africa’s foremost playwright, James Ene Henshaw, has concluded a one day capacity building on play production for school children in Cross River State.
The one day capacity building program tagged ‘Play in a Day,’ held at the Cultural Center, Calabar; with over 15 schools participating from across the state.
At the event students between the ages of 8 and 16 were made to work in groups to create plays around a general theme adapted from one of the famous writer’s works ‘Forbidden Love;’ and were later given the opportunity to showcase before a large audience.
Speaking to our reporter after the dramatic showcase by students, the late writer’s first son and secretary to the foundation, James Ewa Henshaw said the event was part of efforts to reengineer the presence of the playwright’s famous works in schools.
According to him “Ene Henshaw specifically wrote for young people. When he started writing there were not so many books portrayed or set within an African context.”
“While at schools people were reading Shakespeare and other books and these were far removed from the African experience. So he (James Ene Henshaw) wanted plays that Africans understood and see themselves in and this is what the foundation wants to carry on with.” He added
Also speaking, the creative director of the foundation, a UK based stage director, Moji Kareem who acknowledged that the event was aimed at helping children come together and share ideas said she had a successful time out with the children and that the foundation was happy about the result in the children’s performances.
James Ene Henshaw is Africa’s foremost playwright who despite being a physician was prolific in writing plays including ‘this is our chance;’ ‘medicine for love;’ ‘dinner for promotion;’ ‘children of the goddess;’ amongst others.
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