The
Drum Beat of Uganda
Cultural Performers and Entertainers
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advantages of theater | entertainment education
EDUCATION
Since 1986, Uganda has been undergoing very fundamental changes with the government firmly committed to a people – based political and Economic Development strategy.
Key to this strategy is the powers and responsibilities given to the people to make decisions on matters that would positively make effective changes to their lives. The powers were decentralized to popularly elected local governments.
Now that the powers are in the hands of the people and freedom has been availed, our major problems are mainly HIV/ AIDS scourge, Poverty, Diseases and Ignorance. These can be overcome by sensitizing the populace through performance arts (theatre).
Given that:
Ø Over 80% of Uganda’s population is rural based.
Ø Less 1% use electricity for domestic purposes
Ø Over 50% cannot effectively read or write
Ø Most people survive on subsistence land production with all the pressure that goes with it
Ø The reading culture even among literate people is very low
The use conventional methods of dissemination namely radio, Television, News papers, manuals, handbooks, seminars, workshops and courses, are not very effective.
It is therefore important to design a more creative, far reaching and effective method of disseminating the crucial information. Well designed theatrical performances i.e. the use of music, dance, drama, story telling, proverbs, rituals and poems are the solution to this communication problem.
ADVANTAGES OF USING THEATRE AS AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF COMMUNICATION.
Throughout the history of Africans, Education has always been informal and communal. People always learn as they work, play, dance, converse etc..
Social knowledge is always preserved in, and passed on from generation to the next through songs, dances, stories, proverbs, wise sayings, poems rituals, etc. These have always been the great books of Africa. The use of western school education is a more recent phenomenon and had not yet covered the entire population.
The use of these tools in modern theatrical performances, therefore, is very advantageous because:
It is FAMILIAR – people are treated to familiar forms of music, dance, stories, language and methods of expression that are from their own traditions. There is no Cultural shock.
It is ATTRACTIVE - The element of entertainment is very attractive. The people are intrinsically motivated to come, to watch and to participate. Unlike official meetings and seminars where people feel that they are fulfilling their obligations to the chief and would look for any excuse to dodge them.
They are FRIENDLY – there is no segregattive protocol. All people do attend be they women, children, the poor, the destitute, all regions, all political affiliations, chiefs, priests, teachers, visitors, foreigners – name it. Everybody feels free to attend, to laugh, to cry, to curse or answer back without being intimidated or inhibited by their social status.
No need for PRE – ACQUIRED SKILLS. One does not need to have acquired specific skills such as reading and writing, English or Kiswahili in order to access the information in the play. Even those who may not full understand the local language used will benefit from the careful and elaborated body-language used to express meanings.
It is PARTICIPATORY.
The plays are designed in such a way that during the performances, the public has opportunities to spontaneously react and give their opinions on contentious issues.
The information is disseminated in REAL LIFE situations and circumstances; creating familiar and known characters do help the audience to relate what is on stage to their real life situations. It becomes easier to memorize debate, quote and implement the issues later.
It is a social MIRROR.
People see themselves on stage. They criticize, laugh at, complement and admire themselves. The final resolutions taken thereafter are seen as “ours”. People own the solutions and therefore implement them.
No NEED FOR MONEY OR COMPLICATED TECHINICAL FACILITIES.
All that is needed is an open ground. The drum Beat of Uganda do travel with their equipment including costumes, instruments etc. People simply attend since the shows are pre-paid.
It REACHES very many people at one go.
Since 1996, The Drum Beat of Uganda has pursued public Education through theatre. The following plays have been produced and performed country wide.
1997 EKIKANGABWA
About maternal mortality sponsored. Part of the money to run it was paid by UNFPA.
1998 – ETTU
About Agro - forestry sponsored by Vi Agro - forestry project, Masaka.
1999 AKASIMO K’OLUMBE
About the prevention of Cholera, sponsored by “The European Development Fund” ( EDF )
2000-2001 EKYONZIIRA
About people with disabilities, sponsored by “The European Development Fund”.
2000-2001 TWELAMULE
About criminal and juvenile justice, sponsored by “ The Chain Linked Initiative” and the Judiciary.
2001 CHOICES
About the use of protector condoms, sponsored by Commercial Markets Strategies
(CMS)
2002 CLEAR 7
Launching of drug that cures STDs in 7 days sponsored by Commercial Markets Strategies ( CMS )
2003 ENGABO
This play was sponsored by CMS project, the emphasis on the prevention of malaria by using a mosquito net known as SmartNet.
2004 KIRUMA NNYO
This was sponsored by LEDEWO PROJECT to educate our community on how to defend the property of widows and orphans. LEGAL DEFENCE FOR WIDOWS AND ORPHANS.
Copyright ©
2004 Drum Beat of Uganda