Dance Ensemble presents ‘Asipim’ at the National Theatre
Written by Prof. F.Nii–Yartey and co-choreographed with C.K Ladzekpo, the production was directed by Nii Tete-Yartey.
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‘Asipim’ is an allegory about the struggle for leadership in sub-Saharan Africa. It’s about a usurping king who eliminates the rightful heir to a throne, marries the latter’s widow and sets out to destroy the dynasty of the family. The twin sons of the disposed ruler, however, eventually reclaim the throne.
The production, in essence, depicts some of the causes of chieftaincy disputes such as the posing of charlatans as heirs to a throne and lack of proper investigations before installation of chiefs due to selfish interests.
‘Asipim’ validates the contention that a king should hail from a legitimate family and lineage and must have been nominated and enstooled in accordance with the relevant customary laws.
The restoration of traditional cultural values is what the drama is really about. Within Africa and even in the wider world, Ghana is known for its rich cultural heritage.
This educative drama demonstrated that chieftaincy disputes could bring about deep divisions among family members. They can erupt into violence that end up in loss of lives and property.
As Mr Ato Quayson, the emcee for the night, announced the commencement of the dance drama, whose set design was produced by David Amoo, a former director of the company, there thunderous applause from the crowd. It was attractive for the clever integration of various adinkra symbols.
The vocabulary of Ghanaian dances and gestures was cleverly welded into the dance drama. The story unfolded through movements and gestures rather than speech, and everything was beautifully embellished with authentic multi-cultural traditional drumming and captivating movements from dances such as Adzogbo, Klama, Gota, Tora and more.
The resilience, variety, energy and capacity for creative expression of artists were marvelously projected by the Ghana Dance Ensemble. The level of professionalism expressed by the company was so high that the audience could not help appreciating the glorious display of talents on stage.
On the whole, the Ghana Dance Ensemble’s performance of ‘Asipim’ at the National Theatre on September 27 was an exhilarating experience for the enthusiastic audience.
The work was presented but a collaborative effort between the ensemble and the National Theatre of Ghana.