National Theatre honours Bob Cole with Efu Pɔnkɔ

IN honour of the legendary musician Bob Cole, the National Theatre of Ghana is set to thrill theatre lovers with its latest play, Efu Pɔnkɔ. The play comes off on Friday, August 25 and Saturday, August 26 at 7:00pm each night.

Efu Pɔnkɔ is a unique folklore based on a song by the late Bob Cole titled, Ɛdwen Dɛɛ Ɛrɛ Yɛ Me.  

It tells the tale of a community where Efu Pɔnkɔ(The Camel) lives. After eating and getting satisfied anytime, Efu Pɔnkɔ starts fooling around to the displeasure of everyone.

 He refuses to listen to the wisdom of the cat, his best friend, who advises him to stop the foolishness all the time. Instead of listening to the cat, Efu Pɔnkɔ accuses his friend of being a thief. 

During one of his foolish acts of jumping around, Efu Pɔnkɔ accidentally kicks his master’s son, hurting him in the process. The master’s son is rushed to the hospital for treatment but the young man dies from his injuries.

 The death of the master’s son lands all the other animals in trouble— horse, goat, sheep, cow and fowl. First of all, the horse injures his legs as he runs at top speed to get medical care for their master’s son.

The rest of the farm animals end up in the sumptuous meals prepared for mourners— sympathisers, family members and friends, whocome for the boy’s funeral.

Efu Pɔnkɔ, which is under the auspices of the Ministry of Arts, Tourism and Culture is a creative collaboration of the resident groups of National Theatre—National Dance Company, National Symphony Orchestra, and National Drama Company; and the Ghana Concert Party.

Efu Pɔnkɔ relates to many negative happenings in today’s Ghana including illegal mining, poor sanitation, ethnic conflicts, teenage pregnancy and school dropouts.

It also focuses on highlighting and addressing other issues such as rural and urban migration, stowaway and other social menaces stifling the country’s development.

 Tickets of Efu Pɔnkɔ sells at GHc100 at the gate.