Review of African Theatre and Performances

African Theatres and Performances. Osita Okagbue, Routledge, London, 2007, Pp. 200. ISBN 0 415 30453-9 (hbk). £60.

This new and important study describes and analyses the performance of Mmonwu – Igbo masquerade theatre, Bori – Hausa ritual theatre, Jaliya – the art of Mandinka griots and griottes, and Koteba (kote-tlon) – comedy and satire of the Bamana. Okagbue challenges the use of western critical approaches to describe and appreciate traditional and ancient performance forms in Africa.