Review: Sankofa play
PHOTO: Sankofa play in action
By Xochitl Armien,
BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–
Sankofa, meaning ‘go back and fetch it’, is a beautiful story about the importance of learning the history of one’s cultural heritage. Based on the book “Grandpa, is Everything Black Bad?” by Sandy Holman, the play centers around a young boy named Montsho (Caleb C) who has been feeling low due to the anti-blackness he sees all around him.
When Montsho visits his family for Kwanzaa, they teach him about powerful African American figures throughout time which reboots his self esteem and pride in his culture.
The audience goes on a journey with Montsho and his imagination through each of the seven principles of Kwanzaa: One, Umoja (Unity), Two, Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Three, Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Four, Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Five, Nia (Purpose), Six, Kuumba (Creativity) Seven, Imani (Faith).
His family members teach him all seven of the principles of Kwanzaa by telling stories of African American historical figures who embody each principle. These figures come alive in Montsho’s imagination, as they tell their own stories, and teach him lessons.
The historical figures include Ida B. Wells, an activist and journalist, who teaches Montsho about Nia, the fifth principle, purpose. Bessie Colman, the first African American and Native American woman to earn a pilot’s license, teaches about self-determination. Montsho’s own grandmother teaches Ujima, or collective work, with her pot of Gumbo that the whole community contributed to.
The play incorporates a call and response of each principle and their English translation as African drumming resonates throughout the theater, during scene changes, providing a distinction between one story and another.
This beautiful story is sure to leave a lasting impression, whether it be of pride, or admiration of the wonders of African American culture, traditions and people.
