Republic of the Congo / All works
Theatre
L'Europe inculpée
Not translated into English
Antoine Létembet-Ambily · 1969
Synopsis
Before Humanity, Africa, assisted by Asia, brings charges against Europe and white America. The importance of the trial brings Noah and his three sons, fathers of the continents, down from heaven: Shem for Asia, Ham for Africa, Japheth for Europe. Each son takes the side of his descendants, and Noah himself shows partiality toward Ham, whom he cursed. The charges, lèse-humanité and lèse-négrophilie, are coined for the occasion, and the inquiry proceeds by parody, in a playful tone that takes nothing away from the indictment.
Context
A drama in four acts, the play was written for the pan-African theatre competition organised by French radio, whose grand prize it received in 1969. It appeared in Paris in the competition's series, then in Yaoundé from the éditions Clé. The jury's critical reports noted its indictment of Europe by Africa and the descent of the sons of Noah; a study published in Bordeaux in 2021 stresses its parody. Its author later wrote other plays, including a tragedy in three acts in 1977, and a single novel in 1994.
Who it is for
A play in French, in four acts, known mainly through directories of African theatre. The comedy serves an indictment.
Prizes and reception
Grand Prize of the inter-African theatre competition in 1969; it is the play that the Brazzaville press first associates with its author.
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