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Daughters of Africa is a theatre group with 12 strong cast members drawn from several African countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Cameroon, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique.
Directed by Leoni Jansen and produced by Peter Ultee, Daughters of Africa premièred at the Sarakasi Dome in Nairobi , Kenya . This pan-African show narrates the personal life stories of the cast and their hopes and ambitions.
The group is currently touring the Netherlands until May 2010. The teeming hordes of middle-aged Dutch Europhiles perhaps wandering aimlessly at various theatres across Europe looking for a break from typically European theatre productions need not wader anymore, as the Daughters of Africa are in town!
There is a lot to like about this group and thier colourful variation on themes familiar to most continental Africans. Gifted and likeable, the group portray what is great about African musical performances – colourful costumes, soulful vocals and beautifully choreographed dancing.
They tackle with no obvious discomfort the myriad of stories, sad and happy, through their songs that detract from the ubiquitous formulaic theatre productions avid theatre goers are subjeted to. The various paths of the cast members into the performance arts lend credence and a generous dose of truth to their performances.
This is a feel-everything musical that asks its audience, with operatic vigour, to discover an Africa that is less one dimensional than some will assume.
Photo Courtesy: AfricanReview.com; Umojaentertainment.com
