Efua T Sutherland: Africa`S Woman Someone Pioneer Dramatist, Cultural Visionary As Well As Activist As Well As Dark Africa`S Virtually Famous Adult Woman Writer

Dr Efua Theodora Sutherland (27 June 1924—2 Jan 1996) was a celebrated Ghanaian playwright, director, children's author, poet in addition to pioneer dramatist of international renown. She was also an teacher, scholar, an unapologetic Pan-African cultural visionary in addition to activist of ethnic Fante extraction. Before 1965 when the First President of the Republic of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the famous Pan-African leader called for the documentation of “our folktales” equally a way of creating “African Classics” for posterity (Nketia’s Preface to Owusu-Sarpong (1998)), Efua T. Sutherland emerged equally 1 of the literary figures who identified the worth of “our folktales” in addition to indeed modified 1 into a play virtually 7 years earlier. She is the woman parent of  well-known prolific writer, cultural activist in addition to academician, Esi Sutherland-Addy who is a professor at the Institute of African Studies (University of Ghana) working inwards the Language Literature in addition to Drama Section.

Efua Theodora Sutherland,  celebrated Ghanaian playwright, director, children's author, poet , Pan African cultural activist in addition to pioneer dramatist of international renown.

As 1 of the Africa`s early on woman soul writers, Efua Sutherland is internationally known literary industrial plant include Foriwa (1962), Edufa (1967), in addition to The Marriage of Anansewa (1975). She has also published juvenile literature inwards the cast of children’s beat plays such equally Vulture, Vulture in addition to Tahinta, which she has tried to usage inwards her private grade school. Efua T Sutherland pupil was the legendary African writer, Professor Ama Ata Aidoo. In fact, when Ama Ata Aidoo studied drama at the University of Republic of Ghana inwards the early on 1960s, her mentor was Sutherland.
Apart from Mabel Dove Danquah, born inwards 1910, who had started publishing essays , curt stories, in addition to plays inwards the West African Times equally early on equally the 1950s to limited her concern over the identify in addition to role of women inwards contemporary Ghana, Sutherland tin live regarded equally the woman parent of West African Literature inwards English. Donald Herdeck has called her “Black Africa’s most famous adult woman writer”. Even though her scream has been dropped out past times feminist critics similar Florence Straton inwards her Contemporary African Literature in addition to the Politics of Gender in addition to Adola James’s In their Own Voices, for reasons that are non slow to explain, she is far from beingness an occasional writer. Her industrial plant are published inwards both Longman in addition to Heineman Editions in addition to her curt stories are anthologised both at domicile in addition to abroad. Her identify inwards West African feminist literature is neither a affair of seniority over other authors such equally Flora Nwappa, Ama Ata Aidoo, in addition to Buchi Emecheta, nor that of amount of publications. She deserves a identify inwards the West African literary tradition because she has earned it through that literary procedure of revision which T.S. Eliot considers equally beingness necessary for the affirmation of private talents in addition to the existence of literary traditions. Charlotte H. Burner has rightly placed her inwards the 3rd position, after Mabel Dove Danquah in addition to Adelaide Casely-Hayford inwards her anthology of African adult woman writers entitled Unwinding Threads.
Sutherland's plays were often based on African myths in addition to legends, but she also used Western sources, such equally Euripides in addition to Lewis Carroll.
"I'm on a journeying of discovery. I'm discovering my ain people.
 I didn't grow upwards inwards rural Republic of Ghana - I grew upwards inwards Cape Coast with
a Christian family. It's a fine family, but at that topographic point are sure enough hidden
areas of Ghanaian life - of import areas of Ghanaian life, that I
exactly wasn't inwards touching with; inwards the past times iv or v years I've made
a rattling concentrated endeavour to brand that untrue. And I experience I know
my people now." (Efua Sutherland inwards Cultural Events inwards Africa, no. 42, 1968)
In her many years of beingness at the forefront of literary in addition to theatrical movements inwards Republic of Ghana she founded the Republic of Ghana Drama Studio, the Republic of Ghana Society of Writers, the literary journal Okyeame, the Republic of Ghana Experimental Theatre, in addition to a community projection called the Kodzidan (Story House) for the preservation of oral literature in addition to the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Center for Pan African Culture. She was an influential figure inwards the establishment of modern Ghanaian theatre, in addition to helped to flora the report of African performance traditions at academy level.
Apart from her undying devotion to edifice indigenous models of excellence inwards civilization in addition to education, she served equally mentor in addition to inspiration to many notable African personalities inwards the arts in addition to professions, including author Ama Ata Aidoo, celluloid maker Kwaw Ansah in addition to writer-illustrator Meshak Asare.
Auntie Efua, equally she was affectionately known, made children’s issues primal to her life in addition to work. After pioneering an indigenous motion inwards writing, publishing in addition to evolution through drama for children, she was appointed inwards the 1980’s to Pb Republic of Ghana to travel the foremost province to ratify the U.N. Convention on the Declaration of Rights of the Child.  Through the function of the Republic of Ghana National Commission on Children, of which she was a founding fellow member in addition to Chair, several initiatives for children were moved forrard including the Children’s Park Library Complex network,  Child Literacy in addition to Mobile Science Laboratory projects, equally good equally the commissioning of extensive enquiry on the Ghanaian child.
Her function received recognition from both the province in addition to major agencies such equally the Valco Trust Fund, the Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundation, UNICEF in addition to UNESCO. Other important supporters included Arthur in addition to Ruth Sloan, the Arthur in addition to Dorothy Clift identify unit of measurement of Bromley, UK, Dr. Vivian O. Windley, Merle Worth, the Abyssinian Baptist Church inwards Harlem, USA in addition to the Children’s Television Network.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 twelve-acre infinite reserved for a children’s common inwards primal Accra through the advocacy of Efua Sutherland was renamed posthumously inwards her honor. Efua Sutherlandstraat is 1 of a number of streets inwards an surface area of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, named for remarkable women writers in addition to activists.
She was born Efua Theodora Morgue inwards Cape Coast on 27 June 1 924. She was named after her maternal great-grandmother Nana Ama Nyankomo. Her father, Harry Peter Morgue from the identify unit of measurement of Chief Moore of Nsona Paado, Cape Coast, was a well-known instructor of English linguistic communication who in 1 lawsuit taught at Accra Academy. Her mother, Harriet Efua Maria Parker, was from the regal families of Gomua Brofo in addition to Anomabu, peculiarly the branch founded past times Barima Ansaful at Gyegyano, Cape Coast.
Despite her regal birth, Efua had a rattling humble in addition to hard early on life; her eventual greatness may live to a greater extent than of a personal achievement than an inherited identify unit of measurement fortune. Her immature woman parent died inwards a
lorry accident at historic catamenia 18, leaving 5-month former Efua inwards the tending of her grandmother Araba Mansa,
whose personal sacrifice in addition to illustration of hard function equally a bakery ensured Efua's survival in addition to provided the unmarried most of import impact on her later on evolution into a most resourceful personality.
Theodora Olivia Morgue, equally Efua became known, began her primary pedagogy at the Government Girls School in addition to later on moved to St. Monica's, both inwards Cape Coast. She took the Standard Seven
exam patch she was silent inwards Standard Six, in addition to did so good she won a scholarship to the St. Monica's Training College at Ansate Manpong. St Monica's was founded in addition to run past times Anglican Sisters of the Order of the Holy Paraclete, based inwards Yorkshire, England. The nuns inwards both Cape Coast in addition to Mampong had such important influence on the immature Efua that she seriously considered becoming a nun in addition to would have got gone to England for convent preparation had her grandmother non intervened.
At 18, she began teaching at senior primary bird but shortly joined the staff of St. Monica's Training College. In 1947, after five-and-half years of teaching, she went to England where she studied for a B.A. grade at Homerton College, Cambridge University. She spent some other twelvemonth at the School of Oriental in addition to African Studies, London, specialising inwards English linguistic communication linguistics, African languages, in addition to drama. Back inwards Republic of Ghana inwards 1950, she returned to St. Monica's but later on transferred to Fijar Secondary School in addition to so to Achimota School.
In 1954, Efua married William Sutherland, an African American who had been living inwards Republic of Ghana in addition to worked from 1951 -57 to assist found what is at in 1 lawsuit Tsito Secondary School inwards the Volta Region. Efua spent business office of the catamenia inwards Tsito to assist with the foundation work. Efua in addition to Bill had iii children, Esi Reiter, Ralph Gynan, in addition to Muriel Amowi, who have got since travel a academy enquiry fellow, an architect, in addition to a lawyer respectively.

    Professor Esi Sutherland-Addy, immature adult woman of Dr Efua T Sutherland, the famous Ghanaian writer, dramatist in addition to cultural activist.

Through achievements inwards civilization Republic of Ghana also gained attending in addition to prestige on the international scene. In the 1980s Sutherland served equally advisor to the president of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings, who led a cop inwards 1981, in addition to started economical reforms. Sutherland died on Jan 2, 1996.

It is against this identify unit of measurement in addition to educational background that we. must assess the unusual impact of Efua

Sutherland's populace life equally educator, creative artist, in addition to activist social visionary. She is best known equally a dramatist, but her function inwards this surface area was ever informed past times a compelling vision of a meliorate society, in addition to she chose appropriate cultural pedagogy equally the best foundation on which such social club could live established. Like many others, she could have got used her considerable talents in addition to skills inwards the advertisement of a spectacular private career. Instead, she chose to percentage her gifts with social club at large past times investing her energies inwards the edifice of model programmes in addition to institutions, in addition to inwards the
preparation of a hereafter generation.

 Bill Sutherland hubby of the famous Ghanaian writer, dramatist in addition to cultural activist Efua T Sutherland. Bill Sutherland, was unofficial ambassador betwixt the peoples of Africa in addition to the Americas for over l years, died peacefully on the eve of Jan 2, 2010. He was 91. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 life-long pacifist in addition to liberation advocate, Sutherland became involved inwards civil rights in addition to anti-war activities equally a youthful fellow member of the Student Christian Movement inwards the 1930s.

Efua Sutherland's reputation equally the founder in addition to woman parent figure behind the national theatre motion may best live measured past times the many key institutions in addition to programmes she was instrumental inwards bringing into being. She was the prime number mover inwards the founding of the Republic of Ghana Society of Writers (1957). Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 twelvemonth later, the Republic of Ghana Experimental Theatre Company was launched nether her
direction. She helped to found the Okyeame literary journal inwards 1961.
Through her pioneering enquiry into Ghanaian oral traditions, she introduced onto the stage the unique dramatic cast of Anansegoro, deriving its creative model from traditional story-telling drama. To render an ideal rehearsal in addition to performance infinite for the emerging national theatre movement, she mobilised funds in addition to supervised the edifice of the Republic of Ghana Drama Studio, ensuring that its pattern was inwards harmony with performance demands of African theatre practice. She founded Kusum Agoromba, 'a full-time drama companionship based at the Drama Studio in addition to dedicated to performing lineament plays inwards Akan.... inwards towns in addition to villages all over the country.' She provided creative leadership to the Workers' Brigade Drama Group in addition to to the Drama Studio Players.
In May 1963, Efua Sutherland became a Research Associate of the Institute of African Studies. As business office of the move, she handed over the Drama Studio to the University of Republic of Ghana to live issued equally 'an extension segmentation of the School of Music, Dance in addition to Drama.' Through the Drama Studio Programme in addition to the Drama Research Unit of the Institute, Efua Sutherland worked with the belatedly Joe de Graft in addition to others to build the foundations of what was shortly to travel a model programme inwards drama in addition to theatre studies in addition to exercise inwards Africa One of her most oftentimes cited projects, the Atwia Experimental Community Theatre Project, is recognised world-wide equally a pioneering model for the at in 1 lawsuit pop Theatre for Development. Araba: The Village Story is a major documentary celluloid done inwards 1 967 past times the American television receiver network ABC to tape the success of this unique
experimental project.

Edufa past times Efua T Sutherland

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 peculiarly important aspect of Efua Sutherland's function was the Children's Drama Development Project. This multi-year projection focused on enquiry into the cultural life of children inwards society, used the data gathered equally a footing for writing, producing in addition to publishing appropriate plays for children. Conferences, workshops in addition to examine productions organised equally business office of this projection have got left us with an of import collection of plays for children, with them R.A. Cantey's Republic of Ghana Motion, Togbe Kwamuar's The Perpetual Stone Mill, Kwamena Ampah's Hwe No Yie, Koku Amuzu's The New Born Child in addition to the Maid Servant, JoeManu-Amponsah's Gates to Mother, Kofi Hiheta's Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Bench of Chances, in addition to Kofi Anyidoho;s Akpokplo{Ewe in addition to English). Regrettably, the preparation of these plays for formal publication inwards a major anthology is 1 of the many vital projects which Auntie Efua's expiry has left unfinished.
The 25th Anniversary Programme of the Drama Studio, the concluding stage of Efua Sutherland's distinguished career inwards the national theatre movement, coincided with her retirement from the University of Republic of Ghana inwards 1984. The programme opened with an impressive in addition to symbolic Ceremony of Remembrance in addition to moved into a major documentation projection roofing diverse forms of drama that have got evolved equally business office of the national theatre motion The 25th Anniversary Programme, ironically, suffered a serious set-back when the Drama Studio was demolished to brand way for the
construction of the National Theatre.
Although Auntie Efua was deeply wound past times the demolition of the studio, she continued to function over the side past times side 2 years to convey the documentation programme to a reasonable completion. It was also inwards the concluding stage of her function that she gave to Republic of Ghana in addition to the African world belike her grandest artistic vision for uplifting in addition to reuniting African peoples through the arts- an master copy proposal for the Pan African Historical Theatre Festival, the Panafest Movement. This concluding gift underscores the significance she attached to connections betwixt Africa in addition to the Diaspora. She played a rattling critical role inwards the establishment of the W.E.B. DuBois Memorial Centre for Pan African Culture.
She belonged to an extensive global network of friends, many of them eminent creative minds.
Efua Sutherland's long in addition to distinguished career had also left an impressive corpus of creative works, making her 1 of Africa's best known writers. In add-on to a number of essays, articles, curt stories in addition to poems, her published industrial plant include a curt biography of Bob Johnson, 'the manful soul parent of the concert political party tradition', equally good equally several other books—Playtime inwards Africa, The Roadmakers, Edufa, Foriwa, Odasani, Anansegoro: Story-Telling Drama inwards Ghana, The Marriage of Anansewa, You Swore an Oath, Vulture! Vulture! [and Tahinta]: Two Rhythm Plays, in addition to The
Voice inwards the Forest. Her unpublished plays for children include The Pineapple Child, Nyamekye, Tweedledum in addition to Tweedledee, Ananse in addition to the Dwarf Brigade, Wohye me Bo, in addition to Children of
the Man-Made Lake.
Her best known plays are Edufa (1967) (based on Alcestis past times Euripides), Foriwa (1967), in addition to The Marriage of Anansewa (1975).
In Edufa the eponymous grapheme seeks to escape expiry past times manipulating his wife, Ampoma, to the expiry that has been predicted for him past times oracles. In the play, Sutherland uses traditional Ghanaian beliefs inwards divination in addition to the interaction of traditional in addition to European ceremonies inwards monastic enjoin to portray Edufa equally a rich in addition to successful modern soul who is held inwards high esteem past times his people. The play uses traditional ritual in addition to symbolism, but the story is told inwards the context of Edufa's capitalistic abandonment of his moral commitment to his wife, patch his married adult woman in addition to the other women favour the morality of the past.
In Foriwa the eponymous character, who is the immature adult woman of the queen woman parent of Kyerefaso, in addition to Labaran, a graduate from northern Republic of Ghana who lives a uncomplicated life, convey enlightenment to Kyerefaso, a town that has travel backward in addition to ignorant because the town's elders reject to larn novel ways. Foriwa's main theme is the alliance of former traditions in addition to novel ways. The play has a national theme to promote a novel national spirit inwards Republic of Ghana that would encourage openness to novel ideas in addition to inter-ethnic cooperation.
The Marriage of Anansewa: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Storytelling Drama (1975) is considered Sutherland's most valuable contribution to Ghanaian drama in addition to theater. In the play, she transmutes traditional Akan Ananse Spider tales (Anansesem) into a novel dramatic structure, which she calls Anansegoro. Nyamekye (a version of Alice inwards Wonderland), 1 of her later on plays, shows how she was influenced past times the folk opera tradition.
As a major literary voice, she was concerned virtually the demand for making industrial plant past times African writers available through local publishing. To this end, she played a key role equally founder of Afram Publications Republic of Ghana Ltd inwards the early on Seventies in addition to until her expiry maintained an active role inwards the
editorial function of Afram. It is to her credit in addition to to that of all who have got worked with her that iii of the winners of the 1995 Valco Fund Literary Awards are industrial plant published past times Afram.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 concern for children is primal to all of Efua Sutherland's life in addition to work. Even after her retirement from the University of Ghana, she was to devote the concluding stage of her populace life to foundation function inwards the establishment of the Republic of Ghana National Commission on Children. She was a foundation fellow member (1979-1983) in addition to later on chairperson of the commission (1983- 1990). The function of this commission, especially through the impact of kid pedagogy programmes designed around a national network of children's parklibrary complexes, the documentation of the province of affairs of the Ghanaian child, in addition to the influencing of province policy on kid life, shall remain 1 of Efua Sutherland's most important lasting gifts to her nation.
Efua Sutherland served on several other national in addition to international boards in addition to committees, including the Education Commission, the Valco Fund Board of Trustees, in addition to the Republic of Ghana National Commission for UNESCO. Her function received recognition in addition to sponsorship from both the province in addition to such major agencies equally the Valco Trust Fund, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Ford Foundation, UNICEF, in addition to UNESCO.
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the achievement of a total academy status, the University of Republic of Ghana selected Efua Sutherland equally 1 of a little grouping of eminent individuals whose
contribution has had a profound impact on the evolution of the academy in addition to of the social club at large:
"Efua Theodora Sutherland, for the inspiration provided to the development
of the Dramatic Art, in addition to inwards recognition of your efforts on behalf of children
for whose do goodness yous have got canvassed children's libraries in addition to amusement
parks, the University of Republic of Ghana is privileged to honour yous with thedegree of
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa."

Selected works:
*The Roadmakers, 1961 (photographs past times Willis E. Bell)
*Foriwa, 1962
*Playtime inwards Africa, 1962 (photograps past times Willis E. Bell)
*Edufa, 1967 (based on Euripides's Alcestis)
*Odasani, 1967 (based on Everyman)
*Vulture! Vulture! in addition to Tahinta: Two Rhythm Plays, 1968
*The Original Bob: The Story of Bob Johnson, Ghana's Ace Comedian, 1970
*Anase in addition to the Dwarf Brigade, 1971 (based on Lewis Carroll's Alice inwards the Wonderland)
*Anansegoro: Story-telling Drama inwards Ghana, 1975
*The Marriage of Anansewa, 1975
*Efua Sutherland of Ghana, 1978 (recording)
*The Voice inwards the Forest, 1983
*The Marriage of Anansewa in addition to Edufa, 1987

source:http://archive.lib.msu.edu/DMC/African%20Journals/pdfs/glendora%20review/vol1no3/graa001003003.pdf

Sutherland’s Creativity at Work: The New Family of Mr. Ananse the Spider in The Marriage of Anansewa
                                  P.B. Mireku-Gyimah
Centre for Communication in addition to Entrepreneurship Skills (CENCES), University of
Mines in addition to Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, Ghana

Abstract: This report explores characterization inwards Efua T. Sutherland’s The Marriage of Anansewa in addition to demonstrates the playwright’s imagination in addition to inventiveness at work. Unlike the traditional members of Ananse’s identify unit of measurement inwards Akan folktales comprising a married adult woman (Asɔ), iv sons (Ntekuma, Afurudohwedohwe, Tikenenkene in addition to Nyankorɔnhweaa) in addition to sometimes unnamed in-laws, Sutherland creates a immature adult woman (Anansewa), a woman parent (Aya), an aunt (Ekuwa) in addition to a lover (Christie) for Ananse. Thus at that topographic point are at in 1 lawsuit iv novel females inwards Ananse’s novel identify unit of measurement to residual the iv males inwards the master copy Ananse family, counting out human in addition to wife. Unfortunately, Sutherland kills off Asɔ. Anansewa in addition to Christie are main characters but Aya in addition to Ekuwa are made little characters. Besides this introduction of iv women into Ananse’s extended identify unit of measurement is Sutherland’s creation of a novel identity for Ananse. He is a modernized Ghanaian with an English linguistic communication name, George. Sutherland artistically introduces a novel dimension to Ananse past times redefining his identity equally a modern citizen of the globalized world. Whereas inwards the traditional folktales Ananse often cheats the members of his identify unit of measurement forcing them to regain ways in addition to agency to travel past times foiling Ananse’s tricky plans, Sutherland’s novel identify unit of measurement members play an exclusively different role: they are witting or unconscious collaborators of Ananse’s system to cheat others. It is concluded that, past times this novel dimension of characters in addition to the roles they play which convey freshness in addition to popularization to the Akan folktales, Sutherland has elevated the Akan folktales to travel an African Classic.

INTRODUCTION
Before 1965 when the First President of the Republic of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah,
the famous Pan-African leader called for the documentation of “our folktales” equally a way of creating
“African Classics” for posterity (Nketia’s Preface to Owusu-Sarpong (1998)), Efua T. Sutherland emerged equally 1 of the literary figures who identified the worth of “our folktales” in addition to indeed modified 1 into a play virtually 7 years earlier. She came upwards with her play entitled The Marriage of Anansewa (TMA), which was foremost published inwards 1958. This drama, which is based on
the Akan folktales, was published after productions inwards Akan in addition to inwards English linguistic communication past times iii different notable Ghanaian performing groups, namely the Workers’ Brigade Drama Group, Kusum Agoromba (Kusum Players) in addition to the Drama Studio Players in addition to Kusum Agoromba combined (Sutherland, 1997). Sutherland’s function has enjoyed patronage for decades. In her dedication of the 1986 edition of TMA, Sutherland (1997) observes that a Ceremony of Remembrance was held to score the 25th Anniversary of the Republic of Ghana Drama Studio, her brainchild. She notes that the ceremony, which took the “‘form of a dramatic recall of the industrial plant of deceased creative personalities who contributed to the evolution of Ghana’s heritage of dramatic arts’”, was also used to scream upwards “‘such creative thinkers of the past times who left a heritage of perceptions virtually social club inwards scholarly in addition to other industrial plant from which inspiration tin live drawn for artistic creation today’”.
Today, inwards the twelvemonth 2013, Sutherland herself tin live counted equally 1 of the “deceased” luminaries of the past times which she referred to inwards the 1986 dedication. Sutherland’s book, TMA, has continued to savor success with both immature in addition to former inwards both academic in addition to non-academic circles in addition to this has been the consequence of a number of things, including the playwright’s powerfulness to grip the story-telling tradition of the Akan inwards some interesting ways. For example, inwards the play, she remains truthful to the conventions of the folktale tradition, touching on its themes of love in addition to communality with others, projecting the Akan traditional union in addition to raising topical issues such equally the hypocrisy of some
Christians in addition to their church, non forgetting her profuse usage of mboguo (song interludes).
Apart from all these, Sutherland vividly evokes the main character: arch-hero, trickster par excellence in addition to possessor of the Akan folktales, Ananse the Spider, personified equally Kweku Ananse. She also shows literary prowess inwards her characterization, that is, her “creation of imaginary persons so that they be for the reader equally life-like” (Holman in addition to Harman, 1986; qtd inwards Teiko, 2011). In fact, Sutherland portrays peachy artistic talent inwards the creation of novel characters for the Akan folktales,
especially her extension of the traditional Ananse family. These novel characters are mostly complex in addition to believable in addition to assist explicate the play’s major themes of deception, gullibility, love in addition to marriage.
This newspaper leans on TMA to demonstrate Efua T. Sutherland’s inventiveness at function inwards iv major ways equally far equally the traditional Ananse identify unit of measurement is concerned, particularly, past times the introduction of iv females into the male-dominated family; first, past times her creation of a immature adult woman into the identify unit of measurement which hitherto has had all-male children; second, past times her creation of a lover for Ananse; third, past times her creation of a woman parent for Ananse; and, finally, past times her creation of an aunt for Ananse. In addition, the newspaper studies Sutherland’s creation of a novel identity for Ananse himself equally a modern Ghanaian
human in addition to an anglicized 1 for that affair (with the foremost scream George). It is instructive to regime annotation that all these characters are novel in addition to different from the traditional members of Mr Ananse the Spider’s identify unit of measurement inwards the Akan folktales.
Traditionally, Ananse’s nuclear identify unit of measurement members are five; they comprise Ananse’s wife, Asɔ in addition to iv sons. Of the iv sons, only one, Ntekuma, is normal whereas iii are physically challenged. Afurudohwedohwe, Tikenenkene in addition to Nyankorɔnhweaa have got aptronyms describing their physical deformities: Afurudohwedohwe literally agency Very Very Big Stomach, Tikenenkene agency Very Very Big Head in addition to Nyankorɔnhweaa, agency Very Very Tiny Legs. Asɔ, the married adult woman in addition to mother, is non business office of the novel identify unit of measurement inwards TMA, for, unfortunately, Sutherland kills her off.

“THE MARRIAGE OF ANANSEWA”: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 BRIEF SUMMARY
Sutherland’s work, TMA, is an African play in addition to sourced from an Akan folktale whose story has the poor, struggling father, Kweku Ananse, devising a programme to escape the hardships of life, especially the economical dire straits inwards which he finds himself in addition to his inability to easily pay his immature adult woman Anansewa’s schoolhouse fees, with other needs.
Ananse advertises the photograph of his immature adult woman to iv prominent chiefs of the Blue Planet in addition to succeeds inwards conniving with his immature adult woman to manipulate them to compete unknowingly equally suitors seeking the mitt of his immature adult woman inwards marriage. Ananse profits from the gifts which each main pours on him for the sake of the immature adult woman so equally to win her consent. She, of course, would consent to get hitched with only one-the 1 who, according to the father’s clandestine plan, would plough out to live most caring. Meanwhile, each 1 of the chiefs thinks he is the only lover or suitor (for so does Ananse brand it to appear to them). Therefore, each main goes on to select a appointment for the customary marriage, which Sutherland calls the “head-drink ceremony”.
Unfortunately, all the iv men select the same appointment for this union ceremony. The clash of the dates presents a serious employment which Ananse must solve fast before the employment brings him trouble. Ananse gets the immature adult woman to pretend to live dead on that special day, knowing that “nobody marries a corpse”. More importantly, he would live enabled to usage the sad in addition to unfortunate lawsuit to see the reactions of the suitors, approximate in addition to select the 1 who demonstrates truthful compassion, sympathy in addition to love at such a time. The message of Anansewa’s untimely expiry is conveyed to each suitor. In this highly emotionally charged atmosphere, Ananse so desperately in addition to seriously mourns his sad loss that he would non live consoled inwards whatever way, especially when the chiefs’ messengers get to brand it to console him on his bereavement.
The messengers of the Chief of the Mines brand it first, so those of the Chief of Sapaase, followed past times those of the Chief of Akate and, finally, those of Chief-Who-Is-Chief, the preferred suitor. The “wealthy paramount Chief of the Mines”… has this to say:
"That because this lady had non yet travel his wife,
he cannot give her burial; but that which custom does
permit, he is non reluctant to fulfil. He sends “this bolt
of silk, this kente textile from Bonwire… this dumas
cotton wool cloth, this drinkable in addition to this purse of money to help
her manful soul parent pay for the funeral inwards cheerio to his lady” (p.
78).
Similarly, what the Chief of Sapaase has to say is that: He has no correct to give burial to this kid because the head-drink did non come upwards inwards fourth dimension to brand it a conclusive union [but] … he is non reluctant at all to perform whatever custom he has the correct to perform …
(p. 81).
He sends “his silk, his velvet, his white kente cloth, his striped textile … in addition to his cash donation of xx guineas also; pass it on drinks for the funeral …” (p. 81).
Even though Chief of the Mines in addition to Chief of Sapaase offering some gifts to Ananse towards the funeral, they each brand it also clear-as nosotros have got observed-and rightly so that, customarily, since the union was non truly contracted before the “death” of Anansewa, it almost becomes a illustration of “no-sale-no-payment”, for which ground they are non jump to perform the funeral rites for the lady equally they would do for a wife.
Indeed, equally for the Chief of Akate, he presents no gift whatsoever. What is worse, this chief’s emissary, his “direct brother”, who has come upwards to limited condolences to “Togbe Ananse” makes it known that this 1 main “was non fifty-fifty inwards favour of” their coming to sympathise with the bereaved family. “But nosotros said, ‘No’. Even if nosotros came to do nothing, nosotros would demo our faces here” (p. 83), the main emissary explains.
But different the iii Chief-Who-Is-Chief, through his messengers, says that: He accepts total responsibleness for everything concerning the adult woman who had but 1 to a greater extent than stair to take away to acquire inwards his home. Therefore, from his hands… hither are all requirements for her funeral… (p. 78).
Symbolically, he marries her in addition to also provides a coffin-a drinking glass coffin-in add-on to other assorted gifts equally would live needed, customarily, for a grand funeral befitting the belatedly married adult woman of a prominent chief:
"… Here is the band a hubby places on a wife’s
finger. Here is a purse of money, pass it on the funeral.
Here are cloths which whatever adult woman who is confidently
feminine would select with a careful eye; ... dumas,
white kente, silk kente, velvet, brocade. The drinks …
are inwards such quantities that nosotros couldn’t convey them here
… this bottle of Schnapps … is what is mandatory for
me to identify inwards your hands… this must live the drinkable with
which the cheerio libation is poured when his beloved
1 is beingness placed inwards the coffin … (p. 87).
“Finally”, the messenger points out that, it is the want of Chief-Who-Is-Chief “to do for Anansewa
what a hubby does for a wife. And so he sends his coffin, 1 made of glass. Place his married adult woman inwards it for him …” (p. 87).
Thus Chief-Who-Is-Chief comes finally to exhibit genuine love for Anansewa fifty-fifty though she is dead in addition to he is nether no obligation to travel to that extent. This gesture touches Ananse so much that, overwhelmed past times this chief’s unique affection, concern, generosity in addition to thoughtfulness, Ananse summons all his wits in addition to acts inwards a way equally to brand this lovely main win the “contest”.
As it happens, Anansewa resurrects for the preferred suitor, past times the powers evoked through Ananse’s libation prayer-ironically, using the bottle of Schnapps presented past times Chief-Who-Is-Chief.
Ananse in addition to his daughter, Anansewa, are greatly assisted inwards all this drama past times Ananse’s lover, a
“fashionable”, modern, career adult woman called Christie.
Before all this, however, Ananse hurriedly arranges with the Institute for Prospective Brides headed past times Christie to acquire Anansewa trained in addition to groomed for union equally a modern, educated woman. He also arranges with Anansewa’s grandparents, Aya in addition to Ekuwa, to acquire her properly prepared for marriage, especially union to a chief, according to custom, past times ensuring that Anansewa is taken through the puberty rites which Sutherland refers to equally the “outdooring ceremony”.

THE NEW WOMEN RELATED TO ANANSE
In TMA, nosotros regain iv novel women related to Ananse (Anansewa, Christie, Aya in addition to Ekuwa) instead
of the only woman, Asɔ, also called ɔkonorɔ Yaa or Okondor Yaa (Opoku-Agyemang, 1999), who has long been known inwards the Akan folktale tradition equally Ananse’s wife. Anansewa is the daughter, Christie is a lover who desires to live Ananse’s married adult woman and, past times the terminate of the play, at that topographic point is every promise that she volition travel Ananse’s wife.
Aya is Ananse’s biological woman parent in addition to Ekuwa is Ananse’s aunt (Aya’s sister); they are 2 other women who are also novel entrants inwards the extended identify unit of measurement of Ananse. All these woman soul characters are dynamic, active, “life-like” in addition to assist advance the plot equally good equally the themes of deception, gullibility, love in addition to union inwards the play. Whereas Anansewa in addition to Christie are main characters, Aya in addition to her sister, Ekuwa, may live classified equally little characters.
Anansewa: Anansewa is introduced rattling early on inwards the play. She is the immature adult woman of Ananse- “Pa Ananse” -and, similar the father, she dominates the story. In fact, Sutherland presents Anansewa to the audience equally a lovely immature lady, the only immature adult woman in addition to the only kid of Ananse. This is different inwards the Akan folktale tradition where Ananse has no immature adult woman whatsoever. There, the children are only boys (four inwards all) and, equally previously noted only 1 of them, Ntekuma, is normal. Ntekuma
is known to live a foil to the manful soul parent inwards most of the tales inwards which Ananse’s tricks backfire.
For example, inwards 1 Akan folktale, the story is told that in 1 lawsuit Ananse plans to possess in addition to command all the wisdom of the world in addition to proceeds to sweep every fleck together into a pot. He so tries to ship the collection of wisdom inwards the pot to enshroud on top of the tallest tree for himself alone. However, no affair how hard he tries, he is unable to climb the tree because he hangs the pot in
front end of him instead of behind him. It is his piddling boy Ntekuma standing below in addition to observing the
proceedings, who suggests to the frustrated manful soul parent to ship the pot at his back. Ananse tries in addition to it works! He manages to climb smoothly to the tree top.
Nevertheless, on realising that Ntekuma the tiny boy could give such a wise advice to him, who is the only 1 supposed to have got all wisdom, Ananse becomes disappointed that some wisps of wisdom mightiness have got remained on Earth after all, so, out of a deep sense of failure, he drops the pot which breaks to scatter all over the world all the wisdom stored inwards it. For this reason, wisdom has travel the heritage of all humankind (Sackeyfio et al., 1994).
The siblings of Ntekuma are spectacular. One has a large caput (his scream is Tikenenkenen literally pregnant Very Very Big Head); 1 has a large tummy (his scream is Afurudohwedohwe literally pregnant Very Very Big Stomach) in addition to the other has tiny legs (his scream is Nyankorɔnhweea literally pregnant Very Very Tiny Legs) equally nosotros have got previously observed of them. Anansewa has no siblings or woman parent inwards TMA. Her mother, who is anonymous inwards the play, is dead in addition to so Anansewa lives with only her father. However, she has a loving paternal grandmother in addition to a grand-aunt beingness Ananse’s mother, Aya in addition to his aunt, Ekuwa.
On the 1 hand, Anansewa loves life in addition to represents modern ladies. She likes to acquire out but the
manful soul parent wants her to remain at domicile in addition to serve him equally is seen inwards the next conversation betwixt the two:
Ananse: Going-and-coming is necessary…. Otherwise zero succeeds. I went to purchase paper. Here is typing paper. Here is carbon paper. Here are envelopes… Sit downward with the machine.
Anansewa: [Petulantly] Ah, I was coming to tell yous I was going out.
Ananse: My daughter, it isn’t good at home, hence sit down down, opened upwards up the machine I bought for your preparation in addition to permit the tips of your finger give some service for which I’m paying. I have got rattling urgent letters to write.
Anansewa: Just when I was going out? (p. 10)
Ananse: There yous sit down looking lovely in addition to it is exciting for yous to acquire out inwards all your beauty. That’s all yous know. But tell me, won’t yous render home, here, afterwards? (p. 11).
On the other hand, Anansewa is observed to live a immature adult woman who is respectful in addition to understands her identify unit of measurement difficulties. For instance, she stays behind to assist the father. Further, she knows that her fees equally good equally the lastly instalment on the typewriter she needs for her preparation are inwards arrears in addition to that the burden of that demand is on her father. Thus she is prepared in addition to also responsible plenty to undergo practical preparation in addition to report hard to travel self-sufficient in addition to useful non only to herself but
also to her family, especially her father, who is struggling to see her through education. She is literate, knows shorthand in addition to is preparation to live a professional person career woman. We equally audience regain her able to type her father’s letters.
Besides formal schooling, Anansewa also humbles herself to travel through the traditional preparations in addition to preparation meant to brand her a proper Akan adult woman in addition to the married adult woman of a chief, a adult woman of meat in addition to a role model to the community. We are told that she truly likes in addition to enjoys her outdooring ceremony “so much” in addition to that, according to her grand-aunt, Ekuwa, Anansewa “keeps on asking questions inwards monastic enjoin to larn equally much equally she can” (p. 45). Later, when it becomes absolutely necessary for her to “die” equally her manful soul parent requests her to do, she agrees, though non without asking questions, equally is observed, for example, inwards the next dialogue betwixt the two:
Ananse: ... [Darting closer to her] Open your eyes broad in addition to permit me see.
Anansewa: What? Very well. I’ve opened them.
Ananse: [Peering into her eyes] for what reason? [She laughs.] Shut them tight.
Anansewa: [Smiling a piddling in addition to obliging] I’ve closed them tight.
Ananse: Mhm Stiffen your limbs.
Anansewa: [Opening her eyes]. For what reason? [She laughs] Very well, I have got stiffened my limbs. [She does so.]
Ananse: Do it properly, I want yous to appear equally though yous are dead.
Anansewa: What do yous mean? [She laughs.] I have got never died before.
Ananse: My daughter, I implore you, don’t waste materials time. What I’m doing is inwards serious preparation.
Anansewa: [Understanding zero at all] Preparation?
Ananse: Yes my daughter, stiffen yourself.
Anansewa: [Doing so with laughter] There yous are. Are yous satisfied?
Ananse: Very pleased. It’s truly coming right. Try non to displace whatever business office of your body. [Anansewa tries.] Oh yes… And now… Can’t yous take away hold your breath?
Anansewa: [Finding this also much] Hold my breath! I shouldn’t breathe? As for that, definitely no, I can’t do it in addition to volition not.
Ananse: Oh but my daughter, it’s necessary for yous to die!
Anansewa: Me? [Words neglect her.] But father, I’m alive. I’m open-eyed. How tin I switch my life off in addition to on similar electricity?
Ananse: Don’t spout featherbrained jokes, yous don’t understand what nosotros are doing.
Anansewa: Then brand me understand; because this game you’re playing is total of mystery. I don’t similar it.
Ananse: My daughter.
Anansewa: My father.
Ananse: You are forcing me to tell yous those iv people are coming. Just coming? They are rushing here. Sprinting.
Ananse: … racing hither similar burn blazing through grass… (pp. 55-56).
And she “dies” when the fourth dimension finally comes, inwards monastic enjoin to relieve her manful soul parent from humiliation, with other things, equally the suitors, “those iv people are coming”, “Just coming”, “rushing”, “Sprinting’, “racing hither similar burn blazing through grass” equally Ananse puts it (p. 56). Thus Anansewa is rigid in addition to intelligent but also obedient.
Yet, she knows her rights in addition to volition non get hitched with blindly exactly to satisfy culture. As such, she questions the manful soul parent equally to whatever she does non understand in addition to insists at 1 indicate that she is former plenty to select her ain hubby -“I’m non a child. I’m twenty” (p. 20) - in addition to so would non have got the manful soul parent select whatever “old chief” (p. 20) for her or, equally she puts it, sell her equally a commodity-“I volition non permit yous sell me similar some bundle to a customer. [She sings on] I volition select my lover myself/I’ll never comply./ I volition non permit yous sell me…/Not ever!/Not ever!” (p. 20).
Later, however, when she learns that 1 of the chiefs is a wealthy, caring, good-looking in addition to relatively younger man: a “finely built, glowing black, largedeyed, handsome equally anything, courageous in addition to famous” (p. 22) chief, who has been remitting her through the manful soul parent in addition to “not exactly showing involvement with his mouth” (p. 22), she falls apartment inwards love with him in addition to so cooperates with the manful soul parent to win this main equally her husband.
In this sense, Anansewa makes a selection of the hubby she loves in addition to non 1 imposed on her by
tradition. This comes out clearly inwards the next dialogue betwixt her in addition to her manful soul parent inwards which Ananse tries to hint that, he has taken gifts from iv expert chiefs in addition to non exactly one, thereby already “entangling” her inwards the affair:
Anansewa: What iv chiefs are racing here?
Ananse: Oh-h-h, dear! Rouse your retentivity if it’s asleep in addition to remember. I tell yous at that topographic point is no fourth dimension to waste. Each chief’s messengers are on their way, urgently sent to identify your head-drink on the table.
… I tell yous each main is coming running to claim yous equally his wife.
Anansewa: [Laughing] over my dead body. … I repeat, over my dead body. How tin they claim me equally their own? … . They dare not.
Ananse: …They tin dare.
Anansewa: Father, why? All that aside, why do yous say ‘they’? Why don’t yous say ‘he’, the unmarried one?
Ananse: [His eyes darting] are yous asking me why?
Anansewa: Yes why? Because I know that it’s only 1 main nosotros are expecting to come. And equally far equally that soul is concerned, he cannot come upwards also rapidly for me. I’m waiting for him asleep in addition to awake. As for the other iii chiefs, my father, yous made them take away their eyes off me long ago, remember. Right at the beginning, yous refused to take away gifts from their hands…. (p. 56).
From the foregoing discussion, Anansewa is rattling much human different her father’s children inwards the Akan folktales. Thanks to Sutherland’s rich imagination in addition to artistry, Ananse tin at in 1 lawsuit boast of a immature adult woman and, for that matter, a normal, modern in addition to believable 1 who tin think, understand, query in addition to act. Sutherland’s fertile imagination leads to the creation of Anansewa thus deepening involvement inwards her play equally an African classic in addition to inwards the Akan folktales equally a cultural heritage.
Aya in addition to Ekuwa: Aya in addition to Ekuwa are also 2 novel women related to Ananse. Unlike Anansewa, they are introduced much later on inwards the play, inwards Act Three. Sutherland creates Aya equally Ananse’s mother. For in 1 lawsuit inwards the Akan folktales, Ananse has a biological mother, Aya. Aya is flesh in addition to blood in addition to a loving Akan grandmother of Anansewa. She adores her son, Ananse in addition to her grand-daughter, Anansewa, for whom she has been invited to serve, past times performing the traditional
“outdooring ceremony” for her. By this ceremony, Aya is to initiate her grandchild Anansewa into womanhood, especially equally a adult woman prepared to take away a heavy responsibleness equally a chief’s wife.
Even though the ceremony seems delayed in addition to Aya complains a little, she goes ahead with her sister, Ekuwa, to do the best for Anansewa, whom they variously refer to with so much affection in addition to damage of endearment such equally “your grandchild”, “this grandchild of yours” (p. 44), “our child”, “my grandchild” (pp. 45, 46 in addition to 47), “my gilded child” (p. 47), “my grandchild Anansewa”, “our girl” in addition to “this grandchild of mine” (p. 50).
It is instructive to regime annotation that Aya is a paternal grandmother. Now, equally far equally the Akan custom of
matrilineal inheritance is concerned, paternal grandmothers are mostly non also keen on their
grandchildren for the uncomplicated ground that these grandchildren belong to their mother’s identify unit of measurement lineage.
Therefore, usually, grandmothers are rather to a greater extent than interested inwards their daughter’s children, that is, the
maternal grandchildren. Often a proverbial query is posed to explicate this: “Woahunu akokɔnini a ne mma di n’akyi da?” literally pregnant “have yous ever before seen a cock whose chicks are next it?” But reverse to this tradition, Aya shows peachy involvement inwards Anansewa in addition to her success inwards life, both nowadays in addition to future, equally far equally the ceremony in addition to its significance are concerned. And she offers Anansewa the best gift which is a prayer for a hubby who has honour for his boyfriend human beings. Hear her:
"… My grandchild, Anansewa, your former lady knows
what is of existent value inwards this world. You notice that this
outstretched mitt of mine is empty, it contains nothing.
And yet, this same empty mitt volition succeed inwards placing
a gift into your brass bowl. What this mitt is offering is
this prayer of mine. May the human who comes to take
yous from our hands to his domicile be, inwards a higher identify all things, a
soul with honour for his boyfriend human beings …. (p.
51).
In TMA, Sutherland creates a province of affairs where Anansewa’s woman parent is no to a greater extent than in addition to nosotros do non equally much equally take away heed of or regain her maternal grandmother at all. Instead, it is her father’s mother-her paternal grandmother-who is nowadays in addition to must perform the highly of import “outdooring ceremony” for the immature lady. It is acknowledged that the ceremony appears delayed on concern human relationship of Anansewa (probably because her woman parent is dead) in addition to Aya rightly questions “why now?”
Also, Aya becomes sincerely emotional in addition to briefly laments the sad absence of Anansewa’s woman parent at such a crucial fourth dimension in addition to at such a memorable twenty-four hr catamenia inwards the girl’s life. All the same, Aya takes consolation inwards Ekuwa’s words of reason-“… I don’t believe yous want to ruin Anansewa’s joy” (p. 45). So Aya gathers herself upwards in addition to tackles the task caput on, with such love in addition to enthusiasm! And this paternal grandmother does the task remarkably good patch taking upwards whatever other role which
Anansewa’s ain woman parent would belike have got played had she been alive.
Ekuwa confirms this when she declares of her sister, “Mm, Aya, are yous already here? I see yous are keeping your eyes broad opened upwards to brand sure enough that zero goes incorrect with your grandchild Anansewa’s outdooring” (p. 44). Perhaps, with the portrayal of Aya inwards such a positive low-cal equally far equally she is Anansewa’s paternal grandmother, Sutherland is pointing out that this is how things ought to go, that paternal grandmothers must demo love in addition to affection to their son’s children the same way they do to their daughter’s.
On the business office of Ekuwa herself, she offers her grandchild, Anansewa, “service”, calling her “my child
of beauty” in addition to wishing her rattling very good (pp. 48 -49) in addition to nosotros regain her also equally lovable equally Aya, but somehow to a greater extent than objective. It is she who points out the wisdom inwards the adage that says “Better belatedly than never” when she explains to Aya virtually the demand for the “outdooring ceremony” to take away identify fifty-fifty if it has somehow delayed for Anansewa. Ekuwa observes, “… I’ve been trying to explicate it to you. If this grandchild of yours is going to get hitched with a chief, then, it is our duty to set upwards her inwards every way for the seat she volition live occupying inwards a palace” (p. 44). To this, Aya responds with the next words charged with sincere emotions:
"Aya: All right. Whatever it may be, I’m happy to see
my Anansewa conducting herself inwards the mode that
graces a woman. You do non know what feelings are
breaking in addition to ebbing similar waves within me because of
this ceremony nosotros are performing. This moving ridge brings
happiness in addition to that 1 brings pride in addition to another,
sadness. Yes, it is truthful that yous in addition to I are hither doing all
nosotros tin in addition to yet when I scream upwards that the soul who
should live hither equally well, bustling around Anansewa
should live her ain mother, then, my sis Ekuwa, a
moving ridge of sorrow crests upwards within me mangling my
innards. [She starts to dirge] And it isn’t equally though it is
where nosotros could send her a telegram to say, ‘come’. It
isn’t equally though nosotros could send a messenger past times taxi to
fetch her. [She is virtually to wail seriously.] Truly, death
has done some wickedness (p. 45).
Still, Aya portrays the bad mother in law conduct prevalent with some Akan/Ghanaian women towards their in-laws. In fact, before Aya meets Christie personally for the foremost time, Aya’s remark to her sis Ekuwa is that Christie is “senselessly extravagant”(p. 45) in addition to she also complains without whatever proof that Christie “is serving my boy Kweku also hard” (p. 45).
By those remarks made behind Christie’s back, Aya is suggesting that Christie is after her boy Ananse’s wealth.
Worse, nosotros regime annotation how Aya despisingly refers to Christie equally “that woman” in addition to “the woman” (p. 45)
whereas Christie lovingly calls her “Mother”. In fact, when Christie comes in, she addresses her nicely equally “mother” in addition to delightedly exclaims to her: “How I have got dressed upwards my immature adult woman Anansewa!” Sadly, however, Aya sarcastically mimics Christie’s words to her sister, later,-again inwards the absence of Christie-with the words “‘I’ve dressed upwards my immature adult woman Anansewa’, indeed!”
Aya fifty-fifty goes to the extent of adding contemptuous remarks such equally “When did my grandchild travel her child?” in addition to also “Whom is she calling mother? Me?” (p. 46). When her sis Ekuwa
tries to indicate out that Christie is at that topographic point on Ananse’s invitation in addition to that she is exactly trying to help, Aya,
“[snorting]”, has only this to say that, “The way I see it she is leaning her ladder on my grandchild inwards monastic enjoin to climb upwards to my son” (p. 45).
It is clear from these in addition to other reactions of hers that fifty-fifty though Aya is overnice to Anansewa, when it
comes to Christie, Aya changes from beingness a overnice person- perhaps because she does non approve of the human relationship betwixt Ananse in addition to Christie. It may live argued that Ananse has non married Christie yet in addition to so Aya may live correct non to encourage illegitimate union or immorality, but so courtship must precede marriage? Or, beingness traditionalist, Aya is non interested inwards courtship?
The truth of the affair is that, the conduct of some mothers-in-law or would-be ones inwards Akan land, Republic of Ghana in addition to elsewhere is exactly equally that shown past times Ananse’s mother. It is surprising how the same soul tin demo so much affection in addition to yet so much disgust on concern human relationship of the same son. Aya loves Anansewa, immature adult woman of her son, but Aya dislikes Christie, partner of her son.
Perhaps, in 1 lawsuit again, Sutherland is using Aya to indicate out the anomaly inwards monastic enjoin to encourage a modify inwards such “rival” mothers-in-law. “Love me love my dog”, Sutherland seems to advise.
Concerning Aya in addition to her sis Ekuwa, however, at that topographic point is a twist inwards the story which makes them pitiful, inwards that, after toiling so much to set upwards Anansewa for union to a chief, inwards the end, they are told lies in addition to chased away past times Ananse, nether the pretext that they cannot stand upwards the sad but simulated expiry of Anansewa. By sending them away, 1 tin conclude that, the poor women would non live around to partake inwards the merriment inwards the union of their paternal grandchild, Anansewa, to Chief-Who-Is-Chief. What a pity!
Christie: Like Anansewa in addition to the elderly women Aya in addition to Ekuwa inwards TMA, Christie is a adult woman inwards Ananse’s life in addition to a special 1 at that, beingness his lover. Her total scream is Miss Christina Yamoah in addition to she is described inwards the play equally a “fashionable” woman, the proprietress of the Institute for Prospective Brides. Sutherland mentions her scream much before at the terminate of Act Two when she is telephoned to take away tending of Anansewa at the Institute, yet Christie does non appear until later on inwards the
play, inwards Act Three, to wearing clothing Anansewa on the twenty-four hr catamenia of the “outdooring ceremony”, where Christie joins the grannies in addition to Anansewa’s peers inwards the celebrations.
However, Miss Yamoah is made to dominate the funeral scenes since she literally becomes the human face upwards of Ananse patch he seriously mourns his daughter, Anansewa, who is dead in addition to lies inwards state, at a fourth dimension when the former ladies have got truly left having been tricked to leave of absence past times Ananse before Anansewa’s death.
Christie is hence made to occupy a rattling of import seat including that of a linguist in addition to she
skillfully plays these roles to the admiration of all. In whatever case, she also reveals herself equally a liar in addition to a crook exactly similar her lover, all inwards the scream of love in addition to materialism. This is peculiarly so equally she ensures that the sad atmosphere is maintained patch she tactfully prevents the situation, where the prevarication behind Ananse’s programme could live exposed. Above all, Christie finds a agency of collecting whatever gifts are brought to Ananse past times the sympathizers.
Christie respects Ananse’s woman parent in addition to addresses her dearly equally “mother” although she is non yet married to him in addition to Ananse’s woman parent does non seem to similar her. This shows how much she wants to live accepted equally a daughter-in-law. According to Akan custom, the woman parent of one’s partner/spouse is indeed one’s woman parent equally well.
To all intents in addition to purposes, Christie is rattling much inwards love with George Kweku Ananse, but Ananse seems to live dragging his feet concerning getting married to her. Yet Christie shows such love, tending in addition to concern to Ananse in addition to the immature adult woman Anansewa that she assists the grandmothers inwards the preparation for the “outdooring ceremony” and, indeed, presents to Anansewa something valuable, inwards the cast of a “sovereign” which is “so precious” to Christie; something she is so emotionally attached to in addition to says “I never thought I n never thought I would business office with this sovereign inwards my
hand” (p. 49).
As previously hinted, she ensures, to a greater extent than importantly, that neither Ananse nor Anansewa is
exposed during the simulated death, lying-in-state in addition to resurrection of Anansewa. As Ananse wails
uncontrollably on concern human relationship of the feigned ‘loss’ of his only kid albeit his dearest daughter, Anansewa, it is Christie who takes the responsibleness of receiving the messengers of the iv contesting chiefs, asks the mission according to custom in addition to takes accuse of the gifts they bring. She carefully guards the room where Anansewa’s “corpse” lies in addition to makes sure enough no-one gets also nigh the ‘body’ in addition to perhaps see the corpse breathing. Also, she tries to console Ananse in addition to makes the whole scam affair rattling believable. In the end, Ananse, whom Christie affectionately calls “Georgie”, succeeds, thank yous to her equally much equally to Anansewa, whom Christie lovingly refers to equally “my daughter” (p. 45), “my darling”, “my sweetie” in addition to “my dear” (p. 49).
Sutherland’s presentation of Christie would seem to give acceptance to the pop Ghanaian cliche that says “Fear woman”, an facial expression often used to underscore the cunningness of women in addition to how unsafe they tin be.
In the concluding analysis, at that topographic point is promise that the two, that is, Christie in addition to Ananse, shall travel 1 exactly equally is most probable to occur betwixt the resurrected Anansewa in addition to the much dearest Chief-Who-Is-Chief. Luckily for Christie, it is unlikely that she volition non live around to partake inwards the concluding enjoyment, especially when Aya is far away.
With the introduction of the young, “fashionable” Auntie Christie inwards TMA, Efua T. Sutherland also
reaffirms the saying that “beside every successful human is a woman.”
Ananse: Ananse himself remains the former Kweku Ananse inwards the traditional Akan folktales. He is the archhero, arch-trickster and, indeed, the “owner” of the tales, equally is by in addition to large accepted. In TMA, for example, these are confirmed. Not only is Ananse the principal grapheme but also he is the unbeatable trickster, who is able to play on the news of a whole community including his ain woman parent in addition to aunt in addition to fifty-fifty the “great” leaders of his society, beingness “four prominent chiefs of
the land”!
We detect how the whole story of the union of Anansewa is dominated past times Ananse. Again, nosotros detect how, for instance, after Anansewa’s “outdooring ceremony” has been beautifully performed past times his woman parent in addition to aunt, Ananse finds a prevarication to tell them that an enemy has set burn to the identify unit of measurement property-being their only cocoa farm dorsum inwards their village, Nanka in addition to so gets them packing at that topographic point in addition to so into a waiting taxi equally they wail their fate, pointing accusing fingers at no 1 inwards item in addition to rushing dorsum domicile to their hamlet to see to the “problem”. Moreover, nosotros also detect how Ananse confuses the whole community with his simulated bereavement non to utter of how he makes the chiefs the butts of his 1 large joke of a union to his daughter.
Here, the truthful grapheme of Ananse equally a trickster, a cheat in addition to a selfish human is upheld past times Sutherland.
Yet Sutherland also transforms him equally a to a greater extent than enlightened human inwards TMA inwards monastic enjoin to enhance him to a novel bird inwards the system of things. And he becomes a expert man, too. Ananse’s novel identity is the anglicized 1 with the novel scream ‘George’. George Kweku Ananse becomes the novel Akan man, who, different most Akan fathers of Sutherland’s time, volition educate his girl-child in addition to non consign her to early on union or confine her to only the kitchen exactly because she is female. Thus, patch wishing for the best caring human to get hitched with her, Ananse makes sure enough that his immature adult woman volition travel educated,
independent in addition to economically empowered; therefore, he struggles to see her through schoolhouse in addition to professional person training, no affair how much it costs him, financially or emotionally.
It is also worth noting that fifty-fifty though Kweku acquires a novel unusual name, “George” (“Georgie”) in addition to with it an anglicized identity, he respects the traditions of his social club in addition to culture. For instance, he believes inwards traditional union in addition to he gets an “outdooring ceremony” organized for his only immature adult woman to set upwards her for marriage, inwards fact, the high calling of a chief’s wife, though a fleck belatedly in addition to also after having prepared her at the Institute for Prospective Brides, inwards the tending of the stylish Madam Christie, the proprietess.
The significance of this seeming contradiction inwards Ananse is that, perhaps, it is possible to get hitched with positive aspects of different cultures without harm, especially inwards today’s globalised world. Again, Sutherland’s inventiveness is at its best inwards the carving of the novel Ananse of TMA in addition to the Akan folktales.

CONCLUSION
This newspaper has studied Efua T. Sutherland’s creative genius equally far equally characterization inwards TMA is
concerned. It has shown that although TMA is built around the famous Ananse grapheme of the Akan folktales, Sutherland artistically introduces a novel dimension to the Ananse identify unit of measurement past times bringing inwards novel entrants, who are all woman soul in addition to also past times redefining Ananse’s identity equally a modern citizen of the globalised world. There is at in 1 lawsuit a residual of iv women to gibe the iv males inwards the master copy Ananse identify unit of measurement exterior him in addition to his wife, Asɔ.
Together with the grandparents, the novel identify unit of measurement of Ananse becomes to a greater extent than realistic, especially equally an
African identify unit of measurement in addition to the members play their roles good equally major in addition to little characters to advance the play, both plot-wise in addition to thematically. To a large extent, they all human activeness in addition to comport similar existent people inwards the existent world of human beings. All these novel features of the Akan folktales equally depicted inwards TMA have got been made possible owing to Sutherland’s success equally a playwright with a powerful artistic presentation of characters.
However, equally previously observed, Sutherland does non permit Asɔ to live. This is unfortunate inwards 2 main ways. First, because the traditional Ananse identify unit of measurement appears immortal equally no fellow member of it has ever died inwards the Akan folktales. If anything, it is Ananse the trickster himself who, sometimes, pretends to live dead out of greed exactly to cheat the identify unit of measurement of nutrient (see for illustration Tale 35 titled “Wives should assist their husbands to work”, inwards Mireku-Gyimah (2011), but he resurrects shortly after. So Ananse himself is also patently immortal.
Sutherland should, therefore, have got allowed Asɔ the married adult woman to live, especially at in 1 lawsuit that Asɔ has a daughter-and a rigid 1 for that matter-to back upwards her against her trickster hubby in addition to mostly weak sons. Had Asɔ been spared to live, at that topographic point would have got been a perfect residual of v males in addition to v females, who would have got represented the social club better.
The existence of Asɔ the married adult woman in addition to Christie equally a lover preparing to live a wife, or, possibly, a minute married adult woman would silent non live out of identify but rather fifty-fifty to a greater extent than representative of the traditional society, which permits polygamy. And Christie would live the perfect stair mother-a contender who loves her hubby in addition to hence loves whatever belongs to him, inwards this case, his child, Anansewa, equally her own. Perhaps Sutherland only kills off Asɔ exactly to essay to avoid propagating polygamy which, exterior traditional society, is largely considered equally immoral in addition to also to avoid adding to the woes of the suffering married adult woman with the presence of a co-wife or girlfriend. Once again, inwards all these dimensions, it is all Sutherland’s fine art at work.

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Mireku-Gyimah, P.B., 2011. 50 Akan Folktales from Ghana: English linguistic communication in addition to Akan Versions. LAP Lambert Academic Publishing GmbH, Saarbrucken, pp:
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Opoku-Agyemang, N.J., 1999. Gender role perceptions inwards the Akan folktales. Res. Afr.
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Sackeyfio, N.A., J.K. Adu in addition to B. Hyde, 1994. Ananse in addition to the Wisdom of the World. Republic of Ghana SSS English linguistic communication Book 1, MoE, Accra, pp: 24-25.
Sutherland, E.T., 1997. The Marriage of Anansewa. Longman African Classic, Animo Press Ltd., Ikeja, pp: 8.
Teiko, N.O., 2011. Themes in addition to Characterisation in
Amu Djoleto’s Money Galore. Akrong Publications, Accra, pp: 29.
spurcehttp://maxwellsci.com/print/crjss/v5-177-184.pdf