| This is the story of a woman who flips the coin... makes up her own rules and learns to live by the manner in which some men do or most men wish they could. As it is in many cultures, men are allowed more than one wife or the honor of having a mistress based upon his economic or social background. In An African Love Story, we see how role reversal and cultural identities define and redefine who we are, and who we want to be... as a woman takes two husbands and redirects her energy and her life focus to a very surprising conclusion. Often funny, sometimes painful, but very truthful..."An African Love Story" by Roxann Latimer opened to mixed reviews at the Ghana Playhouse in Accra Ghana West Africa. "The actors (Kofi Addie, Juliete Tamakloe and Samuel Denu) portrayed the characters with depth, humour and realism. They had the crowd laughing and at many times angry with the truth of the play's storyline." Ghana Sun Times
The mixed reviews didn't come from the acting or the quality of the production but from the storyline itself. "Only an American would make light of this most controversial subject. A woman married to two men, acting like a man and with no shame is an affront to the morals and manners of many African cultures." Ghana Life.
The playwright, Roxann Latimer, is a native of California and lived in Ghana West Africa, from 1989 to 1991. Married to a Ghanaian (Ebo Dadzie), Roxann says her story makes us look at the effect of sharing in an open relationship. "Polygamy has long been the domain of men from many cultures. But were the reversal viewed, men would realize the effects emotionally and psychologically. as well as socially and politically. The play was written almost as a satire. But like the saying goes, what can make you laugh can make you cry."
Roxann recently published her first novel in the Unted States, "You Never Know" with PublishAmerica. She works as a television producer for a public access television program. Roxann also is President of the Board of Nation 2 Nation, a United Nations organization.
"As an African American writer, my stories reflect my experiences, my views and my beliefs...they are a reflection of the world I live in. I have lived in Africa but spent most of my life in America. I see men having numerous relationships and not thinking a thing about it...and society acepts and commends what is laughingly called "playas". But let a woman do the same thing and of course double standards come into play, and she is labeled a "ho". The bottom line is that the very reasons men use to marry more than one woman can apply to women as well..."
We'll be able to see how Americans react to the play when "An African Love Story" comes to America. Ace TV will produce the one act thirty minute play for public television.
Carmen Edwards reporting for African American NewsLink, San Diego, California |
