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Arts&Culture/PerformingArts
4-2-05


New Play Tierno Bokar Premieres
by: Mera Beckford

Tierno Bokar was officially performed for the general public for the first time at Barnard College on March 30th, to a sold-out auditorium.

Adapted from Amadou Hampaté Bâ’s Book, The Sage of Bardiagar, Tierno Bokar is not just a play, it is a theatrical research. Produced by the Center of Theatre Creation (C.I.C.T), the Théâtre des Bouffes au Nord and presented by Barnard College in league with the Columbia University Arts Initiative, and the Harlem Arts Alliance(HAA), an association of cultural organizations and individual artists dedicated to preserve, promote and present the rich cultural legacy and contributions of Harlem in their respective venues. This theatrical research is attributed to and directed by Peter Brook.

Tierno Bokar is about Amadou Hampaté Bâ’s former master who the play is named for. Tierno who was a teacher of patience and endurance searched for difficulties to ascertain whether or not he possessed what he taught, according to Peter Brooks. The play, as does Bâ’s book, tells the story of a conflict over the numbers 11 and 12 in the religion of Islam that leads to massacres, and above all vicious intolerance.

“Ma vérité, ta vérité, et la vérité.” Translation: My truth, your truth, and the truth. Performed in French with English subtitles, Tierno Bokar is certainly something different. “ [French] made it seem like something mystical,” said Nicole Thompson. Horace Grant, age 25 said, “[French] allowed certain ideas to be expressed that wouldn’t quite be done as smoothly in English.”
Though the names may sound unfamiliar, the cast consists of Habib Dembélé, Rachid Djaïdani, Djénéba Koné, Sotigui Kouyaté as Tierno Bokar, Tony Mpoudja, Bruce Myers, Abdou Ouologuem, Héléne Patarot, Dorcy Rugamba, and Pitcho Womba Konga. Hasdai Westbrook indirectly commented on their performance in saying, “The actual acting of the play, I thought was great.”

There were a few different first reactions to the official show debut. Exiting the performance everyone had a different angle. Aleacia Guy spoke highly of the play in saying, “I thought it was excellent, really good.”

“I thought it was good, but not great, said Hasdai Westbrook. Westbrook elaborated by saying, “I felt that I was searching for a main theme that didn’t come through.”
Shanon Morris stated, “It had a strong religious connotation...” When asked what message he walked away with Horace Grant replied, “commitment will survive conflict.” “Truth and strength, it will carry you through”, was Aleacia Guy’s reply to the same question.

Running until April 26th, spend the forty dollars and take a look at this play. Members of the Harlem community get a fifteen dollar discount!



 

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