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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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