DRAMATIST ON AFRICAN THEATRE RESEARCH

THE PEOPLE, May 6, 1969

Kampala, Uganda

By Alfred Odoy Asoka

Dr. Scott Kennedy, married with 3 children and an expert on Afro-American theatres arrived in Uganda last Thursday to carry out research on African Theatres.

Dr. Scott explained that his programme involved looking at theatre companies, training programmes for theatre personnel, writers and critics.

His life-long ambition has been to improve communications: – communications through both the written and spoken word. He has worked towards this end throughout the United States, France, Germany, England, Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Ghana.

While in East Africa, the Afro-American is looking for new playwriters and people involved, particularly in plays for production in Africa and America. He stressed that he was really looking for theatre groups that might be participating in Pan African Cultural Festival in Algiers next July.

Dr. Scott Kennedy owns a professional company in New York called, “Scott Kennedy Players” in Bradway, New York City, and has been in Africa for two years as a research scholar, director and dramatist in the University of Ghana, Institute of African Studies. He is also a composer, playwriter and professor.

As a writer, a literary genius and strong supporter of the struggle by black people to raise up, Dr. Scott emphasised, “I want people to understand my country – the America of today”.

To implement what he preaches, Dr. Scott has written: – (1) The Poetic Life of America (2) Gospel Suite for Dr. Martin Luther King (3) Ballard for Dr. King (4) “A Negritude” – “a speak out on colour’. (5) Bi-Lingual Approach to Theatre Development in Ghana and (6) Prelude to Black Power.

As an expert on Communications and Speech, the Afro-American feels that there is a great need in Uganda and other developing countries for a collaboration between educators and creative artists to produce new methods of teaching through communications devices, particularly in the secondary schools. He emphasised the uses of photographs, illustrations, films and audo-visual materials.

Dr. Scott suggested that such new methods would be adopted with educative films produced locally, so that the pupils could be made aware of their own cultural background economic set up of the country and their responsibilities in society.

While in Uganda, before leaving for Kenya Dr. Scott is expected to stage a dramatic performance for the United States Information Services in Kampala, involving drama and African music. The date of the performance will be announced later.

Dr. Scott and his wife, a professional actress, will wind up their African tour when they attend and direct the African Cultural Festival in Algiers in July.

Re-printed for research purposes. Copyright remains with the original holder.