Performance Workshop with Eva Doumbia and French Engagement
I was extremely excited to sit in on a class led by Eva Doumbia’s play, Le Iench, and her reflection upon each character. She spoke about how her family impacted her African identity and her approach towards racism through a theatrical lens. One of the students began to perform a monologue from Le Iench, where one of the characters calls upon her African ancestors to give her strength in hardship and recognizes her strong lineage. Doumbia offered advice to the young actor and explained that she needed to identify the pride that the character holds in the moment as she names the line of Africans that preceded her.
After discussing the monologue, Doumbia expresses that activism in France was necessary, as many French people praised African-American activists, while oppressing their own people for examining racism in France.
I wrote a reflection in French as an optional assignment, discussing the workshop and the inspiration behind Doumbia’s piece. As written, “le racisme l’a aidée à créer la pièce de théâtre,” or racism aided her in creating the play. I furthered my realization as to how deep and international racism truly is through the words of Eva Doumbia
By: Morgan Hubbard
Comments
Post a Comment