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EXILE OF ALBOURI
Auteur : The Senegalese Cheik Aliou NDAO
Director : Sidiki BAKABA Photos - DISTRIBUTION
In the main roles :
Sidiki BAKABA, Hanny TCHELLEY, Clémentine PAPOUET, Mouna N'DIAYE, BOMOU Mamadou "The Exile of Albouri" the Senegalese Cheikh Aliou NDAO the French conquest of the kingdom of Yang Yang (Djoloff, Senegal), whose performances have started since June 14, 2003
Synopsis:
We are in the 19th century. The powerful kingdom of Yang Yang (Djoloff, Senegal) is threatened with invasion by "men of color of terra cotta from the sea" who have a superior weapons made from machines that spit fire and collapse are the tatas ". These are the French during the conquest of Africa. They had already submitted the neighboring kingdoms Djoloff. To avoid the humiliation, especially the useless slaughter of his people, King Albouri chooses exile. But for Prince Laobe Penda, half-brother of the king, the exile is equivalent to a flight which is more humiliating than the eventual defeat by the invader. Under the pretext of defending the throne, Prince is enthroned, while signing a peace treaty with the French. But we know in history, that despite this allegiance, the prince was deported to Gabon, thus experiencing more humiliating end to that Albouri certainly died in exile, but a dignified death, left in history as one of the great figures of African resistance against the European conquest of Africa. Ultimately, "The Exile of Albouri" poses the universal problem of "control strategies" in case of invasion: the dilemma between resistance and collaboration.
The problem of resistance
Go into exile or resist, this is the dilemma that faces Albouri Ndiaye, king of the kingdom of Djoloff during the French conquest in the 19th century.
Albouri chose exile because, realistically, he knows he can not resist against these "men of color clay from the sea" who have a superior weapons including "machines that spit fire and make them crumble tatas. The French had already invaded and subdued the neighboring kingdoms.
Historical drama of the Senegalese Cheikh Aliou Ndao, "The Exile Albouri" raises the issue of resistance in an invaded country: should resist, even to become a slave to the invader, or choose the path of the exile to save his dignity? In choosing the path of exile, the king is obviously Albouri realism and wisdom. Insofar as this by choice, it avoids the massacre of his people. But for people like Prince Laobe Penda, exile is equivalent to a flight which is more humiliating than a possible defeat by the invader. In sum, we must die sword in hand! But the rest of the story shows us that the prince is indeed a little pretentious, power-hungry who are in exile Albouri an opportunity to access the throne by treachery and shortcut.
It is true that the theme of the room, sticking to the current situation of our country at war, is too topical to leave the Ivorians indifferent. But "The Exile of Albouri Sidiki Bakaba version is a beautiful show, which irresistibly captivated by the ingenuity of the director who has given this classic African theater, writing in the 60s and first prize at the Panafrican Festival Algiers in 1969, a personal touch, such as the inclusion of "Comians" (Ivorian fetish) in the mystical scene.
There is also the acting, both natural and alerts, which is not surprising when one knows that the director has secured the services of big names in comedy such as Ivorian Welcome Néba, Albertine N 'Guessan and Blaise Kouadio, professional actors who are now professors at the School of Theater at the INSAAC, Hanny Tchelley, certainly the most famous actresses Ivorian currently Bomou Mamadou defector Village Kiyi, Ignatius Alomo, promoter in Côte d'Ivoire what he called "mono-drama" Maimouna Ndiaye, the Senegalese performing notes, Amadou Sawwanah, one of the biggest names in school play, award-winning Festival of National Theater School and University ... and students from the Actor Studio, which, after two years of training, have already acquired the business.
And that's not all: Sidiki Bakaba has given the show a character of splendor befitting the great tragedies, with a super Oussou Justin signed decor, costumes and pageantry of a parade of horses on stage, like games of light that create an enchanting atmosphere Wonderland ...
Sidiki Bakaba justifies the choice of this piece for several reasons. First, it explains the fact that the theatrical season 2002-2003 was placed under the sign of "historical drama" after one of the "contemporaneity" of last season, with pieces like "That's same here! " poses the problem of power post-independence Africa, "Papa Bon Dieu" (the problem of sects) and "Man on the parapet of the bridge" (the problem of ethics of the press). After "The Exile Albouri, two other historical plays will be presented:" Sundiata, the Lion of Mali "of Laurent Gbagbo and" Storm Island "by Bernard Dadi. Thus, after opening last year on the world with two French pieces ( "Papa God" and "Man on the parapet ..."), this season looks to Africa (Senegalese Sheikh Ndao ) and Côte d'Ivoire (Dadie and Gbagbo). This was the second reason: a season devoted to African history.
Finally, a third reason: although the choice of this piece has been made since last year, Sidiki Bakaba was interested in the issue of "resistance" in country "attacked by aliens." What makes a choice really prescient, given the current Ivorian crisis seen as "a foreign attack against the Ivory Coast"! Do not they say that artists are visionaries? "Oh, this is a coincidence, I just wanted to see how Africans had raised the problem of resistance at the time of European conquest of Africa. And the figure of Albouri interested in more high point, as Samory, El Hadji Omar Behanzin and others ", is justified there, saying he had never thought of a war in Côte d'Ivoire. Furthermore, Albouri would be "the forerunner of Pan": it took the path of exile, not to escape, but to go organize resistance advocating joining forces with Amadou and Samory more resistant at the time, to effectively fight against the invader common super-cock. His failure eloquently underlines the inability of Africans to unite disability which dates not today, that is to say, Kwame Nkrumah who unsuccessfully advocated African unity ...
What is certain is that "The Exile Albouri" is scheduled at the Palace of Culture since June 14 and will continue throughout the month of July. All African worthy of the name - as does every human being, especially the French - should see him again and to learn. So it is true that the present and the future are built from knowledge of the past. 
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