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Indigenous West African Theatre Pre-colonial African traditions of professional entertainment date back to ancient times. Storytelling, music, and dance have all played a central role in African culture, because they help preserve history and religious and social customs Traditional drama in Africa combines storytelling, songs, and dances with costumes, masks, mime, and drumming. Another important part of that tradition are traveling entertainers, including griots (poets) and singers who praise tribal leaders and other important figures. Playwrights today draw upon these traditions for dramatic material. Contemporary social issues or political events, such as the struggle for independence or tribal warfare, also supply themes and plots for plays. (I thought this would be good introduction for our section-both groups- I was thinking of doing it). Presently the Drama in French West Africa has been fostered by French-language academies. In West Africa, theatre artists received their training in public schools and universities fashioned after European models. However various factors have been responsible for the indigenous Pre- colonial West Africa Theatre. How indigenous West Africans came up with their play Class formation and social innovation were very much part of pre-colonial history and were reflected closely in the performing arts. The way in which pre-colonial African societies organized their labour to create the necessities of life was meditated in an initiating way by popular theatre.
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