Efo Kodjo Mawugbe's books to be launched today

Two books authored by the late playwright and theatre director, Efo Kodjo Mawugbe, will be launched at the National Theatre today at 4pm. They are The Prison Graduates and My Father's Song.

The Prison Graduates, a play, won the 2009 International Radio Playwriting Competition organized by the BBC. It was selected out of 12,000 entries. The playis a story of four prisoners who were released from prison but suddenly realized that they had not psyched themselves up to take advantage of their freedom. It is a highly intriguing satire that shows the failure of African states after independence.

The play is a political satire set in Ghana, and talks about serious issues on a light note. It highlights situations in Ghana and Africa as a whole; these include young and energetic people paying huge sums of money to go abroad to seek greener pastures, and the hospitals where 'cash and carry' method is practiced. The situation where churches are corrupt and the congregation is na�ve...

Efo makes us laugh at our folly, whilst realising that we are all part of the challenges our countries face, and can contribute to the solutions.

My Father's Song is Efo Kodjo Mawugbe's first novel or prose. It is also his last work of art. He was in the process of publishing that book before he fell ill and never recovered.

This story is told from a song a father composed and sung to his son, the author, when he was young.

The story is set in the days of old where man and animals could talk and understood each other. Alegeli (Rat), Dzakpata (Snake), and Zangbetor (a spirit) are stuck in a pit and on the verge of death. They are rescued by Klogo, a poor hunter, and all three promise to help the hunter one day.

Alegeli comes to Klogo with a pot of gold, which unknown to Klogo, was stolen from the chief's palace. He becomes rich overnight and becomes the talk of the village; some said he had acquired blood money, while others said he had inherited a fortune somewhere. Sakpli, the village drunk and gossip, reports to the palace that Klogo had stolen the chief's gold.

Aligeli, Dzakpata, and Zangbetor have to come up with a plan save the hunter…

The launch of the two books is being organized by the Efo Kodjo Mawugbe Foundation and Afram Publication, to coincide with Efo's birthday, 21^st April.

Efo Kodjo Mawugbe, one of Ghana's foremost writer,is also the author of In the Chest of a Woman, a literature material used by senior high schools in the country. He was also the Executive Director of the National Theatre of Ghana at the time of his death.

As part of the launch, The Prison Graduates will be performed at the Dance Hall of the National Theatre where the launch will take place.

The award-winning playwright died on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital after a protracted illness.

Born Pascal KojoMawugbe on 21 April 1954 in Kumasi to Madam Comfort Tulasi, a cook at Africa Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and the late Michael AyiviMawugbe who worked with the laundry department of the University.

He schooled at Mawuli School, where he obtained his General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary and Advance Levels.

His interest and talent in theatre drama begun at Mawuli School, Ho, where he joined the school's drama group.

Right from secondary school form one, he played the role of Senchi in Efua Sutherland's Edufa and by form three, he succeeded in writing a play for his house (TROST House) in the school.

Efo Kodjo then gained admission into the University of Ghana where he studied Theatre Arts, majoring in playwriting from 1975 to 1978.

Later in 1991, he did a certificate course in senior management development at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). He also studied at the Bauff Centre for Management Calgary Canada in 1995 and was also sent to the E. T. A Chicago, USA on a USIS-sponsored attachment programme in Theatre and Events Organisation.

Efo Kodjo further studied at the British Council, Glasgow and London, where he did a certificate programme in Theatre Management and Audience Development.

From 1979-1984, he served as a Senior Research Assistant - African Theatre at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Centre for Cultural Studies) where he helped students in the developing and production of plays.

He has to his credit 19 plays. These include: "A Calabash of Blood" - Radio Drama- GBC in 1978, "Aluta Continua" - drama - produced for radio, stage and T.V. distributed in Africa by URTNA (1979) and in 1980, "The Unbending Branch" - Radio Drama (GBC).

Between 2001-2002, Efo Kodjo was a part-time Assistant Lecturer (Playwriting) at the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Ghana, where he supervised final year playwriting students.

Efo Kodjo was survived by a wife, and six children. His daughter, Sefakor, died a few months his burial. My Father's Song is dedicated to Sefakor.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Manasseh Azure Awuni with additional information from myjoyonline archives.