Parliament pays tribute to Efo Kodjo Mawugbe
Parliament, yesterday, paid a glowing tribute to the former director of the National Theatre, Efo Kodjo Mawugbe, who passed away last month.
The members of parliament described him as an extraordinary statesman, who has contributed immensely to the growth of the arts and culture industry in Ghana, and across the continent.
The members said Efo spent almost 30 years in the arts and culture industry, and dedicated himself to pushing young men and women in the industry to accomplish their goals, as well as their full potentials.
Efo Kodjo Mawugbe will be buried today, October 28, at the Osu Cemetery in Accra, after a funeral ceremony at the forecourt of the State House.
Efo Kodjo Mawugbe, the renowned playwright and Director of the National Theatre, died in the early hours of Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, where he had been on admission for some weeks.
Efo was renowned for his writing prowess in drama. He was winner of the BBC's International Radio Playwriting Competition 2009 with his play, 'The Prison Graduates.' His play was selected out of 12,000 entries across the world.
Efo Kodjo was born 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 Ayivi Mawugbe, 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 began 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, had 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 development 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.
He was survived by a wife and five children.