Blood, seen as a symbol that binds than a fluid, but also, an excuse to shun. We’ve seen it happen in large and smale scale conflict, but walking into Kwa Ndego’s Gīkūyū na Mūmbi, I wasn’t ready for how good of a story centerpiece it would make.
Gīkūyū na Mūmbi, follows two families conducting a dowry, but all goes sour as the boy’s family is made aware of the girl’s clan and halt the ceremony, deeming her clan traitorous and unfortunate. One elder enlightens them of the origins of the conflict from the creation story of the Agīkūyū people, to the early life of the 9 daughters of Gīkūyū na Mūmbi. Two of the young daughters are the catalysts, as one, Wamūyū, lusts over Nyambura’s husband (who requits), since she didn’t get the chance to have one, this results to a pregnancy and curses from Nyambura, but Gīkūyū legitimizes her children and blesses her. This doesn’t prevent the story from being altered and used to fuel hate generations later, since even some who do not know it, still use the allegory as an excuse to shun.
An impressive outtake about this play is it’s ability to blend modern themes with traditional myth and principals; one unforgettable is the act of the men in the ceremony instructing the ladies to leave the room in order to discuss the terms of the dowry, the women however stand their ground by exercising and acknowledging the role they’ve had in raising their children to that point, and their right to be part of discussing the terms.
The ensembled cast owned the stage when given the chance, the writing favouring each one of them be it through hilarious gags or musical and emotional moments, each with their best.
Technical aspects stood out with the lighting complimenting the fantasy angles of the story but faltered a little with sound and music as actors’ voices while performing their numbers would be unfairly overpowered by instruments.
The pacing faltered in some instances, especially when humor was stretched for too long or long numbers that communicated little.
Throughout the year, I’ve experienced art that blend the current state of the world with entertainment and visual striking stories that have left me pondering much, Gīkūyū na Mūmbi has entered the list.
To book exclusive events with a TICKETING PARTNER visit tickets.sanaapost.com 😎👊🏿
