Presents a collection of essays that bring conceptually fresh perspectives, from both renowned and emerging voices, to the study of drama, theatre, and performance in Africa. This work includes topics ranging from studies of major dramatic authors and formal literary dramas to improvisational theatre and popular video films.

"African Drama and Performance" is a collection of innovative and wide-ranging essays that bring conceptually fresh perspectives, from both renowned and emerging voices, to the study of drama, theatre, and performance in Africa. The topics range from studies of major dramatic authors and formal literary dramas to improvisational theatre and popular video films. South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commissions are analyzed as a kind of social performance, and aspects of African performance in the diaspora are also considered.This dynamic volume underscores theatre's role in postcolonial society and politics and re-examines performance as a form of high art and everyday social ritual. The contributors are Akin Adesokan, Daniel Avorgbedor, Karin Barber, Nicholas Brown, Catherine Cole, John Conteh-Morgan, Johannes Fabian, Joachim Fiebach, Marie-Jose Hourantier, Loren Kruger, Pius Ngandu Nkashama, Isidore Okpewho, Tejumola Olaniyan, Ato Quayson, Sandra L. Richards, Wole Soyinka, Dominic Thomas, and Bob W. White.

Introduction: Tejumola Olaniyan and John Conteh-MorganPart 1. General Contexts 1. TBA Wole Soyinka
2. Dimensions of Theatricality in AfricaJoachim Fiebach
3. Theater and Anthropology, Theatricality and Culture Johannes Fabian
4. Pre-Texts and Intermedia: African Theater and the Question of History Ato Quayson Part 2. Intercultural Negotiations 5. Soyinka, Euripides, and the Anxiety of Empire Isidore Okpewho
6. Antigone in the "Land of the Incorruptible": Sylvain Bemba's Noces posthumes pour Santigone (Black Wedding Candles for Blessed- Antigone) John Conteh-Morgan
7. Gestural Interpretation of the Occult in the Bin Kadi-So Adaptation of Macbeth Marie-Jose Hourantier
8. Yoruba Gods on the American Stage: August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone Sandra L. Richards Part 3. Radical Politics and Aesthetics 9. Femi Osofisan: The Form of Uncommon Sense Tejumola Olaniyan
10. Revolution and Recidivism: The Problem of Kenyan History in the Plays of Ngugi wa Thiong'o Nicholas Brown
11. The Politics and Theater of Sony Labou Tansi Dominic Thomas Part 4. Popular Expressive Genres and the Performance of Culture 12. Theater for Development and TV Nation: Notes on Educational Soap Opera in South Africa Loren Kruger
13. Literacy, Improvisation, and the Virtual Script in Yoruba Popular Theater Karin Barber
14. Modernity's Trickster: "Dipping" and "Throwing" in Congolese Popular Dance Music Bob W. White
15. How They See It: The Politics and Aesthetics of Nigeria Video Films Akin Adesokan Part 5. The Social as Drama 16. The Turner-Schechner Model of Performance as Social Drama: A Re-examination in Light of Anlo-Ewe Halo Daniel Avorgbedor
17. Theaters of Truth, Acts of Reconciliation: The TRC in South Africa Catherine Cole
18. Theatricality and Social Mimodrama Pius Ngandu Nkashama