John Owoo
Life
2 minutes read
THE Slaves Revisited”, a staging of the acclaimed 1982 play by the late playwright Dr Mohammed Ben Abdallah, will be performed today, April 25, at the National Theatre in Accra.
Produced by the Global Arts and Development Council (GADEC), this new staging brings together a vibrant ensemble of performers in a bold, contemporary interpretation of one of Ghana’s most significant theatrical works.
It is both a tribute and a reawakening of a text that remains urgently relevant in the present moment, as it revisits enduring questions of memory, identity and power, and how the legacy of slavery continues to shape African consciousness and global histories today.
The production also enters a moment of renewed global reflection following a Ghana-led resolution adopted by the United Nations in March 2026, which recognised the transatlantic slave trade as the “gravest crime against humanity.”
This landmark decision has deepened international conversations around historical justice and reparative memory.
The Slaves Revisited is an artistic response, inviting audiences into an urgent dialogue between the past and the present, reminding us that history is not only remembered but continually lived through us.
This year’s performance carries additional resonance as it coincides with the 82nd birthday of Dr Mohammed Ben Abdallah, whose pioneering work continues to inspire generations of theatre practitioners across Africa and beyond.
Dr Abdallah, who passed away last year, leaves behind a monumental legacy of writing and cultural thought that continues to shape Pan-African theatre.
The production was directed by Dr Abdul Karim Hakib, a Ghanaian theatre practitioner and academic at the University of Ghana’s School of Performing Arts, whose directing work includes the Heritage Theatre Series “Wogbe Jeke”, a large-scale production that reimagines Ghanaian history through music, dance and drama; “Mansa World”, “I Told You So”, “Vagina Monologues” and other iconic stage plays.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh