Cultural Director Pledges to Transform Museums with ‘Museum Theatre’ Initiative
Mr. Emmanuel Jewel Peprah Mensah, the Asokwa Municipal Cultural Director, who is also a Theatre Expert and a postgraduate student pursuing his MPhil in African Art and Culture at the Department of Painting and Sculpture, KNUST, has taken on the task of revitalizing the museum experience in Ghana through the implementation of a Museum Theatre Project.
His case study for this project is the Prempeh II Jubilee Museum at the Kumasi Cultural Centre.
According to Mr. Peprah Mensah, the Museum Theatre Project aims to bring Ghana’s rich historical narratives and artifacts to life in Ghanaian museums, monuments, and other heritage sites.
He explained that Museum Theatre is an innovative concept that has not been widely utilized in Ghana, unlike in Europe, the United States, and some African countries. Mr. Peprah Mensah described ‘Museum Theatre’ as a concept that employs theatrical techniques, drama, and theater to interpret historical objects, histories, and exhibits for educational, informative, and entertainment purposes.
He emphasized that this concept is typically performed by professional actors.
During his presentation at the Prempeh II Jubilee Museum, he focused on one item in the museum, the ‘Linguistic Staff,’ which represents the Akan Clan Systems and their totems, including Aduana, Ekuona, Asona, Agona, Bretuo, Asakyiri, Oyoko, and Asene.
He wrote a script based on the selected artifact and, with the assistance of Daniel Yaw Acheampong, directed the performance. This innovative approach aims to enhance visitors’ understanding of the historical accounts and narratives associated with the Linguistic Staff artifact, going beyond traditional verbal interpretation and providing a more engaging and interactive experience.
In an interview with Opemsuo News Reporter, Johnson Owusu Aduomi, Mr. Emmanuel Jewel Peprah Mensah expressed his gratitude to the individuals who supported his project and made it a success, including Feyiaasehene Nana Addai Dwamena, the Member of Parliament for Bantama, Hon. Asenso Boakye, and the director of Alliance Française.
“I call on Nananom to promote and sustain this innovative concept, allowing the cherished and rich culture of Asanteman, in particular, to benefit from it,” he said.
