Folklore and Ethnographic Performance in Africa: Samples, Characteristics and Foreign Impacts

ملخص:
This paper is an attempt to introduce the Ethnographic performances and theatres (EPT) in Africa, citing some of its samples, types, characteristics and the foreign impacts on it. By adopting a Documentary method, this paper found that the EPT is deep rooted and abundant in the African societies. Some of its types are: ceremonial ritualistic, satirical and puppet performances. The active contribution between the actors and the public, the variety of the performances are some of the characteristics of the EPT. Meanwhile, the impacts made by the Western Colonization (especially the French’s), are found to be, and still, the widest and the most challenging for the EPT. This is because those impacts were neither natural nor peaceful. However, the EPT has always had significant social and cultural roles in the African societies. Here comes the need to further researches in this area to find possible usages of the EPT to solve the current African problems in education, culture and politics. Also, its usages to attain development in the African modern countries.