A domestic drama, in a rural African setting. This play takes the motif of the eagle in Ghanaian mythology/symbolism to explore ideas of ambition, achievement and fulfilment, as individuals may experience for themselves, or as they may desire for others, particularly family members. It further reflects upon how ideas of ambition interact with competing responsibilities presented by the family. In the play, Bimpo leaves home to seek his fortunes elsewhere, but returns. He toys with the idea of supporting his disillusioned alcoholic father, but eventually decides he must pursue his own goals. His sister Sumanta falls pregnant, but her mother forbids her to marry the child's father because she feels he resembles her own husband too much, and she has greater aspirations for her daughter than she had for herself. All the family live in the shadow of their hardworking and successful grandfather, and implicitly constantly fail to live up to his expectations. Shadow of an Eagle was first broadcast on BBC African Theatre in 1969 and is now for the first time widely available outside Ghana.
Shadow of an Eagle
A domestic drama, in a rural African setting. This play takes the motif of the eagle in Ghanaian mythology/symbolism to explore ideas of ambition, achievement and fulfilment, as individuals may experience for themselves, or as they may desire for others, particularly family members. It further reflects upon how ideas of ambition interact with competing responsibilities presented by the family. In the play, Bimpo leaves home to seek his fortunes elsewhere, but returns. He toys with the idea of supporting his disillusioned alcoholic father, but eventually decides he must pursue his own goals. His sister Sumanta falls pregnant, but her mother forbids her to marry the child's father because she feels he resembles her own husband too much, and she has greater aspirations for her daughter than she had for herself. All the family live in the shadow of their hardworking and successful grandfather, and implicitly constantly fail to live up to his expectations. Shadow of an Eagle was first broadcast on BBC African Theatre in 1969 and is now for the first time widely available outside Ghana.
