hajia

Twelve days into Ramadan and its time for drums and drama sketches and short plays all over town. Small boys however get into the act on the tenth day day by acquiring their small drums and beating them silly soon after Asham prayers. These are aged from five to sixteen and they parade the streets stopping at shops, entering into houses with the belief that they are entertaining the audience. Handing them a few coins usually save one from the noise and they move on. For virtually all of them its the first time they handle a musical instrument. And for many of them it would be the last. However the most interesting are the drama sketches that are performed outside or inside houses.These boys pick many themes and use all sorts of make up to assume different roles. Some could dress up as girls or as old men playing out specific roles that rhyme with the chorus and drums behind.
By far the most serious and elaborate is that performed by grown up men and called Karo Ba Shawara. It is a full blown opera that depicts the typical life of the people and in the process teaches a lot of things to the young. Characters sing their lines and comprise of the lead actor and his back ups who respond in a chorus. They use huge gourds laced with beads mainly as the musical instrument. The opera uses themes like the rainy season where the farming activities therein are portrayed. From clearing the farm to the first rains when land is cleared up to harvest time. Marriage, divorce and runway brides are also thrown into the whole drama so as to vary the performance.

Labels: RAMADAN TRADITIONS