Donegal to Dakar: the Irish play about British rule hitting home in post-colonial Senegal

"On a humid evening in Dakar, an Irish jig echoes through the country's air-conditioned national theatre. The breathy, woody sound of the west African Fula flute brings a different cadence to the traditional tune. Actors dance across the stage, their peasant costumes stitched from African fabrics. The dialogue is in French, the playwright is Irish and the players are Senegalese."

"The encounters between villagers and soldiers become a way to explore colonial power, language and identity. It is a story that resonated deeply with the cast in Senegal. I was really surprised to learn that Ireland, a European country, had also experienced colonisation, says David Dieme, who plays the Irish translator, Owen. Staged by the Dakar-based theatre company Brrr Production in late September,"

An 1833-set Irish play, Translations, was staged in Dakar by Brrr Production with Senegalese actors performing in French and incorporating West African music and fabrics. The production fused an Irish jig with the breathy Fula flute and featured peasant costumes made from African textiles. The play portrays British soldiers translating Gaelic placenames into English and examines colonial power, language and identity. Cast members expressed surprise at Ireland's history of colonisation. The production debuted in late September and will tour schools and universities before opening to the public next year, coinciding with regional debates over Francafrique and recent expulsions of French troops.

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