Two cousins with ‘high levels of melanin’, Antônio (Femi Oyeniran) and André (Anyebe Godwin) initially react in very different ways. Whilst André immediately grasps the gravity of the situation, Antônio remains bemusedly incredulous. That is, until he sees his concierge being arrested and watches a live broadcast of a beloved Afro-Brazilian TV personality being forcibly apprehended.

Under self-imposed house arrest, the cousins start to consider a Brazil without those who have shaped the country’s cultural identity. Antônio and André debate the merits of reparations, the socio-economic legacy of slavery and the accompanying injustices. They vacillate between dogged refusal to leave the land of their birth and resigning to the edict and the uncertainties of a new life.

Aldri Anunciação’s surreal socio-political dialectic ‘Namíbia, Não!’ is said to be the longest running two-hander play in Brazilian history. Translated and directed by erudite and multi-talented Brazilian actor Almiro Andrade, its Anglophone adaptation still has the tell-tale signs of a work-in-progress. The delivery is understandably rough around the edges. The narrative flow falters and attempts to impart relevant historical information are yet to be absorbed smoothly into the script.

Yet the piece is so conceptually rich, these are mere kinks to be ironed out in a future production. ‘Namíbia, Não!’ intelligently explores a vast array of issues with which all culturally displaced peoples could readily relate.

Personnel:

Written by Aldri Anunciação

Directed by Almiro Andrade

Assistant Director – Sian Davila

Set and Costume Design – Natalie Jackson

Sound Design/Composer – Xavior

Cast:

Anyebe Godwin – André

Femi Oyeniran – Antônio

‘Namíbia, Não!’ is part of the 10 year anniversary celebration of the Casa Latin American Theatre Festival: 3 September – 28 October 2017.