West African Music Ensemble Group Two

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Ewe Story – The Maiden Who Always Refused

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Introduction

Narrator: Tendai

People are scattered around visiting with each other. Narrator comes on stage.

Narrator "Gather Round! Gather Round! I have a story to tell you."

Narrator pulls up a chair, everyone sits in a clump in front of him.

Narrator: "Many years ago, a man, his wife, and daughter lived in one house. Her father and mother were rich. They had a daughter named Aku. The girl grew up to be a very beautiful lady. Honourable well-known men came to ask for her, to marry her and take her away; but every single time Aku refused. "

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Part 1: Gota

Change scene: Atmosphere like a dating show Narrator takes Gina aside and whispers to her. Gina goes to the background. Floaty leopard head in background.

Drummers

Lead: April

Double Kidi: Sara

Kagan: Katrina

Bell: Ananda

Shaker: Gina

Dancers

Aku the Maiden: Ananda

Suitor #1: Marielle

Suitor #2: Stanley

Suitor #3: Sarah

Leopard Man: Gina

• • Gota 1.1 ~

Narrator: "Suitor #1! He is the best farmer in the village. It is said that he can plow 10 acres in 10 minutes!"

Suitor #1 approaches the Aku while performing the basic Gota step.

• Lead Drum Roll will signal the freestyle Gota technique.

Suitor #1 will then display his dance skill in an attempt to win the Maiden's affection. Please Note that this freestyle Gota technique will not actually be freestyle but a choreographed and previously practiced dance regime between the Suitor and the Maiden.

• Lead Drum will STOP signaling the freeze of the dance.

The STOP will clearly indicate the Maiden's dissatisfaction with the Suitor. Thus, the Bachelor will exit the stage in a forlorn and defeated manner when the lead drum starts to play the basic Gota step again. As Suitor #1 exits, Suitor #2 will approach the Maiden.

Aku the Maiden: "Uh..he smells too much like manure. NEXT!"

• • Gota 1.2 ~

Narrator: Suitor #2! He is the best kente weaver in the village. It is said that he can weave the highest thread count in all the land.

Bachelor #2 approaches the Maiden while performing the basic Gota step.

• Lead Drum Roll will signal the freestyle Gota technique.

Bachelor #2 will then display his dance skill in an attempt to win the Maiden's affection. Please Note that this freestyle Gota technique will not actually be freestyle but a choreographed and previously practiced dance regime between the Bachelor and the Maiden (this will differ from the technique employed between Suitor #1 and the Maiden).

• Lead Drum will STOP signaling the freeze of the dance.

The STOP will clearly indicate the Maiden's dissatisfaction with the Bachelor. Thus, the Bachelor will exit the stage in a forlorn and defeated manner when the lead drum starts to play the basic Gota step again. As Bachelor #2 exits, Bachelor #3 will approach the Maiden.

Backstage: Bachelor #1 (Marielle) and Bachelor #2 (Stanley) will change into the Maiden's parent's costumes.

• • Gota 1.3 ~

Bachelor #3 (Sarah) approaches the Maiden (Ananda) while performing the basic Gota step.

• Lead Drum Roll will signal the freestyle Gota technique.

Bachelor #3 will then display his dance skill in an attempt to win the Maiden's affection. Please Note that this freestyle Gota technique will not actually be freestyle but a choreographed and previously practiced dance regime between the Bachelor and the Maiden (this will differ from the technique employed between Bachelor #1 & #2 and the Maiden).

• Lead Drum will STOP signaling the freeze of the dance.

The STOP will clearly indicate the Maiden dissatisfaction with the Bachelor. Thus, the Bachelor will exit the stage in a forlorn and defeated manner when the lead drum starts to play the basic Gota step again.

• During the STOP:

Narrator: "and so, she stayed."

• Dramatic Pause

Narrator: "Now the leopard, in the leopard’s place, hears this. He transforms himself to resemble a man."

The Leopard Man (Gina) transforms himself into a fine young man. Leopard Man begins to sing “Ago maya fe gota vio maya fe” as he approaches the Maiden, yet remains at a distance from her. The Maiden will, in turn, respond by singing the same lyrics "Ago maya fe gota vio maya fe". When the singing stops, the Lead Drum will start to play.

• • Gota 1.4 ~

The Leopard Man will come closer to the Maiden while performing the basic Gota step and, in doing so, he'll demonstrate his sleek prowess.

• Lead Drum Roll will signal the freestyle technique between the Leopard Man and Maiden.

During this time, the Maiden will clearly indicate her satisfaction with the Leopard Man.

• Lead Drum will STOP signaling the freeze of the dance.

The Leopard Man will freeze on bended knee (suggestive of the intent to marry the Maiden) and the Maiden will freeze in a reciprocally affectionate manner.

The Maiden will then exit the stage to retrieve her parents (Marielle and Stanley).

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Part 2: Wedding Ceremony

The Maiden returns to the stage with her parents and joins the Leopard Man.

Narrator: "Then he goes to the father and the mother of the maiden, and he says,"

Leopard Man: “I am strong and manly, but I do not look stronger than I love. I would like to ask for her hand, to marry her and take her away.”

Narrator: "Then the father says,"

Father (Stanley): “You may ask my daughter.”

A traditional Ewe wedding ceremony will occur after the dialogue between the Leopard Man and the Maiden's Father .

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When the wedding ceremony finishes the dancers will gather to celebrate the matrimonial union by performing the dance, Gahu.

Part 3: Gahu (Wedding Celebration)

Drummers

Lead: Katrina

Sogo: Sarah

Kidi: Substitute?

Kagan: Substitute?

Bell: Tendai

Shaker: Sara

Dancers

Maiden: Ananda

Leopard Man: Gina

Maiden’s Mother: Marielle

Maiden’s Father: Stanley

Village Elder: April

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Part 4: The True Nature of the Leopard Man

The actors will silently act out corresponding actions while the Narrator orates the customary gift-giving.

Narrator: "The young man comes in the house. His shape pleases the young girl. They give him something to eat, and they give him something to drink. Then the young man asks the maiden if she is ready to go, and the maiden says yes.

The maiden’s parents give her gifts and two slaves; one female that her mother gives, and one male that her father gives; and goats, and sheep, and fowls.

Then the father gives a word of advice to his child; the mother embraces her. They walk out a little way on the road with their child, and then the father and mother turn back again. Then the young woman and her husband go. They take the road to go out. He walks with his wife’s hand in his. Suddenly the husband says,"

After the Narrator's oration, the Maiden and Leopard Man will act out the following dialogue. Costumed actors will personify the fowl, sheep and goats.

Leopard Man: “I am hungry.”

Narrator: "Then the woman gives him some yam to eat. The husband refuses and says"

Leopard Man:“ "I am not one who eats roots. I only eat meat! (?)”

Narrator: "Then the woman offers him fowls, and he takes and eats them. They continue walking on the road and the husband says"

Leopard Man: “I am hungry, is there anything to eat?”

Narrator: "The wife offers him the sheep, and so he takes and eats the sheep. They continue walking along the road, and the husband says directly,"

Leopard Man: “I am hungry.”

Narrator: "Then the wife offers him goats. So he eats the goats. Then he says"

Leopard Man: “I am still hungry,”

Narrator: "and the wife answers"

Maiden: "But you have eaten all our food!”

Narrator: "Then he says,"

Leopard Man: “There are still two slaves.”

Narrator: The wife is frightened now and weeps. So with her back turned to him, he transforms himself back into a leopard to attack and eat the slaves. Immediately he says

Leopard Man: “I am still hungry!”

Narrator: "Then the wife weeps aloud, for everything is finished. A hunter in the bush hears her weeping and hides close. The young woman, hopeless and afraid, falls to the ground in tears. The leopard suddenly leaps toward her to attack, but a hunter throws his spear (hearing her cries), which scares of the Leopard."

The Leopard Man will transform into his true Leopard-self seconds before pouncing on the Maiden. The Maiden will tear off a piece of Leopard skin (fabric) from the Leopard when he attacks. When the hunter bends down to help the Maiden, he'll see the Leopard skin and take it in his hand. He'll show the audience the piece of hide while he appears to examine it.

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Part 5:

Drummers

Lead David (?) Kidi Kloboto Totogi Kagan Bell Shaker

Dancers

The hunter came and spoke to the young woman. He cuts off the leopard’s tail and takes her to his house. Narrator: This is the way of young women. The young men come to ask; the young women meet them and continue to refuse- again, again, and again-so the wild animals turn themselves into men and carry them off.

Ellis, A.B. (1966). The Ewe-Speaking People of the Slave Coast of West Africa. Oosterhout N.B., The Netherlands: Anthropological Publications.