3.1 MARRIAGE OF ANANSEWA BY EFUA SUTHERLAND

INTRODUCTION

The Marriage of Anansewa is a comic African drama written by Efua Sutherland, a renowned Ghanaian playwright. The play blends African oral tradition, folklore, and modern drama to examine issues of marriage, materialism, parental control, gender roles, and morality in African society.

The drama is built around Kwaku Ananse, a traditional trickster figure, and his daughter Anansewa, whose marriage becomes a tool for her father’s selfish ambition. Through humour and satire, the playwright criticizes the commercialization of marriage and the exploitation of women.

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PLOT SUMMARY

The play revolves around Kwaku Ananse, a poor but cunning man who decides to use his daughter Anansewa’s beauty to escape poverty. He secretly communicates with four wealthy suitors from different parts of Ghana, promising each of them Anansewa’s hand in marriage.

Ananse encourages all the suitors to send expensive gifts while making each believe he is the chosen one. Meanwhile, Anansewa herself is kept in the dark about her father’s schemes and is treated like a commodity rather than a human being.

When the suitors begin to demand a final decision, Ananse pretends that Anansewa is dead. This shocking lie is meant to test which suitor truly loves her. The suitor who shows genuine grief proves his sincerity and becomes the rightful husband.

Eventually, Anansewa is revealed to be alive, and the play ends happily, but not without exposing Ananse’s greed and deception. The story teaches that marriage should be based on love and sincerity, not wealth.

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SETTING

The play is set in Ghana, moving between:

• Ananse’s house
• The homes of the suitors
• Traditional and modern social spaces

The setting reflects the transition between traditional African culture and modern life.

CHARACTER ANALYSIS

1. Kwaku Ananse

• A clever, greedy, and manipulative father
• Represents the traditional African trickster
• Sees marriage as a business transaction
• Exploits his daughter for financial gain
• Serves as a satirical criticism of parental greed

2. Anansewa

• A beautiful, educated, and obedient young woman
• Victim of her father’s manipulation
• Represents the African woman trapped by patriarchy
• Her silence highlights how women are often denied choice in marriage

3. Akwasi Aidoo

• One of the suitors
• Shows genuine love and concern
• Ultimately proves to be the most sincere
• Represents true love and honesty

4. Chief-Who-Is-Chief

• A wealthy traditional ruler
• Represents power, pride, and class consciousness
• Shows interest based on status rather than love

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5. Togbe Klu

• Another suitor
• Represents materialism and rivalry
• His reaction to Anansewa’s “death” exposes insincerity

6. The Narrator / Storyteller

• Guides the audience through the play
• Reflects African oral storytelling tradition
• Breaks the “fourth wall” and adds humour

THEMES

1. Commercialization of Marriage

Marriage is treated as a means of acquiring wealth rather than love. Ananse turns his daughter into a commodity.

2. Greed and Materialism

Ananse’s desire for wealth drives the conflict. The play criticizes societies that value money over morality.

3. Parental Control and Abuse

Ananse dominates Anansewa’s life and choices, highlighting the misuse of parental authority.

4. Gender Inequality

Women are shown as powerless in marital decisions. Anansewa’s silence reflects the marginalization of women.

5. Deceit and Trickery

Lies and manipulation dominate the plot, but the playwright shows that deceit eventually leads to shame.

6. Tradition vs Modern Values

The play questions outdated traditions that deny individuals freedom and happiness.

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DRAMATIC TECHNIQUES

1. Folklore and Storytelling

The play adopts African oral narrative style through a narrator and audience participation.

2. Satire

Efua Sutherland mocks greed, pride, and social hypocrisy using humour.

3. Irony

Ananse’s tricks nearly destroy his plans, showing that deceit is dangerous.

4. Suspense

The fake death of Anansewa creates tension and reveals true intentions.

5. Symbolism

• Gifts → Materialism
• Death → Test of true love
• Ananse → Human greed and cunning

STYLE AND LANGUAGE

• Simple and conversational English
• Incorporates African idioms and proverbs
• Humorous and dramatic
• Didactic (teaches moral lessons)

MORAL LESSONS

• Marriage should be based on love, not wealth
• Greed leads to disgrace
• Women deserve the right to choose
• Honesty is better than deception
• Parents should protect, not exploit, their children

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RELEVANCE TO AFRICAN SOCIETY

The play reflects:

• Forced and arranged marriages
• Parental greed
• Gender inequality
• Social obsession with wealth
• Conflict between tradition and modern values

CONCLUSION

The Marriage of Anansewa is a rich African drama that uses humour and folklore to expose the dangers of greed, materialism, and patriarchal control. Efua Sutherland successfully presents a timeless message on morality, love, and human dignity, making the play highly relevant to African society and a key text for WAEC and JAMB candidates.