Boulgou: The court of His Majesty Naaba Koom of Garango served as the setting Tuesday evening for a performance of the play "Under the Shadow of the Nakamb©." Through this socially conscious work, the actors raised awareness among the population about the dangers of school dropout and child gold mining, while calling on parents and the community to fully assume their responsibility in the education of young people.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the play recounts the story of a once peaceful village where social cohesion and harmony reigned among the inhabitants. But this harmony gradually deteriorates with the arrival of gold mining, which forces many children to abandon school for the mining sites.
The director and screenwriter, Nongdo Ou©draogo, emphasized that the main message of the play is a call for collective responsibility in the education of children. 'We tell the story of a village where life was good. But with gold mining, some students leave school for the gold sites. And since they are children, this leads to many problems: landslides, drugs, sexual promiscuity and sometimes even banditry,' he explained, highlighting the societal implications.
Ou©draogo stressed the importance of collective responsibility, stating, "The education of children is everyone's responsibility: parents, teachers, traditional and religious leaders. We want to remind parents of the importance of enrolling their children in school and, above all, of monitoring their academic progress."
In the play, actress Jeannette Ganbon©, alias Acha, portrays the journey of a young girl who abandons school to go to a gold mining site. Her story serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of leaving education for labor. Acha's narrative unfolds as she returns to the village with gifts for her family, only to face challenges when she becomes pregnant.
'Acha is a girl who leaves school to go to the mine. She earns a little money, comes back to buy a motorcycle for her father, and leaves again. But her return doesn't go well: she gets pregnant and realizes she has to go back to school,' the actress shared, reflecting on the character's trials.
Ganbon© admitted the complexity of embodying Acha. 'I tried to put myself in the character's shoes to understand what she's going through. It wasn't simple, especially when the audience calls out to me after the performance, saying, 'You're the pregnant girl who dropped out of school.' But it shows that the message is getting through,' she explained.
The audience responded positively, appreciating the performance's quality and the message's relevance. 'The actors portrayed our everyday behaviors. I understood that school is a light that never goes out. We must educate all children and reject child labor in gold mining sites,' a spectator noted.
The troupe's coordinator, Ousmane Dabr©, indicated that additional performances are planned across several locations. Through this theatrical performance, the troupe aims to foster collective awareness and encourage communities to prioritize education, thereby safeguarding the future of their children.