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Act 1 of The Marriage of Anansewa
Setting and Opening Scene
Act 1 of The Marriage of Anansewa by Efua Sutherland opens in Ananse’s small home, where it is raining heavily outside. The Players perform a short introductory song about the struggles of life. This sets the mood of hardship and foreshadows the play’s focus on survival and cunning.
Ananse joins the song. He personalises the song’s message to his own situation. His poor state, signified by his leaking roof, shabby chairs, and low social standing, is made clear from the start.
Main Events
Ananse bursts in with typing paper, carbon paper, and envelopes. He calls on his daughter, Anansewa, to help him type some important letters. Though she is reluctant because she is heading out, he persuades her by reminding her of their poverty and unpaid school fees at E.P.’s Secretarial School.
After some protest, Anansewa agrees to help. Together, they compose four letters filled with praise and flattery, which she types while the Players sing about time and opportunity.
When she returns, Ananse surprises her with ₵120 for her school fees. Overjoyed at first, she is later shocked to discover that the money came from Chief-Who-Is-Chief, one of four wealthy suitors to whom her father had written; the others being Chief Sapaase, Chief Togbe Klu IV, and the Chief of the Mines.
Realising that her father is “selling” her to the highest bidder, Anansewa bursts out in anguish:
“Oh, my father is selling me, he is selling me!”
— Anansewa
The Players interrupt with another song to ease the tension and maintain the play’s storytelling rhythm.
Despite her distress, Anansewa later admits that Chief-Who-Is-Chief, a handsome and influential man, is the one she secretly admires. Ananse explains that he seeks not only wealth but also the best possible husband for her.
Storyteller’s Interlude
The Storyteller enters to comment on the action. He likens Ananse’s trickery to that of a spider spinning a web. He reminds the audience that a man may spend money on a woman, but until marriage rites are performed, she remains free.
This observation introduces a play-within-the-play, where Akosua tells her lover, Akwasi, the same truth. This is an indication that the former is not the latter’s, regardless of how much the latter has spent on the former, until they get married. This mirrors Ananse’s manipulative strategy with the chiefs.
Closing Moment
Act 1 of The Marriage of Anansewa ends when a postman delivers a letter from Chief Togbe Klu IV, bringing news that excites Ananse. His scheme seems to be unfolding successfully. It leaves the audience curious about its eventual outcome.
Themes in Act 1 of The Marriage of Anansewa
- Poverty and Survival: Ananse’s financial struggles drive his deceitful plan.
- Greed and Exploitation: He commodifies his daughter’s marriage prospects for personal gain.
- Cunning and Trickery: This reflects the traditional Ananse character in Ghanaian folklore.
- Modern vs. Traditional Values: The use of a typewriter and letter-writing shows the clash between old and new ways of life.
Dramatic Techniques in Act 1 of The Marriage of Anansewa
- Song and Dance: The Players’ songs act as commentary, much like a Greek chorus. The music and dance, known as Mboguo in Ghanaian Anansegoro theatre, reflect the mood of the events in the play.
- Play-within-a-Play: This is used to reinforce the moral lesson and mirror Ananse’s behaviour.
- Narrative Interruption: The Storyteller directly engages the audience. His presence blurs the line between story and reality.
Study Tip
Act 1 of The Marriage of Anansewa introduces Ananse’s plan and the moral tension between survival and integrity. Students should pay attention to how humour, song, and commentary are used to reveal social criticism in a non-confrontational way.
Questions on Act 1 of The Marriage of Anansewa
1. The play The Marriage of Anansewa opens with the ___
A. Storyteller introducing the play
B. Ananse praying for wealth
C. Players acting out a scene
D. Miss Christie teaching Anansewa
2. What is the central plan that drives Ananse’s action in Act 1?
A. To secure a chieftaincy title
B. To marry off his daughter profitably
C. To build a new house
D. To travel abroad
3. The storyteller serves mainly as a ___
A. Stage designer
B. Commentator and guide
C. Chief’s representative
D. Neighbour of Ananse
4. What modern instrument does Ananse use to type letters to the chiefs?
A. Typewriter
B. Computer
C. Printing press
D. Writing slate
5. Anansewa is described as a ___
A. Lazy and ill-mannered girl
B. Dutiful daughter and typist
C. Market woman
D. Seamstress and dancer
6. The four chiefs Ananse writes to are all interested in ___
A. Business partnership
B. Marrying Anansewa
C. Buying land
D. Sponsoring her education
7. The storyteller describes Ananse as a man of many tricks because ___
A. He plans to sell his daughter four times
B. He loves dancing and storytelling
C. He owns many houses
D. He deceives his wife
8. The play’s setting is primarily ___
A. A rural village
B. Ananse’s house
C. A palace
D. A church
9. Ananse uses which traditional Ghanaian storytelling style?
A. Dilemma tale
B. Concert party form
C. Anansesem (spider story)
D. Dirge narrative
10. What does Ananse ask Anansewa to do after typing the letters?
A. Post them
B. Destroy them
C. Hide them from Christie
D. Deliver them to the chiefs
Also Read:
- Act 2 Summary of The Marriage of Anansewa by Efua Sutherland
- Act 3 Summary of The Marriage of Anansewa by Efua Sutherland
- Act 4 Summary of The Marriage of Anansewa by Efua Sutherland
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