Sharon Atuhairwe in one of the scenes with Ojok Okello. Photos/cCourtesy
If you have appreciated Uganda’s literature even for a day, chances are high you are familiar with Okot P’Bitek’s Song of Lawino, translated as Wer pa Lawino in Acholi.
Song of Lawino is a remarkable and thought-provoking epic poem written by Ugandan poet Okot p’Bitek. Published in 1966, the poem presents a powerful critique of the clash between traditional African culture and the encroachment of Western influences. Through the voice of its protagonist, Lawino, the poem, explores themes of identity, cultural pride, love, and the erosion of African traditions.
Last weekend, as many music lovers chose to be paralysed by both Pallaso and Alien Skin’s concerts at the National Theatre, something special was happening. The theatre was playing host to Echoes of Lawino, a production by Okere City that is not entirely re-imagining but re-echoing the man’s poem many years later………CONTINUE READING………