INTRODUCTION:

Akwaaba.. Welcome To Alphabetic Africa, African Ceremonies: The Zulu Royal
Reed Dance and African Courtesies: The Ngonyma (Lion) were directed by The
Ngonyma Of Brooklyn himself; Boniface Wewe and produced by African Artistic
Ventures (1920 Pacific St. #3, Brooklyn, NY 11233. 718-953-6811) in 2001, 2003
and 2005 respectively. “‘Akwaaba—Welcome to Alphabetic Africa’ (25 minutes)
surveys an array of topics meant to represent the variety that may define
existence in numerous areas of the continent” while African Ceremonies: The Zulu
Royal Dance (55 minutes) unveils the rite of passage where young female Zulus
undergo their rite of passage from maidens to womanhoods. All three videos
expose the intricacies and complexities of the African culture. They paint a
vivid caricature in an unbiased stream of consciousness about the people of
Africa.
The videos reach their paroxysms with the various dances and the bare breasted
young ladies. In watching these videos you learn and whet your appetite for
Africa. Mr. Wewe explores the foliage of African tradition, customs, evolution
and spiritual redemption that a book cannot easily give you.

2. SUMMARY:

A. About the Videos
Boniface Wewe has three videos. In each of them he starts with an
introduction. In Akwaaba-Welcome to Alphabetic Africa, he greets people in
different East African languages, he presents various traditional regalia,
locally invented musical instruments, traditional dances, meals, the niche of
traditional healers and diviners, local abodes and locally made drinks like
Matango.
In the Second video: African Ceremonies: The Zulu Royal Dance, he gives an
epigrammatic history of the Zulu people, the topless virgin maidens and warriors
engaged in a ritualistic dance. The king leads the way of toplessness by going
topless himself.
The third video: African Courtesies: The Ngonyama (Lion) is enmeshed in 45
minutes with a comedy of manners as Boniface Wewe is installed as a commissioner
in Bamenda County running for the presidency of Africa. He is installed with the
Njang Noni danced which accompanied births, deaths and other celebrations. He is
then tested by students from East Brunswick High School in Brooklyn on his
diplomatic skills and general knowledge on African culture and tradition. He
answers questions on the roles of ululation, meals, praise singers, common
courtesies, traditional and customary courts, lucky charms, common problems in
Africa, local breweries, common courtesies and ancestral worship.
This video too reaches its zenith with the Annual Zulu Reed Dance let by the
head princess who was the king’s daughter and performed only by virgins due to
the purity associated with virginity.

B. Analysis and Evaluation

The subject matter is appropriate for the audience. The visual rule is well
respected. The colors are pleasing to the eyes, the transition between slices is
very smooth, the music and digital graphics are well enhanced and the audio well
mixed and edited. Ngonyma (author) unveils his great interview skills in these
videos. The comments and melodrama are also appealing. The dramatic scenes in
the video are just more than real. By going round Africa to collect various
traditions and customs Boniface Wewe sheds the light into the Dark Continent.
If anyone still sees Africa as the Dark Continent it should be because they
refused to be informed and not because they were or have not been enlightened.
However, there are a couple of concerns in that, the videos end while one
still desires to watch more. Most of the traditional dances should have been
lengthen. The bare breasted Zulus could be an embarrassment to novices of the
African culture. Closely examining the breast of some of the supposed virgins,
it would seem they are high mileage and one would question how they can remain
virgins. Their mannerisms show they have been deleted a couple of times in
relationships just to add to my unbelief that they cannot all be virgins.

CONCLUSION:

I really like the videos because they are a maquillage to the phony
caricature of Africa that Western Media paints. More so, they serve as
cinematographic reminders to Africans who went to Johannesburg but can’t be
found by any Kumalo. Boniface Wewe uses a cogent and fluent style in presenting
his information that the message gets to its destination no matter one's level
of education. The author being an African himself is qualified to write, direct
and present these videos because it becomes more applicable reading and watching
from someone who was born, imbibed and has trodden the path of the African
culture from his mother’s womb. Everybody should definitely endeavor to watch
these videos and keep copies in their libraries.

Prince and PA Hamilton Ayuk



"Life is like a mysterious highway. At times we bypass those who would have made
us happy on the other side of the road either because of our hyperopia or
myopia" (Hamilton Ayuk).




























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