Tony Harrison: Akin Mata

Relationship to Classical text In his Preface (reprinted in N. Astley (ed.) Tony Harrison: Bloodaxe Critical Anthologies 1, Bloodaxe, 1991) Harrison notes that the plot seemed particularly relevant in a country ‘where women have not yet reached political equality with men, and where the ‘sex war’ is a recurrent source of humour’, whilst also remarking that Nigerian theatrical forms might perhaps be closer to the spirit of Greek Comedy than anything in modern Europe (ibid. p.85).

Close translation of words/phrases/excerpts  A re-writing, with the Irish poet James Simmons, of Aristophanes’ Lysistrata.

Classical/post-Classical intertexts Transposed to a Nigerian setting.

Note First performed at Ahmadu Bell University, Zaria, by student actors and village musicians, in March 1964