The Marriage of Anansewa

Summary

Overview

The Marriage of Anansewa is a celebrated African comedic-satirical play that adapts traditional Akan storytelling techniques. It follows the cunning protagonist, Kweku Ananse, who attempts to lift himself out of poverty by marketing his beautiful, educated daughter, Anansewa, to wealthy chiefs.

Plot Summary

Poverty-stricken Ananse uses photographs of his daughter, Anansewa, to enter into simultaneous engagement arrangements with four powerful and wealthy suitors: the Chief of Sapaase, the Chief of the Mines, Togbe Klu IV of Akate, and the Chief-Who-Is-Chief, without any of them or Anansewa knowing. He uses the gifts and money extracted from these suitors to pay Anansewa's school fees and sustain his household. Chaos ensues when all four chiefs send telegrams announcing their imminent arrival to perform final traditional marriage rites (head-drink ceremony) on the same days. To escape this tight corner, Ananse collaborates with Christie to fake Anansewa’s sudden death. During the mock funeral, the suitors arrive to pay their respects with heavy condolence gifts. Observing their reactions, the Chief-Who-Is-Chief proves the depth of his genuine love and grief. Ananse 'resurrects' Anansewa for him, leading to a joyful resolution that satirizes the commercialization of marriage while celebrating traditional values.