Mark Jasper E.

Flores II-Einstein

African Drama The earliest recorded performance of African drama was in Egypt around the year 2000 BC. These performances in Ancient Egypt were called 'passion plays' and as part of this, the story of the God Osiris became an annual tradition at festivals. Yoruba theatre was a common feature often seen in African drama. This type of theatre originated from Yoruba literature, the first spoken and written language that was used by the Yoruba people. During their time, they were the largest ethno-linguistic group in Africa and Nigeria. Their language is still spoken throughout many Yoruba communities all over the world as well as in Benin, Nigeria and Togo. As part of African drama, a concept was developed in Nigeria called 'Total Theatre', which emerged in the 50s. There were particular features of this art that made it different and unique, such as the flexible language use and physical imagery that appeared to be completely surreal as well as nonnaturalistic techniques that had rarely been seen before.

When Rama was barely a teenager, the great sage Visvamitra visited the court and made a demand of the FEATURES OF AFRO-ASIAN DRAMA king. "King Dasaratha, I intend to take your eldest son, Rama, to the forest in order to kill the demons that are : Afro-asian literature encompasses the works of harassing us." Rama was the king's favorite son, and the authors and artists who are of mixed African and king tried to bargain with the holy man, but it was to no Asian descent. Peace seems to be a common avail. Because Rama and Lakshmana could not bear to be theme among their work. separated, they both immediately left for the forest.

Once inside the forest, Visvamitra took them to Tataka, the terrible demoness. She was hideous in form, and enormous. Around her neck was a human skull. She threw enormous rocks at them while hovering above them and changing shapes. "We must not kill her," instructed Rama, "forshe is a woman, and it would not be right to slay a However, one person in Ayodhya was not happy. It was woman." But Tataka would not give up, and so Lakshmana the king, Dasaratha, and he lamented his lack of sons to pierced her heart with a single arrow, and the gods praised carry on the royal line. He presented his problem to the them. royal sages, and one had an idea. "We must, King Dasaratha, perform a horse sacrifice as prescribed inWhen the threesome had returned to the sage's ashram, the Vedas, and if it pleases the gods, they may grant you Visvamitra spoke in his deep, unwavering voice, "You have sons." The king was pleased with this idea, and ordered the sons of Dasaratha. As a reward for your valor I done well, preparation to begin at once. present you with these weapons." And he gave Rama and

EXAMPLE OF AFROASIAN DRAMA

Lakshmana supernatural weapons, with amazing powers, and all a beautiful gold color. There was a quiver with an unlimited amount of arrows, arrows that could destroy At the same time, the gods were discussing Ravana, the entire armies, and bows that were so extremely powerful; vile, disgusting demon king with 10 heads and 20 arms. one couldn't begin to contemplate their power and strength. Ravana was terrorizing the sages and ascetics by having his minions disrupt the sacrifices, and destroy the peace Now that they had these weapons with an infinite amount and quiet the holy men needed to have in order to of power, Visvamitra enlightened Rama and his brother on meditate. The gods could not kill Ravana because a long their next task. "You must stand vigilant, guarding a time ago, Brahma had granted him a boon. This boon sacrifice from demons for six days and seven nights." So protected Ravana from all gods, demons, celestial beings, the brothers watched over the sacrifice the sages were and the like. However, because Ravana believed that no performing, and guarded it. But there were no demons. monkey or human could kill him, he did not ask for Then, suddenly on the sixth day, which was the most protection from the beings of the human or animal world. y Asian Drama important part of the ritual, hundreds of demons swooped So to remove this thorn from the gods' sides, Vishnu, the The earliest form of theatre to appear in India was Sanskrit down, flinging dead flesh and spitting blood. Lakshmana human. theatre, which is thought to have emerged during a protector of the universe, decided to be reborn as a and Rama took aim, and whoosh, let their arrows fly. Every peaceful time in India where hundreds of plays and poems arrow found its mark and before long, every single demon Back on earth, Dasaratha was performing his horse were written. This time would have been between the had been utterly destroyed. sacrifice. He was chopping up a perfect white horse with second century BC and the first century BC, but only really three knives, and with the greatest care, threw the pieces With the grisly task finished, the brothers and the sage left began to flourish before the year 100AD. into the fire. As he put the last piece in the fire, a celestial the forest to go to the city of Mithila. The king of the city being in white robes appeared. The being, in a mellow and was in possession of a mighty bow, the Bow of Shiva, The next style of theatre to emerge in India was Kathakali, throaty voice, spoke these words, "King Dasaratha, the which was left in the city many eons ago. The king also had a classical Indian dance-drama which was renowned for gods are pleased with your fine sacrifice. In order to honor a daughter named Sita. Sita was born of mother earth and the bold make, detailed costumes and elaborate gestures your wishes here is some sacred porridge." The divine has all the qualities of a perfect woman and wife. She was and body movements. creature handed Dasaratha a bowl with a thick, white fair, beautiful, kind, loving, and had a heart of gold. In order substance inside. Then, when the king had returned his to win Sita's hand in marriage, a prince or king had to lift The latest type of theatre to appear in India is Modern attention to the god-like being, it uttered these instructions, the great bow of Shiva and string it, but nobody could do it. Indian Theatre. Rabindranath Tagore is an extraordinary "You must give this divine drink to your wives, and then, After witnessing everybody's failure, Lakshmana convinced figure in this area and perhaps the most well known they in turn, will produce sons." The king was overjoyed at Rama to try his luck. As Rama approached the bow, a light playwright in India. In 1913 he won the Nobel Prize for this news and hurried to give the porridge to his wives. seemed to shimmer from him. He grasped the great bow Literature. It starts in Ayodhya, the jewel among cities. with one hand, easily lifted it up, and strung it. But when he Within this city nobody was hungry, nobody was poor, The great king divided the porridge among his three major tried to draw the bow, it broke with a sound like a every woman was faithful to her husband, wives, and to them four sons were born. Rama was the thunderclap. In fact, the sound was so loud that all but the eldest and was born to Kausalya; Bharata was born to everybody knew their role in society, everybody was strongest men were knocked senseless by it. And to Kaikeyi; and Lakshmana and Satrughna were born to learned in the Vedas, and everybody was happy. And so, at Rama's boundless delight, Sita stepped forward and put a Sumitra. They all excelled in the art of war, were taught this point, the heroic adventures of Rama truly begin. garland of lotuses around his neck, which we all know politics and history, and were well learned in the Vedas. means that she accepted his marriage proposal.

 They returned to Ayodhya, and got married. King This terrible demon woman, so terrible to behold, ran to armies collided, monkeys and bears against the The Dasaratha realized that he was growing old and decided to her brother Ravana, the King of Lanka. When he had heard and hideous creatures. There were cries of pain, demons give up the reign to his favorite and oldest son, Rama. The he grew outraged, and sent an army of 14000 screams and the bloodcurdling laugh of the her plight shouts, people of the city rejoiced when they heard the news, for rakshasas to destroy Rama. Furthermore, Supernaka told The air was thick with arrows, and the ground was demons. they all loved Rama, too. But the maidservant to Kaikeyi, of Sita's exquisite beauty and at once the king of with blood. In the midst of this terrible carnage, Ravana soaked Manthara, convinced Kaikeyi that she would be better off if the demons desired her to be his wife. Rama searched for Ravana. her son, Bharata, was king. So Kaikeyi approached Meanwhile, the army of demons had approached the Rama and Ravana met, a light seemed to be shining As Dasaratha and said these hateful words, "My husband, place where Rama, Lakshmana and Sita were living. Rama while the clouds darkened about Ravana's head. on Rama, remember when I saved your life in the battlefield so many in years ago? And do you remember that you granted and two me Lakshmana were ready fo the onslaught, bows Ravana charged, but Rama neatly parried and thrust back hand. The boons at that time. The time has come for you to fulfill your demons attacked! The air was filled with with his sword. They fought, long and hard, for many hours, whistling until Rama, using his divine bow, pierced Ravana's heart. promise! I want Rama exiled for 14 years and forced to live arrows and terrible cries. (Pause while fighting is going The monkeys, at the same time, defeated the rakshasa like an ascetic, and Bharata to be made king!" Dasaratha on) But finally Rama had slaughtered every rakshasa that army. Rama and his troops gave Ravana a proper burial, replied in anguish to her venomous words, "Oh woman, Ravana had sent. for as Rama so wisely put it, "Hostility ends at death." have you no heart? Please ask anything but that." But she True to his wish, and following his desires instead of his would not give in and the king was forced to honor his Sita's purity was in doubt by the people, because she had promise. When Rama heard the news, he wished tobrain, as all rakshasas will do, Ravana set out with his honor Uncle Marica to capture Sita. He had Marica change been in the house of another man. To prove her purity she his father's wishes, so he departed to the forest himself into a golden deer. As Ravana expected, the deer into a burning pyre. Her loyalty to Rama was walked immediately, accompanied by his ever faithful brother, caught Sita's fancy and she asked Rama to capturerevealed, as she survived unscathed. Lakshmana and Sita it. Lakshmana, and his wife, Sita. Rama willingly obliged his wife, but not until giving firm returned to Ayodhya where Rama was crowned king and he Bharata was in his uncle's court when the news ofinstructions to Lakshmana to guard Sita. As Rama got ruled in peace for many thousands of years. his closer kingship and Rama's exile reached him. When he returnedto the deer, he saw that it was a demon, and right before to Ayodhya he found out that his father, King Dasaratha, Rama killed it, the deer uttered these words in Rama's had died of a broken heart. He refused to profit from his voice, "Sita, help me!" When Lakshmana and Sita heard mother's evil scheming, and departed immediately to the these words, Sita convinced Lakshmana to go help Rama. forest with a huge army, and an iron resolve to restore his But first he drew a circle around the hut that would protect Sita and told her to stay within it. When Lakshmana brother to the throne. was gone, Ravana turned himself into the likeness of an When Lakshmana heard the thundering of a thousand and begged from Sita. Because an ascetic cannot ascetic hooves, a million footmen, and saw the flag of Ayodhya, he a woman's home Sita came out of the circle and come into tried to convince Rama that Bharata was here to killRavana quickly turned himself back into a demon, and them, and that they needed to destroy the army. But Rama carried her off. calmed him down, and decided to talk to Bharata. As Rama Meanwhile in the forest Lakshmana found Rama and they and Bharata met, they hugged each other and Bharata discovered and that someone had tried to lure them away made his plea. "My dear brother, won't you come back to Ayodhya to rule? The people need you." But Rama from Sita. When they found that Sita had been abducted Rama intended to honor his father's boons and told Bharata that was filled with sorrow and tried seeking advice of where he needed to stay in the forest. So Bharata took Rama's Sita had disappeared. Finally he met some monkeys that Sita sandals, put them on the throne, and vowed not to go into had seen and dropped her jewelry to. When the Ayodhya until Rama returned. Bharata then ruled inmonkeys agreed to help them, their king, Sugriva, sent Rama's name in a small town outside of Ayodhya. search parties in every direction. Hanuman, a mighty monkey that can do the impossible, went with one of the search groups. When they came to the And so Rama and his faithful family members walked they were told that Sita was on an island 300 miles ocean through the beautiful forest called Dandaka. They found a After this Hanuman, forever loyal to Rama, made the away. pleasant spot that had lots of game by a stream. They built Lanka. In Lanka he found Sita and offered to take jump to a hut and lived happily for ten peaceful, happy years. to Rama, but Sita refused to let anyone but Rama Sita touch her. Sita also gave a ring to Hanuman to give to One day Supernaka, the terrible demoness, was travelingAs Hanuman was trying to escape he was caught Rama. through the forest when she saw Rama. She lookedby the rakshasas who decided to set his tail on fire. With at his handsome body and thought, his tail ablaze Hanuman leaped from house to house setting all of Lanka on fire except the grove where Sita was. "I would like to have that man for my husband." So she this he went back to report to Rama. After changed herself into a beautiful lady and tried to seduce Rama. But Rama could see through her guise, and When Hanuman returned to Rama he told him of the good so he brought her to Lakshmana. Lakshmana was so furious at and gave him the ring. After receiving this news news the idea of his brother marrying a demoness that with three out with his monkey army to attack Lanka. When Rama set swift arrows he promptly cut off Supernaka's ears and came to the mighty ocean the monkey army built a they nose. great bridge to Lanka. When they reached Lanka, both sides were ready for war.

Lighters lyrics Featuring: Royce Da 5'9, Bruno Mars[Bruno Mars] This one's for you and me, living out our dreams We're all right where we should be Lift my arms out wide I open my

eyes And now all I wanna see Is a sky full of lighters A sky full of lighters [Eminem] By the time you hear this I will have already spiralled up I would never do nothing to let you cowards mess my world up If I was you, I would duck, or get struck like lightening, Fighters keep fighting, put your lighters up, point em' skyward uh Had a dream I was king, I woke up, still king? This rap game's nipple is mine for the milking, Till nobody else even feels me, till' it kills me I swear to god I'll be the illest in this music There is or there ever will be, disagree? Feel free, but from now on I'm refusing to ever give up The only thing I ever gave up is using. No more excuses. Excuse me if my head is too big for this building And pardon me if I'm a jerk but you people are slick Poppin stuff on how you flipped ya life around, crock-of-it Who you try to kid, flipped kid, you did the opposite You stayed the same, cause bad backwards is still bad you kids I love it when I tell em shove it Cause it wasn't that long ago when Marshall sat, luster lacked, flustered Cuz he couldn't cut mustard, muster up nothing Brain fuzzy, cause he's buzzin', woke up from that buzz Now you wonder why he does it, how he does it Wasn't cause he had buzzards circle around his head Waiting for him to drop dead, was it? Or was it, cause them wrote him off Little hussy fusses, cause forget it, guess it doesn't matter now, does it What difference it make? What it take to get it through your

thick skulls As if this aint some bullshit People don't usually come back this way From a place that was dark as I was in Just to get to this place Now let these words be like a switch blade to a haters rib cage And let it be known from this day forward I wanna just say thanks cause your hate is what gave me the strength So let em bic's raise cause I came with 5'9? but I feel like I'm 6'8? [Bruno Mars] This one's for you and me, living out our dreams We're all right where we should be Lift my arms out wide I open my eyes And now all I wanna see Is a sky full of lighters A sky full of lighters [Royce Da 5'9"] By the time you hear this I'll probably already be outtie I advance like going from toting iron to going and buying 4 or 5 of the homies the iron man Audi My daddy told me slow down, boy, you goin to blow it And I aint gotta stop the beat a minute To tell Shady I love him the same way that he did Dr Dre on the Chronic Tell him how real he is or how high I am Or how I would kill for him for him to know it I cried plenty tears, my daddy got a bad back So it's only right that I right till he can march right into that post office and tell em to hang it up Now his career's Lebron's jersey in 20 years I'll stop when I'm at the very top You pushed on me on your way up It's 'bout to be a scary drop Cause what goes up must come down You going down on something you don't wanna see like a hairy box Every hour, happy hour now Life is wacky now

Used to have to eat the cat to get the pussy Now I'm just the cats meoww, ow Classic now, always down for the catch weight like Pacquiao Ya'll are doomed I remember when T-Pain aint wanna work with me My car starts itself, parks itself and autotunes Cause now I'm in the Aston I went from having my city locked up To getting treated like Kwame Kilpatrick And now I'm fantastic Compared to a weed high And y'all players just gossipin' like girls on a radio and TV See me, we fly Y'all buggin out like Wendy Williams staring at a bee-hive And how real is that I remember signing my first deal and now I'm the second best I can deal with that Now Bruno can show his self, without the MTV awards gag [Bruno Mars] You and I know what it's like to be kicked down Forced to fight But tonight we're alright So hold up your lights Let it shine Cause this one's for you and me, living out our dreams We're all right where we should be Lift my arms out wide I open my eyes And now all I wanna see Is a sky full of lighters A sky full of lighters