The play “Echos of War” by Butere Girls National School is still the talk of town even after the end of Western region Drama festival that lasted 6 days.
The play which is scripted by the renowned drama guru, Sen. Cleophas Wakhungu Malalah is sending government officials in a Punic mode, especially on how it was executed through stage manipulation and intense acting.
Well, what is the unique thing with the Play that has left a permanent mark to those who attended Western region festival despite it taking position three?
Let me give you a brief of what the play is all about and how it ended up resonating with the youths, especially after addressing their issues that are forgotten through generational gaps.
The play underscores the plight of Gen Z as witnessed in several jurisdictions across the world. With the widening of technology, free access to information, technological invention, and innovation, the younger generation has joined the older population with gusto and unmatched enthusiasm to make the world a better place to live.
The play is set in a fictional kingdom called the Royal Velvet Emirates, which is slowly healing from the impact of a full-blown civil war. Affected by this reality, the Gen Z find themselves in the pivotal position to liberate their country from deep-rooted vices in their kingdom that, in their view, are derailing the country from rebuilding itself into international success.
They harbour aspirations and expectations for a better health care system; a better education system that is responsive to emerging trends of technology; a better justice system that is blind to corruption but rooted in the letter and spirit of the constitution; a fresh beginning of socially just society.
Against this backdrop, a 4th year student of Information Technology, Mustafa, develops a software called Telemedicine that he hopes will link sick patients to a pool of doctors and surgeons across the world. In this intricate way, he hopes to relieve the citizenry from dilapidated health infrastructure and an acute shortage of doctors.
This software gets the recognition of the sultan who rewards and awards him for his invention.
However, as a show of patriotism, his social media handles are to be surrendered to the state. It is then that it is discovered that he posted offensive content on his timeline during the war.
Mustafa is a frequent user of Artificial Intelligence Software (AI) . This software is personified in the play as Anifa Imana – a young, super-intelligent girl who has access to Mustafa’s social media logins.
In the end, the play teaches the young people about the good and bad associated with unregulated Internet and software. Sultan, in recognising the special place the younger generation hold in rebuilding the war-torn kingdom elevates them to critical decision making platforms where their creativity, energy, and common purpose are needed.
