Planning a health theater event. Apparently the first thing to do is find a community that wants you to visit. Senegal’s health system includes a network of volunteers, called ‘relais’, who are responsible for calling meetings and assisting a health agent with vaccinations, baby-weighings, nutrition trainings, ect. So we spoke with a number of communities who agreed to announce our arrival, help cook the afternoon meal, and generally help deal with crowd control.
The photo above was taken in Gouloubmou, where we performed for primary and middle school students. The school director was very excited, and has asked the group to return. Over 275 in attendance.
Once we’ve arrived in a community we send a ‘relais’ out with a microphone. He or she runs around announcing the event at full volume while we set up speakers. Once the speakers are up its only a matter of cranking up everyone’s favorite Pulaar songs – the crowd materializes pretty quickly. Once there’s an audience, the group does a little dancing to get things going. Hassan (the eldest in our group) is featured above.
Once we have an audience the group preforms their first sketch: HIV/AIDS. A young chauffeur visits a mistress who attempts to explain how and why he should use a condom. He has never heard of this, and her explanations seem to puzzle him. She tells him first that it is medicine, so he asks if its for a cold, while stretching the condom over his noze. She politely tells him, no, you must put it on below, in front (polite Pulaar). He proceeds to take his pants off and shove the material into the condom (see video below). She finally breaks down and speaks bluntly. Upon understanding he excitedly agrees to faithfully use condoms.
The next sketch is about malaria. Two scenarios develop involving a family who refuses to purchase a mosquito net, and a family who does and uses them regularly. A number of popular mythes and jokes surrounding how malaria is spread are parodied and debunked. In the video below, a malaria stricken ‘elder’ struggles to cope by clutching a small charcoal heating unit close while he shivers.
Health theater is the back door to the human soul. It creates an environment where forbidden can be discussed, playfully, and emotions can be worn in unique ways. The results are measurable and astonishing. In a recent follow up visit to Medina Afia, a town where we recently preformed, the health agent said she has gone through several boxes of condoms since our visit, an item no one had ever asked for since she began work in the village. The sketches are played over the radio, and when we show up the players are celebrities: people can be seen mouthing words to the sketches during a performance. They have already memorized the parts.
