Students’ projects

As part of the Art of Africa course in the third year of undergraduate studies, in the summer semester (dedicated to theatre in Africa), Dr. Zuzanna Augustyniak conducts an original, innovative project, during which students, under her guidance, write a drama based on African cultural texts, and then prepare a performance on its basis. Drawing on her theatrical experience, Dr. Augustyniak guides the participants through the process of creating a script based on a selected text, through the basics of acting, learning the elements characteristic of traditional African theatre, to the final effect, which is recording of the performance. In this way, students not only learn about African literature and dramatic traditions, but also have one more opportunity to practice the language of their specialisation, not to mention the accompanying excitement.

Academic year 2021/2022:

Bayajidda – a radio drama based on the story of the Hausa origins. Written and recorded by students of Hausa studies: Aleksander Banat, Adrianna Gorzka, Klementyna Jaroszyńska, Emilian Mucha, Igor Puchniak and Maria Wereszko.

 

Academic year 2024/2025:
Colors of Misfortune – a radio drama prepared by students of Hausa Studies. The recording is currently in production.

Barwy nieszczęścia – scenariusz

Script: Karolina Adamczyk, Jan Amenda, Róża Czarnecka-Wiącek, Szymon Gleb, Julia Olejek, Anstazja Peńska, Julia Półrolniczak, Martyna Rosłon, Antoni Świętanowski, Oliwia Zieja.
Dramaturgy: Zuzanna Augustyniak
Direction: Jolanta Sikorska
Production: Zuzanna Augustyniak, Kamil Kuraszkiewicz
Editing: Zuzanna Augustyniak, Kamil Kuraszkiewicz
Cast:
Narrator 1, Mosquito – Anastazja Peńska
Narrator 2, Parrot, Merchant 1, Angel of the Right, one of snake’s heads – Karolina Adamczyk
Narrator 3, Father, the Allmighty, one of snake’s heads – Antoni Świętanowski
Narrator 4, Bird 3, the Old Angel – Julia Olejek
Narrator 5, Snake, Medicine man, Bird 2 – Szymon Gleb
Daughter, Merchant 2, one of snake’s heads – Julia Półrolniczak
King’s daughter, Mother, Bird 1, Host in Heaven, Angel of the Left – Martyna Rosłon
Sarkin Labari, Perfect Genteman/Scull – Jan Amenda
Ear – Róża Czarnecka-Wiącek
Turtle, Dead Man – Oliwia Zieja
Skulls, Choir of the Souls: everyone
Mosquito’s song: Szymon Gleb

The recording was created as part of the African Art course, funded by the Teaching Excellence Fund.

Academic year 2025/2026:

Balcony over Abyssinia – the balcony scene from “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare, interpreted by students of Ethiopian Studies. The script was inspired by Laura Bohannan’s text “Shakespeare in the Bush. An American anthropologist set out to study the Tiv of West Africa and was taught the true meaning of Hamlet”.

Script: Olga Błaszczyk, Barbara Gutowska, Olga Kowal, Jan Księżopolski, Katarzyna Sylla, Kamil Redzik
Dramaturgy: Zuzanna Augustyniak, Aneta Muczyń, Michał Kempisty
Direction: Aneta Muczyń, Michał Kempisty
Production: Zuzanna Augustyniak, Kamil Kuraszkiewicz
Editing: Zuzanna Augustyniak, Kamil Kuraszkiewicz
Cast:
Julia – Olga Kowal
Makeda – Katarzyna Sylla
Romeo/Sejfu – Kamil Redzik
Maid – Olga Błaszczyk / Barbara Gutowska
Narrator – Jan Księżopolski

The recording was created as part of the African Art course, funded by the Teaching Excellence Fund.