By Ibrahim S. Bangura
Empire Arts Institute (EAI) and Ballanta Academy of Music and Performing Arts (BAMPA) will hold a drama ‘Desire’ concert on Friday January 26, 2024 at the Hotel Barmoi at 75C Cape Road in Aberdeen in Freetown to entertain, educate and showcase Sierra Leonean culture and heritage through arts.
According to Yoko Mahiteh Reffel-Wyse Esq., the Chief Executive (CEO) of EAI and producer of Desire’, the play is centred on the themes of power, betrayal, war, love, education and importance of culture and tradition. “Desire talks about two kingdoms, Mordagba and Golahun, who fought for power left by their parents. Amidst the fight, people were killed and property was destroyed. But the two kingdoms knowing the importance of their culture, were able to restore peace,” she explained.
Earlier last year, on the 28th of April 2023, EAI Institute staged the drama at the Atlantic Lumley Hotel which was jam-packed by enthusiastic and appreciative stakeholders, filmmakers, theatergoers among others.
Empire Arts Institute was established in 2018. It is an education based arts venture in Sierra Leone with a mission to create quality full scale art with a focus of training. The institution usually emphasizes training in Theatre Studies, Musical Theatre, including Cultural Music and Dance, Acting, Painting, Clothing and Textile, Graphic Design and craft.
Ballanta Academy, which is the first music school in Sierra Leone, has the vision to be a worldwide inspiration for the development and promotion of West African music and dance. The Academy aims at providing first class classical and modern music tuition for the people of Sierra Leone and beyond. The Academy offers courses in voice, guitar, piano, dance, keyboard, seven drums, etc. It is also offering dance classes, and will soon introduce a course in theatre.