Burkina Faso’s Etienne Minoungou will today stage a one man play depicting the life of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali at the St Paul hall Centre near the St Famille church. 

The play, scripted by Congolese writer, Dieudonné Niangouna, under the title Je M’appelle Mohamed Ali (I Am Called Mohamed Ali) recounts the highlights of the life of the brilliant boxer and activist for Black American rights.  According to Minoungou, the play is a reflection of standing proud as an African, a cause that was championed by Ali.

The play follows a story of his illustrious boxing career, to when he was banned and stripped of his title. It also includes when he was sentenced to five years imprisonment in early 1967 for refusing to join the army and then to his Rumble in the Jungle fight in Congo.

The play reflects on having faith in oneself, the power of resilience and pushing boundaries among other character traits.

Ali was chosen because unlike the heroes of today like footballer Lionel Messi and singer Stromae who are all media hits, he has "something strong , deep and beautiful buried inside” like other key figures in the history of liberation , Nelson Mandela and Malcolm X who are also cited in the play 

Minoungou will meet with members of Recreatrales group and The Rwanda Arts Initiative which are the projects created to bring together practitioners in theater in Rwanda, Burkina Faso and Africa. Yesterday, he conducted a production workshop with local actors in creating a one man play. 

The play kicks off at 7:30, entrance is free and for the non-French speakers, the play will have subtitles.

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