Promoting environmental awareness through performance education

The performance arts were the great books of Africa, All information was stored on and disseminated through songs, stories and ceremonies, enacted in theatrical styles, The target learners were self-motivated, as they enjoyed and participated in the beautiful and humorous entertainment. Performance education(1) is now becoming recognized as an effective and cost-efficient tool for interacting with local populations and for disseminating information on issues related to environmental awareness and resource use, The approach may be particularly useful where there is a tradition of popular theatre, where illiteracy rates are relatively high, and where access to radio and television is poor, It is also in line with the concept of 'Theatre for Development' applied in several African countries, with the support of UNESCO's Programme for Artistic Creation.(2)