Dave PorterIn 1945, a week-long series of meetings took place in Manchester which was to change the course of history in Africa. Several of the attendees went on to become presidents of African nations and it has been argued that the Fifth Pan-African Congress, which took place in the town hall in Chorlton-on-Medlock, was the spark which led to the rapid spread of independence movements across Africa in the postwar era.
Manchester playwright Ntombizodwa Nyoni has assembled the main players at the congress for a spirited evocation of that time, along with bitter personal rivalries and love interests. While the fight for independence from colonial rule gained top billing at the congress, simmering underneath were personal vendettas which threatened to undermine the congress’ aims.
At the start of the play, the main protagonists arrive in Manchester for the start of the congress: Â Jomo Kenyatta, who would go on to become president of Kenya, Kwame Nkrumah, who would go on to lead Ghana, Amy Ashwood-Garvey, the widow of Marcus Garvey, radical communist George Padmore, leader of the international African Service Bureau founded by CLR James, and Joe Appiah, trainee lawyer and future Ghanian statesman.
While they tease, argue and fight each other over political strategies and romantic entanglements, what comes across most strongly in the production is the total commitment to overthrowing not just the British colonial empire but the entire capitalist system which spawned it. Their fierce debates smother any personality clashes.
While the play necessarily contains many political speeches (many no doubt taken from the archives chronicling the congress), there are plenty of moments of lightness and humour in the play. After a day’s politicking, the delegates cannot wait to change their clothes and head into the city for a night of drinking and carousing. Rudolphe Mdlongwe as Makumalo Hlubi struts across the stage like a peacock vowing to “kiss women all night” and has ambitions to be Africa’s finest actor, just waiting for that call from Hollywood.
Eamonn Walker gives a fine performance as congress chair George Padmore who is trying to hold together the various factions to present a united front, while all the time resisting demands from Kwame Nkrumah (Eric Kofi Abrefa) for a chance to take a leading role in the independence movement.
The ghostly presence of W.E.B. Du Bois as the elder statement of the liberation movement haunts proceedings, turning up as he does halfway through the congress to give it his seal of approval.
Moss Side champion boxer and Communist Len Johnson (Tachia Newall) has come to report on proceedings but finds himself drawn into the radical spirit of the time and dreams of becoming an MP “to beat the colour bar”.
This is an uplifting and enriching production about an important part of Manchester and Africa’s history and Nyoni and the strong cast do full justice to the redoubtable aims of the congress and what it would go on to achieve and its lasting legacy.
Liberation is at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester from 27 June to 26 July as part of the Manchester International Festival 2025.
Martin Thomasson
Carmel Thomason
