Unpacking Mlama’s Insights on Tanzanian Plays

Tanzania, like many African countries, is profoundly shaped by globalisation, which increasingly threatens cultural expressions established by our forefathers over thousands of years. This paper draws on Penina Mlama’s plays and scholarly writings to highlight key insights that can inform the development of a framework for writing plays that reflect Tanzanian culture and values. Mlama is selected due to her extensive contributions to Tanzanian theatre, with works that reflect local aesthetics and values. Data were collected using documentary review, observation, and in-depth and key informant interviews. Grounded in the tenets of African aesthetics and constructionism, the article argues that Mlama’s insights offer a solid foundation for guiding playwriting. She underscores the need for plays to uphold moral standards, incorporate traditional theatrical forms, promote gender sensitivity, ensure social relevance, and pursue artistic excellence, all of which align with Tanzanian culture and values and can guide the development of culturally resonant plays.