Anowa

Phase 3 begins in an opulent room, with rich carpeting and animal skins on the floor. An ornate painting of Queen Victoria hangs on the wall next to a picture of Kofi. His business has now made him the wealthiest man on the Guinea Coast. Four men enter, carrying Kofi on a bier. Then, several women in flowing dresses dance onto the stage. Anowa enters, dressed plainly and obviously unhappy. She delivers a monologue about a time when, as a child, she watched white men coming to her village to take away slaves. Her grandmother told her not to question it. Shortly after, Anowa had a dream. She dreamed that her body was massive, and suddenly, giant, boiling lobsters poured out of her. The lobsters rushed on the slaves and tore them to pieces. When she told her grandmother about it, her grandmother told her never to mention it. 

The lights go down. When they come back up, two characters—Girl and Boy—are cleaning the room. As the Girl dusts, she tells the Boy that she has been hearing rumors about their mistress, a woman who insists the child slaves call her “mother.” The Girls says that the woman is a witch, and that if “mother” runs away, she will go with her. The Boy says that “father” will never allow it. As they tease each other, it is clear that they are working for Anowa and Kofi. After they leave, Anowa enters the room. She is dressed in shabby clothes and her feet are bare. She makes a speech about how she has no purpose since she was denied the responsibility of motherhood.  Two children—Panyin and Kakra—enter the room and begin fanning the throne where Kofi will sit. 

Kofi enters, being led by the Boy, who then leaves. Kofi tells Anowa that he does not like her wandering aimlessly around the house. Anowa is still upset and saddened that she has no work to do. She says it’s Kofi’s fault. If he had not bought the slaves, she would still have the purpose of worthwhile labor. Kofi says that if she cannot be normal, like other women, she should go and leave him alone. Once again, she urges him to take another wife. When he protests, she demands to know the subject of a conversation Kofi had with a priest the previous week. Anowa believes that his sudden desire for her departure has something to do with what the priest told him. Kofi begs her to leave. Anowa admits that she had been sleeping with other men, and she knows that the villagers say that a woman who is unfaithful can never prosper. The villagers believe that her infidelity is the reason she cannot conceive. 

Kofi summons the Boy. Anowa interrupts and asks the Boy to summon all the wise men he can find. But first, he is to bring the slaves into the room. Soon, the room is filled with the slaves, and the boy leaves to find the wise men. Anowa asks the slaves if they have ever heard of a situation in which a man wants to divorce his wife but will not tell her why. She reveals that she and Kofi have not shared a bed in years, and wonders aloud if it is because he is now impotent. Kofi begs her to stop talking, but she continues. Kofi does not answer, and she mockingly says that she has learned the truth. She no longer considers him a man. Kofi leaves. Anowa revealing his secret in front of the slaves is the ultimate indignity. After his exit, Anowa says that they will just have to wait for the wise men to arrive. Only they will be able to advise her. There is a gunshot offstage. Anowa giggles as the lights go out. 

When the lights return, Badu and Osam, both weeping, enter the room and go to Kofi’s throne. The Old Woman and Old Man enter. Old Woman reveals that Kofi shot himself, and Anowa drowned herself in response. She insists that everything that has transpired in the play is Anowa’s fault. Anowa tried to make herself a new kind of heroine and was punished for it. But the Old Man is unsure. He still admires Anowa’s independence, even though her choices resulted in misery for her and Kofi. Ultimately, he believes that it is better that she lived and died on her own terms.