Richard C Kumengisa

Singer of an Old Song Richard C Kumengisa

After his Ph. D. in Agro-Forestry in England, Dr. Charles Ladim returns home to his village, Azor, where there is little respect for the environment. Not even professionals and the educated care. He starts a campaign which brings him into conflict with the traditional setup of his people and has to face even his best friend who is won over the hard way while light-heartedly abusing a stream. The latter becomes like Saul in the Bible, turning right round to become the protector of the very thing he had hitherto been persecuting. The play ends with Dr. Charles Ladim winning over the most violent of his antagonists with more than just words. His mission, however, is on its way to success as the most hidebound begin to understand what he is talking about. There is hope for the future. A few changes have been made in the prize-winning text for correctness and clarity and the last section has been brought in but, all along, the main idea of raising awareness of our duty to the environment so as to live a better life and leave a healthy country for our children stays central.