Review: The Convert by Danai Gurira

A few years ago, I co-authored a resource entitled Developing A Representative Drama Curriculum, responding to the main exam boards' dearth of set texts by Global Majority authors. It's been encouraging to see them shift their position and respond, with texts like The Convert providing opportunities for teachers to consider how to continue to refresh the texts they offer.

Gurira's play is dense, rich and full of meaty socio-political topics, offering lots of scope for discussion with older students. Set in Mashonaland (later renamed Zimbabwe) in 1896, it explores the push and pull of faith, heritage and the brutality of a Western regime imposing on an African country. Chilford is a black Roman Catholic teacher, and young girl Jekesai is to be renamed as Ester, he has decided. She will speak Queen Victoria's English and wear clothes more commonly seen on Western girls of her age. Should she resist, risking her own life, as she clashes with Chilford, who is sincere and profound in his own beliefs?