“Anigyeɛ – The Magic Drum” Delights Audiences Across Two Unforgettable Performances

Colourful market stalls, captivating music, impressive dance performances and enthusiastic audiences: with Anigyeɛ – The Magic Drum, the German International School Accra presented an extraordinary musical experience over two sold-out evenings. This creative adaptation of Disney’s Encanto, reimagined in a Ghanaian village setting, transformed the school campus into the vibrant world of Anigyeɛ.

Even before the performances began, guests became part of the story. Passing through a specially designed marketplace, they were guided into the village of Anigyeɛ and gradually immersed themselves in the atmosphere of the musical. Market stalls, decorations and countless thoughtful details created a unique sense of community long before the first note was played.

At the heart of the story is Abena, the only member of her family without a magical gift. When the magical drum, the source of the village’s strength, begins to lose its power, she sets out on a journey to find her own path and discovers that courage, honesty and solidarity can be more powerful than any special ability. In doing so, the musical explores themes such as self-confidence, the pressure to be perfect, family unity and the importance of diversity.

Across both evenings, the students impressed audiences with their enthusiasm, remarkable acting skills, expressive dance performances and musical talent. Their performances reflected the dedication, perseverance and passion that had been invested in the project over many months. The alternating casts showcased the breadth of talent within the school community and gave each performance its own unique character.

The production was made possible by a committed team of 16 teachers and support staff members. The artistic direction was led by Sara Debackere and Ramona Klaes, who worked alongside numerous colleagues for months on the concept, rehearsals, stage design, costumes, music and choreography. At the same time, the entire school community contributed to bringing the village of Anigyeɛ to life.

A particularly touching moment followed the final performance when the cast surprised Headmaster Rainer Kropp-Kurta with his favourite song, Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen. In his closing remarks, he expressed his appreciation for everyone involved and presented flowers to the 16 teachers and support staff members who had dedicated months of work to the production.

The two performances demonstrated impressively what can be achieved when an entire school community works together towards a shared vision. With Anigyeɛ – The Magic Drum, the school created a project that creatively brought together Ghanaian and German perspectives while embodying the values of the German International School Accra: solidarity, mutual appreciation and building bridges across cultures.

The prolonged standing ovations and the many positive responses from students, parents, staff and guests made it clear that Anigyeɛ – The Magic Drum was far more than a school performance – it was a shared experience that will be remembered for a long time to come.