Bringing a tyrannical Ethiopian queen and her twins to life

BBC - Jan 4th, 2025
Open on BBC

Playwright Banna Desta's new audio drama, 'The Abyssinians,' delves into the ancient Aksumite Empire, spotlighting a tyrannical queen and her ambitious twin sons. Released on Audible, this tragicomedy blends historical fact with fiction, aiming to bring attention to Africa's rich pre-colonial history. Set in the 5th Century Aksum, the play explores themes of power, humanity, and societal change, with Danielle Deadwyler as Queen Yodit and an Ethio-jazz score adding depth to the narrative. Desta seeks to entertain while also broadening the audience's understanding of African civilizations often left out of global history narratives.

The significance of 'The Abyssinians' extends beyond entertainment, as it addresses the historical oversight of Aksum and its contributions to world history. Desta, drawing from her Ethiopian and Eritrean heritage, emphasizes the importance of representation and accurate portrayal of African stories. The production features a talented cast from the black diaspora, reinforcing themes of cultural heritage and identity. Desta's work not only revives an ancient civilization but also challenges stereotypes through complex characters, like Queen Yodit and the servant Makeda, showcasing the timeless relevance of these historical narratives.

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RATING

7.8
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a comprehensive overview of Banna Desta's audio drama, 'The Abyssinians,' highlighting its cultural and historical significance. While the article excels in presenting an engaging narrative and contextual background, it could improve in areas of source quality and transparency. The piece effectively showcases multiple perspectives related to African history and culture, but it lacks direct citations of authoritative sources to substantiate the historical claims made. Additionally, while the article is clear and well-structured, it could benefit from more thorough disclosure of potential conflicts of interest or affiliations that may influence the presentation of the content.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The article largely maintains factual accuracy, particularly in its presentation of the historical context of the Aksumite Empire. It accurately notes the empire's geographical span, economic influence, and cultural significance as one of the world's great powers in the third century. However, the article could benefit from additional verification, particularly concerning Queen Yodit’s historical role and the timeline of events, which are described as 'shrouded in mystery.' The article mentions that the play mixes historical fact with imagination, suggesting some creative liberties, but does not provide detailed evidence or sources for the historical claims, such as specific historical texts or archaeological findings that verify these aspects.

9
Balance

The article demonstrates a commendable balance in representing diverse perspectives on African history and culture. It highlights Banna Desta's intent to explore African civilizations beyond the colonial narrative, providing a fresh perspective on the continent's rich history. The inclusion of quotes from Desta and other actors offers insight into the creative process and motivations behind the drama. The piece does not exhibit any overt biases, instead focusing on a nuanced portrayal of the characters and themes within the play. However, it could have included more perspectives from historians or cultural experts to further enrich the discussion on the historical accuracy and cultural impact of the play.

9
Clarity

The article is well-written with clear language and a logical structure that guides the reader through the story of 'The Abyssinians' and its historical context. The tone remains neutral and professional, effectively conveying both the entertainment and educational value of the audio drama. Complex historical information is presented in an accessible manner, allowing readers to easily grasp the significance of the Aksumite Empire and its depiction in the play. The narrative flow is smooth, with well-placed quotes and descriptions that enhance the reader's understanding. However, the article could further improve clarity by summarizing key historical elements or providing a timeline to contextualize the events and figures discussed.

6
Source quality

The article lacks direct citations from authoritative sources to substantiate its historical claims about the Aksumite Empire and Queen Yodit. While it quotes Banna Desta and other individuals involved in the production, it does not reference historical texts, academic experts, or archaeological evidence that could enhance the credibility of the information presented. This reliance on primary sources related to the production itself, without supplementary expert commentary, reduces the overall reliability of the article's historical narrative. The inclusion of external sources, such as historians or cultural scholars, would strengthen the article's authority and provide a more robust foundation for the claims made.

7
Transparency

The article provides a good amount of context regarding the creation and themes of 'The Abyssinians,' offering insight into Banna Desta's motivations and background. However, it lacks transparency in disclosing potential conflicts of interest or affiliations that may influence the presentation of the content. For instance, the relationship between the article and the BBC or other involved parties is not disclosed, which could impact impartiality. Additionally, while it mentions that the play mixes historical fact with imagination, it does not detail the methodology or criteria used to balance these elements. More explicit disclosure of these factors would improve the article's transparency and help readers better assess the reliability of the information.