Mashetani (Devils) is a play written in 1971 in Swahili by Tanzanian playwright Ebrahim Hussein.
In the stage directions, Hussein also added descriptions that give the play a more abstract, surreal expression.
The play was translated to English by Joshua Williams (Oxford University Press: 2021.
They stop in front of a baobab tree and begin a performance of 'The Devil and Man'.
The Devil transforms into a bird, and flaunts other tricks, to convince Man of his supernatural superiority.
The Devil explains that if you wear the emotions other people desire on your face, even if they contrast with those in your heart, they will eventually merge.
After several attempts, Man approaches and bows in reverence, and The Devil is immediately pleased and begins to laugh, becoming violent.
He then transforms into a "gentle, meek, and humble man", keep in mind he is still spiritually masked as The Devil.
As The Devil repeats his command, it slowly tortures Man by drawing blood and breaking his organs.
They argue for a while and The Devil agrees to reveal himself under the conditions that he gets to make three requests, the Man obliges.
It is at the end of this monologue that Man is transformed back into Kitaru and exits the stage.
There is laughter throughout the act that is supposed to drown out the actors, and they must compete with it—later resulting in a harsh silence.
Later, Juma and Kitaru converse in his room about classes and the pros and cons of attending university.
Their conversation slowly becomes an argument about the oppressed/the oppressor, Kitaru remembers the play from a few days ago.
Kitaru then explains the sense of separation he feels with Juma, resulting in him running off stage.
The medical doctor arrives and dismisses Kitaru's state as neurosis and mental exhaustion, which is why he gave him sleeping pills.
The second scene takes place in a bar and centers around Juma, two waiters and two customers.
Kitaru has been quieter than usual, sleeping for an abnormally large amount of time, and sweating profusely.
He tells Juma, "...in the dream-world a person sees the truth more clearly than in real life."
Kitaru also reveals that Juma has been present in his dreams, assuming the form of a doctor and dispersed laughter.
Mashetani is set in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania at the end of 1966, before the Arusha Declaration.
The play takes place before the Declaration, during a time of conflict and opposing ideas, which is reflected in the title, themes and symbolism, plot, and characters of Mashetani.
The introduction of the play describes the impact the nearby country of Zanzibar had on the ideological conflict in Tanzania.
According to the introduction, in 1964, the last Sultan of Zanzibar and the Zanzibari Government were overthrown, causing Abedi Karume and the Afro Shirazi Party to take control.
Karume and the new socialist government in Zanzibar seized land from larger farm owners and gave it to the people.
The families whose land was taken resettled on the East African coast in countries like Tanzania.
Dar es Salaam at the time was encouraging black intellectuals, especially those educated in a Western/European style to hold positions in the Tanganyikan government.
As Kitaru reveals his dream to Juma, he mentions the feathers he was unable to pluck from himself, "Me – I remembered – I started to feel scared.
Customer one also references a car as a symbol of status in Act three, page 49, "I’m telling you, man, there’s nothing that makes me happier than seeing my pal doing well.
If I see an African with a car, riding around, and a house – and I don’t mean a hut.