Efua Sutherland experimented creatively with storytelling and other dramatic forms from indigenous Ghanaian traditions. Her plays were often based on traditional stories, but also borrowed from Western literature, transforming African folktale conventions into modern dramatic theatre techniques. A selection of her best-known works can be found below.
The Roadmakers: a picture book of Ghana (1961)
The Roadmakers: a picture book of Ghana (1961) was Efua Sutherland's first book for children, a pictorial and poetic essay created in collaboration with photographer Willis E. Bell.
Playtime in Africa (1962)
Playtime in Africa (1962) is the second of Sutherland's picture books, blending poetry with the photography of Willis E. Bell.
Edufa (1967)
Edufa (1967) is one of Sutherland's best-known plays, drawing from the Greek theatrical tradition and weaving together dramatic forms from indigenous Ghanaian storytelling traditions.