Six months of observation--at two universities, at a drama festival, and with several independent theatre companies--form the basis for this evaluation of theatre in Kenya, Africa. While Kenyan dramas deal with a variety of themes, the majority are topical rather than universal in their treatment of issues. In many, the emphasis is on the supernatural and on the conflict between the old and new forms of religion. Although the positive influence of the British educational system is acknowledged, this study illustrates how the traditional and innate African forms of theatre have been stifled. The paper indicates a need for secondary schools to stress that Kenyan dramatic origins within the tribal context are equal in importance to the literary classics of the western world. (MAI)