Renowned playwright and theatre director Uncle Ebo Whyte has advised Ghanaian men to accept the fact that women can achieve financial success, arguing that it shouldn’t jeopardise marital peace.
At the premiere of his most recent play, “I Do I Don’t,” which examines contemporary relationships, changing gender roles, and the difficulty of appreciation in marriage, he made these remarks.
He claims that the production is motivated by recurrent problems he has seen in real-life relationships and marriage counselling over the years, especially with regard to how couples react to success and shifting financial realities.
He explained the play’s main theme by saying that perception, communication, and appreciation between partners are the root causes of many relationship problems.
“There are women who are earning more than their husbands. They don’t go out and proclaim it, they don’t make noise about it. And yet for some reason, some men can’t deal with that,” he said.
Uncle Ebo Whyte emphasised that marital love and respect should not be redefined by financial disparities.
“I think Ghanaian men must learn to accept the possibility that my wife may climb higher than me, may earn more than I do, and it is okay. It doesn’t make her better than me, it doesn’t make her more powerful than me. She is still my wife and we can make it work and have a very harmonious relationship,” he explained.
He pointed out that the play encourages couples to reconsider how they define worth and respect by challenging deeply ingrained societal notions about gender roles and marital success.
“Our tradition is so steeped in this belief that ‘bad things happen’ when a woman rises. But we all cherish our mothers. I cannot understand why we disrespect women when our mothers will fight anyone for us,” he stated.
The show was commended by the audience, especially the ladies, for tackling a subject that many called “timely and relatable,” and others expressed gratitude for how it mirrored actual marital experiences.
“Honestly, this play has spoken to me. It reflects what many women go through but don’t say out loud,” one female audience shared.
Additionally, a few male audience members claimed that the show had changed their perspectives on marriage and the financial aspects of partnerships.
“I’ve learnt a lot tonight. It has changed how I see my role in marriage and how I should respond to my partner’s success,” a male audience noted.
