Uncle Ebo Whyte

Uncle Ebo Whyte (born James Ebo Whyte; 20 July 1954 ) is a Ghanaian playwright, author and motivational speaker. He is the artistic director and lead writer at Roverman Productions and has written and directed over 59 plays for stage since 2008. His plays include Not My Husband, The Day Dad Came, Unhappy Wives Confused Husbands, Dear God Comma, Rejected, Dora Why, Blackmail and many others. Ebo Whyte is also the author of the Rover Monthly Report, an inspirational magazine, and has two novels: The Deal and The Perfect Couple written by him.

As an acclaimed playwright he has contributed to the revival of theatre in Ghana after a long dormancy due to political upheavals.

Early life and education Uncle Ebo, a Fante, was born and raised in South Suntreso, Kumasi, in Ghana to a fishmonger mother, Baaba Esama, whom he described as 'fiesty', and ex-boxer father, Mr. Whyte. He grew up the first of five boys in a competitive household and one in which his parents did not hide which of their children they favored and he was his father's favorite. Ebo Whyte was always under the pressure of comparison with his younger brother who he describes as "more handsome, more adjusted, more intelligent". He confessed that he "had a difficult battle with an inferiority complex" and couldn't bring himself to answer a question in class.

Career

Pre-playwright career He started his career post secondary school, he worked for six years with Ghana's SSNIT as a clerk, during and after his first degree he worked with Asempa Publishers and later as the head of marketing and finance with Challenge bookshop. He's also worked in the financial sector, pharmaceutical and automobile sectors of Ghana for a period of time before fully pursuing his passion as a playwright.

Early playwright career His introduction to theatre in secondary school, was by accident . He recounts that whilst observing his school drama club rehearsing a play, he inadvertently memorized the lines and when the cast for the main character failed to turn up for rehearsals, he stepped in and got the role. From then on, his interest was piqued. Throughout the early years of his career, theatre was treated as a hobby. Between 1989 and 1992, he ventured into commercial theatre with three plays and they all failed financially—The Devil's Wife, Mr President Your Move, and Wedding Behind Closed Doors.

Roverman Productions In 2004, went full time into theatre, registered his company Roverman Productions and in 2008 he tried commercial theatre again with the play Unhappy Wives; Confused Husbands which was produced with a loan of 5000ghc from a friend. And this time he succeeded and since 2008 he has produced four new plays every quarter of every year until the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted activities. He and his company have since the pandemic, commenced virtual theatre, taking their works onto the internet at www.rovermanproductions.com.

He's acclaimed as Ghana's most successful playwright and is credited as the one who revived theatre after political upheavals. both available on amazon. He published The Rover Report Monthly Magazine, a lifestyle magazine which run for 74 editions.

He is a social commentator and has for over 28 years, consistently, presented on his bi-weekly program dubbed "Food for Thought" on the radio station, Joy FM.

He also hosts a once a week live Facebook session on relationships, dubbed "Encore".

Personal life Uncle Ebo married his wife, Florence in 1983 and the couple do not have biological children of their own but have several adopted children.

Produced plays