Theatre maker Mandla Mbothwe marks the centenary of the Bulhoek Massacre with his latest work, titled Nguvu yaMbegu … eNtabelanga. The play will have a short run at Theatre Arts from 21 to 23 October 2021.
The production tells the story of the prophet Enoch Mgijima’s followers, known as the Israelites. On 24 May 1921, nearly 200 of Mgijima’s Israelites were shot and killed by the Union of South Africa’s police and army for refusing to leave the mountain of prayer, eNtabelanga near Queenstown (eKomani), leaving many wounded and others arrested, including Mgijima.
The production was originally devised by students at the Centre for Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies under the direction of Mbothwe at the University of Cape Town (UCT), in 2017. It is now produced by The State Theatre in association with Mbothwe’s company, Mud and Fire Parables.
Nguvu yaMbegu … eNtabelanga is a Swahili title meaning “the power of the seed.” “The performance seeks to resist and revolt against the dominant narratives that preserve the continued removal of black identities. It waters the long-buried seed by walking through the past,” explains Mbothwe.
Multilingual production
This multilingual production is performed in isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho, SeTswana, and Swahili, interweaving metaphoric monologues.
Mbothwe is a multi-award-winning South African theatre maker, playwright, festival curator, director and art teacher who is co-artistic director of the Magnet Theatre Company and has served as artistic director of the Steve Biko Foundation, and creative manager of Artscape Theatre Centre. Currently he is a senior lecturer at UCT’s Centre for Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies.
Some performances of Nguvu yaMbegu … eNtabelanga will be accompanied by post-production conversations, an exhibition, and virtual talks.
Directed by Mbothwe, the cast includes Standard Bank Young Artist for Theatre 2021 Thando Doni, Indalo Stofile, Lungile Lallie, Luhle Macanda, Mamello Makhetha, Katlego Lebogang and Luthabo Maduna. Mzi Gasa is choreographer and Zimbini Makwetu is musical director.
What: Nguvu yaMbegu … eNtabelanga
Where and when: Theatre Arts, Observatory from 21 to 23 October 2021
Tickets: qondiswa@mudandfireparable.co.za
WS
