Nguvu yaMbegu...eNtabelanga 2021

Title
Nguvu yaMbegu...eNtabelanga 2021
Department
Theatre
Genre
Tragedy
Production Type
Research Based Production
Research Lecturer
Description
Nguvu yaMbegu... eNtabalanga is a centennial commemoration of the 1921 Bulhoek Massacre

Nguvu ya Mbegu is a Swahili title meaning the power of the seed. The work was originally devised by students at the Centre for Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies at UCT, under the direction of Mandla Mbothwe, and is performed in isiXhosa, isiZulu, SeSotho, SeTswana, and Swahili. Nguvu ya Mbegu strongly draws its aesthetic from African storytelling traditions, incorporating dance, song, and ensemble work. It is an excavation of the tragedy of the Bulhoek Massacre of 1921 where 193 people were shot dead for refusing to leave their mountain of prayer, eNtabelanga near Komani. This performance marks the 100th year anniversary of the tragedy and is a resistance against persistent narratives that continue to erase black history.

Collectively scripted and created by past and current cast members.
The play was initially researched and created with 2nd year students from UCT’s Centre for Theatre Dance and Performance Studies (CTDPS) in 2017 under the direction of Mandla Mbothwe with song composition and musical direction by Nolufefe Mtshabe. It was an attempt to excavate the invisible story of the Bulhoek Massacre of 1921 eNtabelanga in the Eastern. The work formed part of the Nguni Bilingual curriculum whose objective is to both centre indigenous languages in teaching, and also indigenous knowledge, theatrical traditions, and pedagogical practices.

In 2019 the production was revisited, and this time staged as a semi-professional student production at the CTDPS’ Little Theatre with four sold out performances. This iteration was also directed by Mbothwe, but this time with the choreographic input of Mzokuthulu Gasa, musical direction by Bongani Magatyana, and original sound composition by Elvis Sibeko. Zimbini Makwetu came in as the vocal coach, Chuma Sopotela as the acting coach and Jackie Manyaapelo as the movement coach. That same year, the production toured to National Arts Festival, Makhanda where it received a Standard Bank Ovation Award.

The creation of this work has been an opportunity to reflect on religion, spirituality, history and the complicated discourse around these. We hope that exhuming the dead of the tragedies we have faced help us to understand ourselves today. By encouraging linguistic inclusivity and mainstreaming national memories, Nguvu ya Mbegu is attempting to write our indigenous languages into the lexicon. The work explores the many complexities of South African history, and therefore South African life, encouraging the gathered community of performer and audience to collectively reflect on erasure and the possibility of recovering ourselves through active remembrance.

The original cast members include Lungile Lallie, Luhle Macanda, Mamello Makhetha, Katlego Lebogang, Zolisa Nkonyana, Mfundo Zono, Zizo Solontsi, Lwanele Ngqambi, Anathi Rubela, Mthuthuzeli Zimba, Lukhanyiso Skosana.
Run Iteration Number
2
Language
Sesotho
Setswana
Script Type
Devised
Year Created
2021
Opening Date
21 October 2021
Closing Date
23 October 2021
Duration
1h15min
Performance Venue
Theatre Arts Admin
Geographic Location of Performance
Producer
South African State Theatre
Mud&Fire Parables
Director
Choreographer
Text By
Developed by Thando Doni, Indalo Stofile, Lungile Lallie, Luhle Macanda, Mamello Makhetha, Katlego Lebogang, Luthabo Maduna
Translated By
Fundile Majola
Cast
Lungile Lallie
Luhle Macanda
Mamello Makhetha
Katlego Lebogang
Luthabo Maduna
Musical/ Sound Composer
Musical Director
Set Designer
Lighting Designer
Bamanye Yeko
Costume Designer
Digital Designer
Production Manager

Linked resources