Musical play in honor of the late Kente Gibson
The play centres on a group of Soweto young people who are dancers who also want to get involved politically but without throwing stones.
The father of township theatre, Gibson Kente should be smiling in his grave as his protégés are resolute in ensuring that his name and legacy are not forgotten.
ALSO READ: Classical music in the hearts of Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble
After successfully unveiling Kente’s tombstone, Together Folks is now unveiling a recreated musical play titled How Long Mfowethu.
This 70 minutes long play is fused from five of Kente’s most popular plays; How Long, The Call, Lifa, Mfowethu and Sikalo.
Excerpts and story lines have been borrowed from these musicals and coalesced into a new formidable musical which underscores Kente’s masterly ways of transcending period and space.
Novelist, playwright and screenwriter, Martin Koboekae plunges himself deep into the intricate mind of Kente and takes a liberal artistic talent in recreating and weaving together an oppressive but vibrant era of the 60s and a militant period of the 70s.
The original signature in the florid township language that Kente was idolised for is still present, so is the tongue in cheek retorts by younger characters as they face an uphill struggle against the evil system of apartheid.
ALSO READ: Local comedian jumps on music
The play centres on a group of Soweto young people who are dancers who also want to get involved politically but without throwing stones.
They embark on a self-help project, called Teach-A-Child in which they aim to empower young people from Soweto artistically and academically, but unfortunately they can only offer artistic empowerment.
Veteran actor and stage director, Linda Sebezo who has directed two of Gibson Kente’s plays before is co-directing with Martin Koboekae and both bring a bucketful of talent to this piece.
Having worked with the doyen of Township theatre before, Sebezo has the right credentials to take charge of this amalgamated project and surely her familiarity with Kente’s work might just be what is needed to push Kente’s work back into the mainstream to occupy centre stage where it rightly belongs.
ALSO READ: Music on the move – Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra goes on first tour
The chief choreographer, Nathi Malinga brings some playful and colourful yet richly textured tapestry with his skilful touch to produce some steamy and provocative dances.
How Long Mfowethu presents a golden opportunity to revive township theatre, especially the touring culture that the late Gibson Kente was famous for.
The time of gritty and steamy musicals of the 60s and 70s might be back!
