Amakhosi to Premiere new Musical
Category: Theatrically Speaking Published Date Written by Zimbo Jam Network Hits: 1386
{dropcap}T{/dropcap}he Amakhosi Cultural Centre will this Friday stage the first showing of the musical, Inyelane, which focuses on the impact of the arrival of Cecil John Rhodes and the Pioneer Column in Zimbabwe.
^ Cont Mhlanga wrote and produced the play.
While the musical is written and produced by renowned playwright, Cont Mhlanga (who is also in charge of its production), two of southern Africa’s emerging talents, Sabelo Ngema and Thembi Ngwabi are responsible for composing the music as well as directing and choreographing the musical.
The performance comes at the end of the first first four weeks of the musical’s rehearsals and will take the form of a braai dinner performance of the work in progress. Admission is free although audience members need to come ready to buy a dinner braai pack (costing about US$ 4) to enjoy during the presentation.
The second four weeks of rehearsals are scheduled for May where ten artists selected from the graduates of the Mbongeni Ngema Academy in Durban, South Africa, will join camp in Bulawayo. In addition, Ngema and Ngwabi will be holding joint events to launch their albums in Durban, Harare and Bulawayo between their collaborative working schedules on Inyelane.
Inyelane will employ 37 artists and production crew from the three arts academies of Amakhosi, Iyasa and Ngema. This partnership is in line with the Bulawayo-Durban twinning arrangement to foster cooperation and trade between the two cities, as they share similar cultures and history. Amakhosi and Ngema Academies are forging links to develop performance arts talent and jointly tell the many untold African stories of heroism.
^ Hard at work for Inyelane.
More about Ngema and Ngwabi
Ngema is the son of the legendary music theatre guru Mbongeni Ngema and is leader of his own band Afrosoul. Music and theatre are his passions and he has starred productions such as Woza My Fohloza (2002); Stimela Sase Zola (2003); The Zulu (2004); Sarafina (1993-94), (2004-05); The Living Legend (2008) and Lion of the East (2009. His specialties are composing, choreography and teaching. Afrosoul has won two awards; the Metro FM Award 2008 (Best Afro-Pop) and the SATMA Award 2010 (Best Afro-Soul). Ngema has toured internationally.
Ngwabi is a graduate of the Amakhosi Arts Academy and is currently the head of training at the same institution. She is a prolific theatre and film actress, dancer, bass guitarist and musician with one album, Zhopembe, to her credit. She is working on her second album for release in 2013. The internationally travelled artist’s specialties are teaching, acting, composing, dance and playing instruments. She is directing a musical for the first time. Thembi, popularly known as UGogo to her fans and students, has starred in numerous award-winning productions including Nansi Le Ndoda (1989); Iluba Lo Thando (1993); Yebo Africa (1997); Two Cheers For A Patriot (2003) and The Good President (2007).
Photographs are courtesy of Amakhosi.
- Amakhosi/ Zimbo Jam