The play NtombiNto cuts deep into the issue of toxic masculinity and how that affects young women negatively

By Nomfundo Nkosi

It was a pleasant surprise to encounter a show that deals with stretching the muscles of cultural norms and values. On June 8, 2025, at Ramolao Makene Theatre, we were kindly invited to take a step back and uncover the indigenous rules and regulations that govern the throne and society. The show NtombiNto reveals a cultural background of the Zulu practices of keeping virgins in check and preservation till the commodity settlement through marriage that’s often arranged by the elders.

The play is directed by Sinenhlanhla Mgeyi, and what’s absolutely outstanding is the characters where females throughout the one hour thirty minutes show. It is quite a gripping play because it is sheer entertainment throughout with characters being able to switch feminine and masculine storylines and styles. With characters who’ve tapped into the theatrical space, yet are seen on the screen, it gave the audiences plentiful of what good theatre is by applying theatrical techniques that work magic on stage. The show has not gained a huge audience base, yet such shows are meant to have a full house simply because they are educative as well as entertaining.

 These ladies captivate the audience during their candid moments in an academy, where girls pinpoint peer pressure on one another. Where self-imposed wishes are lit on fire by traditionalist group of men who set and make up rules that favour their group dynamics. We are being moved to a place where sexual mischievous conducts against women are portraiture to the point where sexual education is set to resist defaults in other women’s nature.

We are being sequenced from a place where the young lady is told the uncles are being prepared for her lobola negotiation. Although the young lady was still under supervision, ostensibly to protect her virginity, she never envisioned her future as a house wife. As a young intelligent person she had dreams to study abroad or further her career in Information Technology and obtain a doctorate.

Yet her background as a Zulu young woman left her scarred.

But when she and her friends find themselves enjoying themselves after a cocktail party ona ladies night, she shares her bad news.

However the other young girls because of their intoxication, advice the give her lack is incoherent. They tell her that not every counselling session is helpful.

They move from one support group to another other as a result till they meet grown women who finally give them words of wisdom, such as how some men prey on the young, naïve and  among them. Sadly the affected women due to the lack of experience in life, often cover m their web of lies as they get tormented by these depraved men who use vulgarity, rape and physically abuse them.

This play remains a unique play particularly because of the innovative use of the wardrobe by the characters who put the wardrobe into several uses during the performance, such as a formal uniform.