Stories of legendary playwright the late Gibson Kente revisited through a ‘new’ play How Long, Mfowethu
The production will be staged at Uncle Tom’s Hall, Soweto, 3 & 4 February 2023.
By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor
When sometime last year it was announced that the City Fathers, and that is the Johannesburg City Council, was considering renaming Soweto Theatre Gibson Kente Soweto Theatre, many people in the arts sector were excited. Even though others felt that to name the whole theatre after Bra Gib was somehow ‘over-recognising’ the man’s contribution to theatre in this country, anyone who has followed Bra Gib’s contribution to theatre in this country, especially black theatre or so called townships theatre would agree that in fact more recognition needs to be showered on this man. Yes, he was not perfect, just like many great men and women that have been recognised the world over for their good deeds in their lifetime, but to deny him full recognition is really lacking empathy and magnanimity.
Here is a man, to whom many a black thespian living and dead in South Africa, owes their success and career in theatre and music to.
His story is remarkable. He did it at the time when it was difficult for people of colour to aspire for self-definition and actualisation as the system that existed at the time sought to relegate their roles in society to a state of nothingness. Black people were not meant to flourish in the eyes of the Apartheid system. They needed to know their limited role and space in social, intellectual and economic spheres. Art visionaries such the late Kente flew in the face of such logic. They triumphed under adversity. They showed the human spirit of resilience. They discredited the Apartheid logic. Not by taking up arms but by creating great works of art themselves, as well as grooming young thespians at the time who later became big names.
There are several names to mention here. But perhaps it is important to name a few who have benefitted from Kente’s wisdom, vision and foresight.
Mbogeni Ngema. Darlington Michael. Marah Louw. Brenda Fassie. Paul Rapetsoa. The list is infinitum. If he did not mentor some of the big names today, dead and alive from the township, Kente certainly inspired them to follow a career in showbiz in general and in theatre in particular.
Considering the fact that Bra Gib himself did not have formal training as a playwright as he trained only as a social worker, his achievement is remarkable by any standard.
And therefore the accolades he is getting posthumously are well deserved. Although it is not known whatever happened to that motion in the City of Johannesburg Council, and one hopes that it never got lost in the multi-party, council’s useless bickering that has come to define the City of Johannesburg these days, the thought of honouring the Father of Township Theatre is a good one.
And therefore when a group of artists last year organised a tombstone unveiling for Bra Gib, it was a good move by a younger generation either inspired by him or taught by him.
This time, they are going further with their journey of honouring a man who transformed black theatre in this country.
CITYLIFE/ARTS has just learned that that same group of artists are at it again. This time, they are reimagining some of Bra Gib’s plays to create one solid play that is currently in rehearsal.
We will wait to pass the verdict on its aesthetic appeal and integrity after its opening on February 3, closing on February 4, 2023. It is a pity though that it is only running for two days. Clearly having a show honouring such a tower of theatre running for two days only is not cool. If it is a question of money, it is ironic that a play for such an important figure only has money to run for two days at a time when Lotto money is dished out to conmen who have nothing to show for it, running into tens of millions of Rand. This does not make sense.
Be that as it may. Here is confirmed news.The father of township theatre, Gibson Kent, should be smiling in his grave because his protégés are resolute in making sure that his name and legacy are not forgotten. After successfully unveiling Kente’s Tombtone, Together Folks are now unveiling a recreated musical play titled How Long, Mfowethu. This seventy minutes long play is fused from five of Kente’s most popular plays; How Long, The Call, Lifa, Mfowethu and Sikalo. Excerpts and storylines have been borrowed from these musicals and coalesced into a new formidable Musical which underscores Bra Gib’s masterly ways of transcending period and space.
Show details
ERFORMANCE VENUE: UNCLE TOM’S (ORLANDO, SOWETO)
DATE: 3RD AND 4TH FEBRUARY 2023
TIME: 19H00
RECREATED AND SCRIPTED BY MARTIN KOBOEKAE
DIRECTORS: LINDA SEBEZO AND MARTIN KOBOEKAE
CHOREOGRAPHERS: NKOSINATHI MALINGA AND LINDA SEBEZO
MUSIC DIRECTOR: JABU NDAI
PRODUCER: NONZOPHI KENTE