The play Gabo Legwala is a strong rebuke of absent fathers in several households in contemporary South Africa

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

This play is painful to watch, and this is not because it is poorly directed. It is because it is so good that if you are a parent who is absent from the life of your child, you will find this play so well done that you will be forced to confront your own demons. Your failure to be a role model to a boy child.

I therefore recommend parents to watch this production, and no wonder the writer of this play was the second person to be awarded the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Poetry. The play which is laced with hard hitting poetry, wonderful music and exceptionally good acting, is also well directed.

The play takes the audience on a journey that explores the dangers to young children who grow without parental guidance, a culture that unfortunately defines the lives of many children in South Africa, especially boy children who are often not guided by their absentee fathers. The play is calling out such fathers, reminding the audience of this unfortunately common culture in in many households in this country. It is a poignant rebuke of the culture of absent father in several households in contemporary South Africa.

‘Gabo Legwala is written and performed by Modise Sekgothe, who is only the second artist to be honoured with the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Poetry, after Koleka Putuma. It is directed by TheatreDuo’s Mahlatsi Mokgonyana, himself a joint recipient of the 2022 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Theatre. Multi-instrumentalist, Yogin Sullaphen, is behind the live scoring alongside vocalist, Phumla Siyobi.

Through the memoirs of a boy anxiously journeying towards manhood unsupervised by the very man he needs, ‘Gabo Legwala’ takes us into the psychology of children growing up without present fathers. Set in the township of Soweto, the script further refutes the burden of performative heroism placed on boys, asserting that bullies invite sorrow to their loved ones, while peace reigns in the home of the coward—as peaceful as the chaos of township life allows.

‘Gabo Legwala’ is a call to hope: to have faith in men’s potential to avoid violent conflict in a nation with alarming abuse and intimate partner murder rates; to assure the boy-child that avoidance, too, is conflict resolution; to pray in the song of Simphiwe Dana that “sizophum’ elokishini”. Afterall, long and abundant life awaits all “magwala” – the fearful ones – who, like Modise, heeded their elders’ persistent calls when they said, “Ba tlogele, gabo legwala a golliwe!”

As The Market Theatre rolls out its artistic programme with a significant focus on issues relating to father figures, ‘Gabo Legwala’ will join Zwakala Festival-winning play, ‘Fatherhood’, as well as the beautifully crafted Naledi-nominated dance-theatre piece, ‘Father & I’. Later on, the internationally acclaimed play, ‘Barber Shop Chronicles’, which also leans into black masculinities and brotherhood, will have its debut on the African continent to carry the conversation forward.

According to Greg Homann, Artistic Director at The Market Theatre Foundation, it’s an honour to stage work by yet another recipient of the 2025 Standard Bank Young Artist, having already completed a critically successful run with Calvin Ratladi (2025 Standard Bank Young Artist for Theatre) and preparing to host Asanda Ruda (2025 Standard Bank Young Artist for Dance) as part of the upcoming JOMBA @ The Market. This, adds Homann, reaffirms The Market Theatre as a space where bold young artists and culture-shifting voices find expression and support.

Don’t miss ‘Gabo Legwala’, an honest autobiographical depiction of South African masculinities at The Market Theatre between 17 September – 12 October 2025. Enjoy a perfect blend of music, spoken word and storytelling as the award-winning Modise Sekgothe unpacks the painful truths about contemporary South African households.

Originally produced by National Arts Festival Makhanda with support from Standard Bank South Africa, Gabo Legwala is presented by The Market Theatre in collaboration with Modise Sekgothe and Theatre Duo & Co.

Tickets are available on Webtickets from R140, with special discounts for the preview performances and all Wednesdays at half-price.