Acclaimed Zulu play for Durban’s Stable Theatre
DURBAN’S Stable Theatre in the Warwick Triangle area is to present two performances of the Durban University of Technology (DUT) production of popular drama Nawe Mbopha KaSithayi on Friday and Saturday.
Rounding off its Heritage Month line-up of productions, the theatre will present the acclaimed production of SBL Mbatha’s Zulu drama – which translates as “You Too, Mbopha, Son of Sithayi” – at 6pm on both nights.
The play is directed by DUT lecturer Siza Mthembu and choreographed by DUT dance luminary Mdu Mtshali. It is based on the drama of King Shaka’s life, and deals with his death at the hands of assassins – his halfbrother Dingane, and another halfbrother, Mhlangana, assisted by a servant, Mbopha.
“We live in a world full of power-hungry people,” writes Mthembu in his programme notes for the play.
“We also live in a society where politicians do not leave the ‘throne’ or high positions without putting up a fight. Shaka Zulu, the son of Senzangakhona, born outside of marriage, became king after his father’s death.
“Shaka achieved this through the help of his aunt, the Princess Mkabayi kaJama.
“However, Shaka later became too powerful and started attacking other [groups] like Mzilikazi’s tribes, the Amaswati and the Basotho. Mkabayi did not like this; she then persuaded Shaka’s chief adviser, Mbopha KaSithayi, to have Shaka killed in order for Dingane, Shaka’s half-brother, to be king.
“Dingane was a younger son of Chief Senzangakhona. His mother, Mpikase, was Senzangakhona’s sixth and ‘great wife’. Shaka, the son of the third wife, also laid claim to the chiefdom, but was disowned by his father.
“But Shaka seized the Zulu chieftainship in 1816, and thereafter extended the Zulu Kingdom. On September 22, 1828, Dingane and another half-brother, Mhlangana, assisted by a servant Mbopha, assassinated Shaka.
“Soon afterwards, Dingane had Mhlangana murdered. Dingane became the new Zulu ruler, and reigned until 1840. Dingane moved the royal homestead from Nobamba in the eMakhosini valley to a new inland location which he called Mgungundlovu.”
Stable Theatre manager Thanduxolo Zulu says: “We are delighted to welcome DUT’s production to our stage.
“The performances are in line with Stable Theatre’s policy of providing a platform for performance departments of our tertiary institutions to reach a broader public, encouraging all upcoming artists to take this place as their home.”
Nawe Mbopha KaSithayi features 35 performers, headed by Thandanani Qwabe as Shaka, Aphiwe Namba as Mbopha KaSithayi and Mayenziwa Zuma as Mkabayi KaJama. Tickets cost R40 each. Book at Computicket or at the Stable Theatre.