The Zulu in Review

Where: Main Theatre – The Market Theatre.
Twitter: @markettheatre
Directed by Christopher John and designed by Sarah Roberts

 Going into the theatre you never know what to expect, but when you are pleasantly surprised, it always comes as a well-earned relief, but The Zulu was much more. The performance by Mbongeni Ngema, neglected by many, is an act of true African storytelling, an experience you hardly have anymore.

 

The stage is set to welcome you into rural KZN and the Zulu village, taking you back to the great Zulu kings of the past. Each character is portrayed with confidence and in a manner where you could swear Mbongeni had been there. He had grown up with these stories being told to him by his great-grandmother.

Bear breasted, dressed European from the waist down and traditionally Zulu from the hip up, Mbongeni merged between scenes, times, characters and settings seamlessly, with his memories and the words of his late blind great-grandmother guiding our journey through Zulu land.

Accompanied by Matshitshi Ngema, listening with us, they engaged in the journey through dances, traditional Zulu song and battle spears and shields, to lead the way to victory. The story is completely in English to cater for any and all audiences with any Zulu parts being translated as he continues his journey.

For Ngema, the creator of hits such as Sarafina and Woza Albert, this is a show that will teach, inspire and transport you to a defining time in our own history, looking at it from an African point of view, a story for everyone, South African and global citizen, to hear.

The play which goes for about 90+ minutes is one this mature actor has been dying to do. He feels that the stories of our past are an investment and they need to reach the ears and pierce the imaginations of modern audiences.

The show will be touring the country till 2014 and will be taken abroad for international audiences to consume. This is a show that we should all see. Truly a bold performance of informative and entertaining storytelling.