The Sunday News
DURING the just ended 10th edition of Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo one of the most successful events was the staging of the Ndebele story on succession immediately after the death of King Mzilikazi.
This is the period where the Ndebele nation was nearly plunged into a civil war. Mbiko kaMadlenya is a well-known story. The staging was an adaptation of Mayford Sibanda’s novel of the same title. It was adapted by Thabani Hilary Moyo and directed by Nelson Mapako. Richard Ndlovu did the choreography. If the festival had an award for best performance Mbiko kaMadlenya would have walked away with it for 2014.
The cast of Mbiko kaMadlenya is 25 artistes. It was the biggest cast at the festival. The idea to produce the story for stage came years ago but resources were always limiting the realisation of this dream. Here is how it worked out this year. The spirit of collaboration worked wonders.
Once Bulawayo City Council committed basic support of the production as part of the 120 years celebration it was easy to mobilise the creative people. The script itself passed through several hands after Thabani Hilary Moyo had done the major part of translating it into English and adapting it for stage. Christopher Mlalazi and other writers also shared their thoughts on the project. Nelson Mapako and Richard Ndlovu accepted their task with excitement. Richard Ndlovu identified the dancing group, Ezimnyama. And worked with them for several weeks. The group brought a lot of energy to the creative process. The cast itself was a mixture of experience and talent. The actors came from different backgrounds and were led by veteran actor and theatre trainer Memory Kumbota. He must be commended for mixing well with the young cast and leading by example.
Mbiko kaMadlenya as a project proved two things.
1. That Bulawayo artistes can work together and come up with brilliant arts products.
2. That we have really good stories in our archives and all we need to do is find these stories and give them new lives.
Mbiko kaMadlenya was well received by festival audiences because it was a relevant story. Most people who watched it were able to identify with the story. Perhaps the adaptation project is something the festival needs to pursue seriously.
Mbiko is a story of a local hero turned villain. It takes its title from its antagonist Mbiko. After Mzilikazi’s death the Ndebele state is thrown into leadership crisis as the fate of Nkulumane, the heir apparent remains a mystery. The general population thinks he is living among the Ndwandwes as they had been informed before. They expected him to be brought back so he could rule in his late father’s place. It is Mncumbatha, the late king’s confidante, and Mkhithika who knew the truth about Nkulumane’s fate. It is the succession issue that nearly cracks the foundation of the Ndebele state.
The language of the play is powerful and mind-blowing. Though the play is done in English so as to appeal to a wider audience the language taps from Ndebele idioms, proverbs and symbols. The storyline is simple and fluid. The praise poetry and chants complete it as a true traditional production.
I was personally impressed by the way the director handled the young cast and pushed them to understand their characters and roles. Bathabile Dlamini as Zinkabi deserves all the accolades and praises she got during the run of the play. She is one for the future. Trevor Siyani has come of age too. His poetry in the play was beautiful. One of the tools for an actor is his voice. Trevor does have a voice to make other actors envious. Ronald Sgeca has grown up too. I know him since he was a little boy who couldn’t do a few lines in a play. After featuring in the film Bicycle Thief as Zola he has now featured in a big stage production like Mbiko and shone like a beacon.
Mbiko kaMadlenya proved that collaborations in the arts sector are the way to go. They work. The future of magical art is in collaborations.
