The Sunday News
RARELY have we gone into a theatre, watched a performance, and come out feeling like the performance should have gone on and on and never ended. The last time we felt that way was perhaps with Siyaya Arts’s Zambezi Express.
A show that critics called the happiest show on earth. We watched Umkhathi Theatre’s Footprints recently at Intwasa Arts Festival and felt like Zimbabwe was sitting on a gem of a performance that should be touring the world.
Before the show we had sat with renowned theatre producer Daves Guzha who had travelled all the way from Harare for the festival. He was tired. Forgive him.
He is no longer young. So while having lunch we talked about the evening performance and he kept saying he wanted to go and sleep. It took some time to convince him to come watch Umkhathi.
“OK, I will come. But I’m only giving them 10 minutes and then I am walking out and going to sleep.”
He was so sure he would be bored to death. He came for the show, sat in the middle of the auditorium as the show started.
Five minutes into the show he stood up and moved right to the front seats and sat there glued to the show until it was over. After the show he could not stop talking about what he saw. He immediately invited the group to come perform at his theatre in Harare.
That is the power of Umkhathi Theatre’s Footprints. It is hypnotising. It truly tells a Zimbabwean story without being didactic. Rarely have we seen such a powerful performance from a local ensemble.
What exactly is the show about? Well, it is simply a music and dance show that traces the life of AmaNdebele people through their dance and music.
The story is weaved together beautifully through storytelling. But it is the execution that is brilliant. It is an ensemble piece that has no weak link. Everyone in the cast brings the same energy and same commitment to the story and leaves every audience member mesmirised. The music is sweet and beautiful and at times nolstagic. The dances are swift, energetic and well-choreographed. All things being equal Footprints is a show that should win awards, not only locally but internationally. It is a show that should be travelling the world and showcasing pure, fresh Zimbabwean culture and storytelling.
We know in the current setup Umkhathi Theatre on their own might have no resources or ways to take this show to as many places as they should. It is the fate of many of our theatre groups. However, if our government could see the show they would agree that this is the kind of show to export, to take around and showcase as something purely Zimbabwean.
If we had money, we surely would not hesitate taking the show around the world. The reason we say our government should take this show on tour is because we have witnessed them taking some mediocre performance to places like Dubai, Spain, China and other places. We know it’s possible for them to give this brilliant music and dance production a long life.
Daniel Maphosa, a theatre guru based in Harare, had this to say after watching the show.
“With this kind of talent where are we missing it? How are failing to make the arts a viable industry?” Our question is simple. Why is a production like Footprints not touring the world? What does Umkhathi Theatre have to do to tour this beautifully crafted production?
We conclude by saying that Umkhathi Theatre have clearly set the tone and pace for other productions as the sector slowly opens up.
We hope to see more great productions at the theatres this year and the coming years.
