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Kaza Kamba PAN AFRICAN FESTIVAL

NEW FESTIVAL EXPLORES PAN AFRICANISM IN THE ARTS

The inaugural Kaza Kamba Pan African Theatre Festival will be held at The Market Theatre from 14 to 17 November 2024 in Johannesburg.

This new partnership between mehlo-maya (eye-to-the-sun) and The Market Theatre will deliver a four-day festival of theatre, music, workshops, film screenings, and talks curated by Bobby Rodwell and Lesego Rampolokeng.

Seven southern African countries will be represented through the events. The objective of this cross-border festival is to invite artists from SADC countries to share creative projects and ideas, network, and strengthen ties between the countries while giving audiences an opportunity to immerse themselves in the stories of our region.

The official opening is on Thursday 14 November, beginning with an interactive Installation designed by Sne Zwane and Sankara, entitled Dear Mr Sobukwe, which will be opened by leading Pan Africanist, Daves Guzha – Zimbabwean theatre Producer and Director. 

This will be followed by the premiere-performance of Lala Ngenxeba/Of Love and Revolution, a brand new play written by award-winning playwright Monageng ‘Vice’ Motshabi that sets out to show how Sobukwe’s love-centred response to oppression fuelled his fighting spirit against oppression and racial injustice. The weekend that follows will be a hive of activities including a music show, theatre and dance workshops, theatre productions, and a colloquium.

Mogorosi meets Rampolokeng in MoRa at the Kaza Kamba Pan African Theatre Festival on Friday 15 November 2024, starting at 19h30. MoRa brings together drummer Tumi Mogorosi and performance poet Lesego Rampolokeng with a music ensemble directed by Mogorosi. The ensemble includes Cecilia Phetoe (Vocals); Sibongile Mollo (Vocals) Themba Maseko (Vocals); Dalisu Ndlazi (Tuba); Lebogang Komane (Trumpet); and Gontse Makhene (Percussion).

Molly Street is a play told by the townsfolk of Chiredzi in Zimbabwe which can be seen on the Saturday or Sunday. Molly is murdered by her boyfriend in the 1960s and for the next 70 years her spirit visits the town. Recently, the town council renames a street Molly Street but is everyone happy? The production includes well known Zimbabwean actress Chidochangu Jo Anne Tenga and musician Patrick Tembo. It is written and directed by Peter Churu.

For enquiries, please contact Bongiwe Potelwa (Publicist at the Market Theatre Foundation) at bongiwep@marketheatre.co.za or (011) 832 1641.

For reduced price block bookings (of 10 or more) and school groups, contact Anthony Ezeoke (Audience Development) at AnthonyE@markettheatre.co.za or 083 246 4950 or Mamello Khomongoe mamellok@markettheatre.co.za 0815729612.

MoRa - Kaza Kamba Pan African Theatre Festival (16+)

Mogorosi meets Rampolokeng in MoRa at the Kaza Kamba Pan African Theatre Festival on Friday, 15 November 2024, starting at 19h30pm.

MoRa brings together Tumi Mogorosi and Lesego Rampolokeng with music ensemble directed by drummer Mogorosi.

The ensemble includes Cecilia Phetoe (Vocals); Sibongile Mollo (Vocals) Themba Maseko (Vocals); Dalisu Ndlazi (Tuba); Michael Nkuna (Trumpet); and Gontse Makhene (Percussion). Poet Lesego Rampolokeng delivers his public lecture aptly named ‘Writing The Ungovernable’.

MoRa is essentially the meeting of different generations of artists still musing on the fundamental freedom question, which is an absolute must within the current upheaval of world politics.

For enquiries, please contact Bongiwe Potelwa (Publicist at the Market Theatre Foundation) at bongiwep@marketheatre.co.za or (011) 832 1641.

A Vos do Tambor – Scream of the Drums: Kaza Kamba Pan African Theatre Festival (All Ages)

A Vos do Tambor – Scream of the Drums is a unique music experience that breaks the boundaries of performer and spectator.Well-known Mozambican multi-instrumentalist traditional musician, Vintani Nafasse, performs with two actors, Horacio Zacarias Mazuze and Rafael Michel Vilanculos, where the audience become both performers and spectators. The show performs on Saturday and Sunday

Films on offer include a documentary on the Democratic Republic of Congo with a discussion with the Congo Support Campaign, and Skulls of My People, a film by Vincent Moloi about the Namibian genocide between 1904 – 1907 which is coupled with a discussion with Moloi and Namibian lawyer Nyoko Muvangua.

Workshops include a range of topics from ‘How Do I take an Idea to Production’ by Mahlatsi Mokgonyana, ‘I am Pan Africanist. But Am I? And how does it affect my art’ by Zandi Radebe of BlackKollective, a dance workshop by Madagascan choreographer Gaby Seranouffea, and a workshop in Traditional Batswana Music and Storytelling by Tefo Paya and Thabang Molefe, and many more.

A special Colloquium on Pan Africanism ends off the Festival on Sunday 17 November. 

 

‘CHALLENGING THE EURO/WESTERN LENS IN THEATRE AND THE ARTS’ will include discussant Khutjo Green and speakers Vuyisile Mushudulu and Joaquim Matavel.

All documentary films and workshops are FREE, but booking is essential via WhatsApp on 0662070003. Tickets for plays and music shows can be bought through Webtickets. There will be delicious southern African cuisine on sale served by Bitten Foods.

Come and join us at The Market Theatre from 14 to 17 November for a weekend of live performances, film, workshops, and debate on Pan Africanism. Everyone welcome!

 ENDS

For enquiries, please contact Bongiwe Potelwa (Publicist at the Market Theatre Foundation) at bongiwep@marketheatre.co.za or (011) 832 1641.

For reduced price block bookings (of 10 or more) and school groups, contact Anthony Ezeoke (Audience Development) at AnthonyE@markettheatre.co.za or 083 246 4950 or Mamello Khomongoe mamellok@markettheatre.co.za 0815729612.

Molly Street (All Ages)

Molly Street is the story of a street named in honour of a sex worker murdered in the town 70 years before. But is everyone happy about it? In the 1960s, Molly escapes child marriage and arrives in Chiredzi, southern Zimbabwe. She works as a sex worker until in a jealous rage Molly’s boyfriend murders her. Molly’s spirit returns and has walked the streets of Chiredzi ever sinceA powerful team of Zimbabwean artists present Molly Street on stage at the Kaza Kamba Pan African Theatre Festival.

Molly Street is the story of a street named in honour of a sex worker murdered in the town 70 years before. Is everyone happy with this decision? In the 1960s, Molly escapes child marriage and arrives in Chiredzi, southern Zimbabwe.

She works as a sex worker until in a jealous rage Molly’s boyfriend murders her. According to the townsfolk Molly’s spirit returned and has walked through the streets of Chiredzi ever since. Zimbabwean actress Chidochangu Jo Anne Tenga brings Molly to life on stage with live music provided by Patrick Tembo. Written and directed by well-known director Peter Churu, Molly Street is on at the Kaza Kamba Pan African Theatre Festival.

 

For enquiries, please contact Bongiwe Potelwa (Publicist at the Market Theatre Foundation) at bongiwep@marketheatre.co.za or (011) 832 1641.

For reduced price block bookings (of 10 or more) and school groups, contact Anthony Ezeoke (Audience Development) at AnthonyE@markettheatre.co.za or 083 246 4950 or Mamello Khomongoe mamellok@markettheatre.co.za 0815729612.