Online Reporter
Langalakhe Mabena, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
With dates fast approaching for the city to experience a week of arts and culture at the Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo, festival director Raisedon Baya has revealed that one of this year’s major acts will be a presentation of Ipi Ntombi on the final day of the festivities. The festival is scheduled to run from 24 to 27 September.
The timeless South African musical, originally composed and produced in 1974 by South African writers Bertha Egnos Godfrey and her daughter Gail Lakier, has been brought back to life through a collaborative effort between the Bulawayo Theatre Club and award-winning arts ensemble Khaya Arts.
It was performed in Bulawayo as well as Harare earlier this year. As it returns to the stage, the production is expected to treat theatre lovers from the City of Kings to a rich medley of cultural expression.
“We decided to bring Ipi Ntombi to the festival because it has been one of the major theatre highlights this year. We felt that the colourful production speaks to the spirit of the festival, which is about celebration, collaboration, and bringing people together,” said Baya.
The reimagined play, directed by seasoned playwright Sandy Bradnick, with Vusi Ndebele as music director and Future Dube of Khaya Arts as choreographer, blends traditional and contemporary theatre techniques, offering a fresh yet respectful take on the classic. Set construction and props, impressively handled by Candy and Amy Murrell, add to the authenticity of the experience, immersing audiences in the story’s world.
The play narrates the story of a young black man who leaves his rural home and wife to work in the Johannesburg mines, a common experience for many Southern African men during the apartheid era. Told through a vibrant imitation of South African musical genres, including Imbube, Maskandi, and Jazz, the story unfolds with African traditional dance interludes that bring the stage to life, captivating audiences with each movement and song.
Thandolwenkosi Ndlovu, the production’s secretary, said the play is being staged at Intwasa due to public demand.
“Ipi Ntombi has been doing the most this year. We’ve performed in Bulawayo and Harare, and people have fallen in love with it. From our performances in Harare, I believe we outdid ourselves, creating a massive buzz on social media.
“After that, our fans in Bulawayo demanded that we stage the show in the city one last time, with more energy and perfection. Hence, we decided to honour them and bring the production to Intwasa,” said Ndlovu.
“We believe that Intwasa is one of the biggest festivals in the country. To be associated with them is a privilege, as they have a massive following. We also take pride in this collaboration because we are working with Saimon Mambazo Phiri on this last show,” she added.
Meanwhile, Baya shared updates on the broader festival preparations, revealing that 15 events are planned, covering a wide range of art forms, including film, dance, music, theatre, literature, spoken word, and concerts.
“The concept of this festival is always the same. We only change the theme, but the sequence remains consistent. This means we’ll have some of our regular events, like Women, Wine and Words, headlined by different female artistes.
“We’re a miracle baby. Sometimes we stumble, fall, and rise, because the aim is that this festival has to come to life every year. We’re hopeful we’ll stage an exciting festival that will create lots of fun and great memories for our fans,” said Baya.
Bongani Ndlovu