Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu [email protected]
Bulawayo’s status as the nation’s cultural heartbeat is poised for another high-profile endorsement.
Information gathered by this publication suggests that the venerable South African theatre maker, Fatima “Fatts” Dike, is scheduled to descend on the City of Kings and Queens for an exclusive two-day theatre talk and intensive workshop at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.
While official confirmation from local organisers remains under wraps, sources close to the development indicate that the award-winning playwright and director will be engaging with local practitioners on Wednesday and Thursday to share insights from a career that has spanned over five decades at the coalface of African protest and contemporary theatre at a venue yet to be announced.
The 77-year old Dike is a towering figure in Southern African arts. Her journey began in the turbulent 1970s, where she etched her name into history as the first black South African woman to have a play published.
That seminal work, “The Sacrifice of Kreli” (1976), premiered at the iconic Market Theatre and became a cornerstone of cultural identity and resilience against the oppressive apartheid machinery.
Her versatility is legendary. Beyond the pen, Dike has mastered almost every facet of the craft – serving as a stage manager for productions like, “Die Laaste Middagmaal”, an actress in “Glasshouse” and “Moeders en Dogters”, and a formidable director.
One of the most anticipated aspects of her visit is her expertise in multilingual storytelling.
Dike is renowned for weaving isiXhosa, English, and Afrikaans into her narratives, a technique she uses to bridge social divides and ensure her message of social justice reaches the broadest possible audience.
For a linguistically rich city like Bulawayo, her approach to, “theatre of the people” is expected to resonate deeply with local playwrights.
Dike’s influence is not confined to the past. In 2006, she co-founded the “Siyasanga South African Theatre Company” alongside Roy Sargeant, an initiative dedicated to nurturing fresh talent. Her directorial prowess was recently highlighted in her 2012 staging of John Kani’s “Nothing but the Truth”, and she has spent years molding the next generation of artistes as a lecturer at institutions like the New Africa Theatre in Cape Town and John Carroll University in the United States.
Her impressive body of work includes the seminal “The Sacrifice of Kreli” (1976), “The First South African” (1977), “Women’s Voices” (1997), and most recently, “The Return” (2008).
If the reports of this two-day engagement are realised, it will represent a significant milestone for Bulawayo’s creative sector.
Dike’s presence would offer local actors and directors a rare opportunity to learn from a veteran who has successfully navigated both the local and international stages, including her work at the Guga S’thebe Arts & Culture Centre in Langa.
A masterclass from “Fatts” Dike would not just be a talk, but a historic bridge-building exercise between two of the region’s most vibrant cultural hubs. – Follow on X @MbuleloMpofu
