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Trust Khosa
A ritualistic and yet refreshing Zimbabwean play, ‘Song Unburied’, will be shown in Malawi this weekend after being rated AA by the Censorship Board of Malawi.
After its successful run in South Africa and the Comoros last month, the play, which calls for the return of anti-colonial heroine Mbuya Nehanda’s remains from an overseas gallery, has become a hit with theatre lovers in the region.
And hardly a month after touring the two countries, the play will be showing at Madsoc Theatre in Lilongwe on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
It was written by Panashe Chigumadze and directed by Daves Guzha.
In an interview, Guzha confirmed the tour of Malawi.
“We are leaving for Malawi this Friday where the play will be shown on Saturday and Saturday,” he said.
“Song Unburied has been rated AA by the Censorship Board of Malawi and what great news it is for our audience.
“It will be running on Saturday, October the 12th and Sunday, October the 13th at Madsoc Theatre,” he said.
Guzha said the feedback Unsung Buried’s tour of Malawi follows the play’s successful run in South Africa and Comoros.
“The feedback we got in South Africa was mind-blowing while the response we got in Comoros was fantastic,” he said.
“In Comoros, a French-speaking nation, the play was shown in Parliament. The play was watched by 350 and the experience was mind-blowing. It also coincided with a conferencing which was taking place in the country.
“We are now looking forward to the Malawi show. We will be coming back next Tuesday.”
The play’s cast comprises Dalma Chiwereva, Charmaine Mujeri, Tinevimbo Chimbetete and mbira player Abel Mafuleni.
In the play, Mujeri plays the role of Rambisai Mangosho, the first black curator at a British Museum.
Her colleague, Chiwereva shows her versatility with three roles – Mbuya, Mai Rambi and Tsitsi.
The play calls for the return of anti-colonial heroine Mbuya Nehanda’s remains from an overseas gallery, which has opened old wounds over her unburied bones.
In African culture, it is believed that the dead won’t rest until they get a dignified burial followed by a traditional ceremony.
In this play, Mbuya Nehanda is among several icons whose remains were taken to Europe as trophies of conquest.
This subject is being tackled in this ritualist production. Mbuya Nehanda is believed to have informed her killers that her remains shall rise.
Online Reporter