A DRAMATIC musical retelling of Nelson Mandela’s life featuring little-known stories from his childhood will be held at a special once-off performance at the Nelson Mandela Museum next month on July 18, the late statesman’s birthday.
The African Opera was created by Unathi Mtirara, the grandchild of Mandela’s cousin Justice Mtirara. It premieres at the State Theatre in Pretoria tomorrow before moving to Qunu.
Mtirara, a theatre artist and chief executive of Opera South Africa, plans to engage with the Eastern Cape department of arts and culture to help take the opera to other areas, possibly East London and Port Elizabeth.
The project started more than two years ago when he began documenting his family’s history. “Initially I was going to write a book for my child but I decided to make it an opera because that is what I do,” said Mtirara.
The opera was composed by Sibusiso Njeza and orchestrated by Kutlwano Masote. It is set in the village of Mqhekezweni, a couple of years before the birth of Nelson Mandela. Mtirara said Mandela’s life was mostly portrayed as if it was shaped solely by politics.
“You hardly hear about his father, chief Gadla Mphakanyiswa and his mother Nosekeni.
“This story captures the life of traditional leaders who were born before him and shaped who he became.” Mtirara said while the mainstream focus was on Qunu, here the setting was Mqhekezweni, where Mandela grew up alongside his grandfather.
Sello Maake ka-Ncube plays Chief Albert Luthuli; Nonhlanhla Nyembe, Nosekeni and Thembisile Ntaka from the pop group Adilah plays Brenda Fassie.
“This is a South African production; we did not get any international person to feature in this opera,” he said, adding he hoped the opera would transform the lives of those in disadvantaged communities.
“Besides passing down history, I want this production to leave some kind of hope with young men and girls who are in rural areas and seem to be in hopeless situations,” he said.
Mtirara said the story of a simple village boy could change the lives of many children.
“The story starts from his rural life, how he grew up in the villages and behaved like any boy.
“I don’t even touch on his life as a president – the opera ends in 1994. I bring out all those things that make him a simple human.”
The Qunu showing on July 18 gives pupils from around Mthatha and Qunu the opportunity to see the opera for free.
“I want the children to know that the circumstances of today must not determine how their tomorrow will be. — poliswap@dispatch.co.za
Opera as oral history
The African Opera was created by Unathi Mtirara, the grandchild of Mandela’s cousin Justice Mtirara. It premieres at the State Theatre in Pretoria tomorrow before moving to Qunu.
Mtirara, a theatre artist and chief executive of Opera South Africa, plans to engage with the Eastern Cape department of arts and culture to help take the opera to other areas, possibly East London and Port Elizabeth.
The project started more than two years ago when he began documenting his family’s history. “Initially I was going to write a book for my child but I decided to make it an opera because that is what I do,” said Mtirara.
The opera was composed by Sibusiso Njeza and orchestrated by Kutlwano Masote. It is set in the village of Mqhekezweni, a couple of years before the birth of Nelson Mandela. Mtirara said Mandela’s life was mostly portrayed as if it was shaped solely by politics.
“You hardly hear about his father, chief Gadla Mphakanyiswa and his mother Nosekeni.
“This story captures the life of traditional leaders who were born before him and shaped who he became.” Mtirara said while the mainstream focus was on Qunu, here the setting was Mqhekezweni, where Mandela grew up alongside his grandfather.
Sello Maake ka-Ncube plays Chief Albert Luthuli; Nonhlanhla Nyembe, Nosekeni and Thembisile Ntaka from the pop group Adilah plays Brenda Fassie.
“This is a South African production; we did not get any international person to feature in this opera,” he said, adding he hoped the opera would transform the lives of those in disadvantaged communities.
“Besides passing down history, I want this production to leave some kind of hope with young men and girls who are in rural areas and seem to be in hopeless situations,” he said.
Mtirara said the story of a simple village boy could change the lives of many children.
“The story starts from his rural life, how he grew up in the villages and behaved like any boy.
“I don’t even touch on his life as a president – the opera ends in 1994. I bring out all those things that make him a simple human.”
The Qunu showing on July 18 gives pupils from around Mthatha and Qunu the opportunity to see the opera for free.
“I want the children to know that the circumstances of today must not determine how their tomorrow will be. — poliswap@dispatch.co.za
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