DA’S KAK IN DIE LAND – truth be told
A commemoration of the “Black Wednesday”
Venue: Soweto Theatre
24 years into democracy, and for the first time, Maishe Maponya takes a daring move into the Soweto Theatre with his provocative selection of poetry. The poems, some of which served as a warning to the erstwhile apartheid rulers, also served to caution the future leadership of the threats to freedom if they stray away from the noble course of being servants of the people.
It is almost a proverbial telling story with tongue-in-cheek that Maponya has decided to call these performances “Da’s kak in die land” – truth be told. It is to the past and future that Maponya’s poetry speaks. He says it is in commemoration of the “Black Wednesday” when the apartheid rulers banned 18 organisations, 41 years ago – a month after they had killed Steve Biko.
“Da’s kak in die land” is the title of a poem dedicated to Michael Komape, a 5 years old Limpopo school child who died in a pit latrine in 2014. In this performance Maponya takes a detour to remember his AllahPoets compatriots, the late Ingoapele Madingoana and Matsemela Manaka.
There will also be the “People’s Dialogues”, a public forum event aimed at interrogating (a) the role of the writer in society, (b) “freedom of expression” and (c) social justice organizations as voices and conscience of communities.
Maponya will perform with young artists to launch them on the big stage. In a typical Maponya rendition, the performances backed by Medleko Meropa ya Africa musicians to give a fresh and rich texture of experience to ferry the audience from the ravages of “The ghetto” and “Wounds” of the struggle against apartheid to the “scarred hopes – of those who came from yesterday’s wailings” in the democratic dispensation.
There are only 4 shows starting on 18 – 21 October 2018. Seating is limited. The 5th show will be a matinee (3pm) reserved for participants (at half price) who will be attending “The People’s Dialogues” taking place from 11am, on Friday 19 or Saturday the 20st October.
Soweto Theatre. To book tickets telephonically call 0861 670 670 or 010 446 1462
www.sowetotheatre.com
