KENTE

KENTE

Spent the day as an observer for Sam, SamSays on the credits. She told me to check out the Gibson Kente lecture. I was enthused, Soweto theatre, of course, let's go! Always wanted to come to Soweto but I hadn't found probable cause, Sam put together content, theatre and Brenda Fassie to get me there, that my good man is an offer you can't refuse - The Gibson Kente annual lecture. Before this I didn't know much about Gibson Kente so I did my research and learned much about him. Legendary playwright, composer, director and producer born in the township like me 🙋🏽‍♂️, started a theatre in the township, collaborated with Caiphus Semenya and Letta Mbulu on his first play titled "Manana, The Jazz Prophet" - a play that depicted gangsterism. Sello Maake ka-Ncube called him the "Godfather of theatre" and he trained more than 400 artists including Brenda Fassie and Mbongeni Ngema. Let's not forget wrote songs for Miriam Makeba and Letta Mbulu. Oh, thank you for the great pass Sam! It was an awesome day, I learned a lot, it was supreme, the Soweto theatre is beautiful, what a design, the colors, the outdoors vibe, the modern architecture is beautiful! The place is a piece of art. A great place to lose yourself, the sound is crisp, wonderful acoustics, I felt like I was in an oven being cooked but it wasn't hell, it was pleasurable, like closing your eyes listening to your favorite music, theatre is wonderful, performance arts, an imitation of life, art, it makes life worth living because without it it's just boredom and death. Definitely one of the best theatres I've been to, spacious and comfortable, accommodative and bakes you, temperature slow burning, chilled and relaxed. There is plenty of space for parking, it's easy to get there, outside area to chill and great art to look at. The Soweto Theatre is pretty awesome! I enjoyed the lecture, it was insightful and educative, quite specular, I am inspired, Gibson Kente is a legend, 23 plays and I want to see them all! The subject matters he explored are about everyday living and life, the black experience, township life, human nature, hope, death. He dealt with what it meant to be human and alive, fought against apartheid and believed in freedom and human dignity. It was an experience and enthusiasm reigned, people connected, energy flowed, loved beamed, the lights emitted, the sound crisp and the stream of consciousness was oscillating in a high vibration. It was a day for theatre. All the theatre people were there, I am talking about directors, actors, legends, writers and producers. I also met a friend I was first acquainted with On the Square (Theatre on the Square, Sandton) who produced a show titled "From Soweto with smiles" Mojalefa Mogagabe, a talented creative I was happy to engage with. Kente, the father of black theatre, SamSays on the credits.

I usually come in an hour before the show, to prepare my mind for the experience, take in everything, be comfortable with the scenario, acquaint yourself with the environment and it was not any different this time. I came in nice and early to Jabulani, I love the fact that the theatre is in the township. I made friends. I was home. When you travel all around you realize that people are the same, we are motivated by the same things, we all want the same things, we wear the same things and we even look alike. The faces are different but we still connected, we could still be friends. I even got myself a Kota, what I eat when I am at home. The township (Kasi) is amazing, it's the people, the community, diverse cultures, all crammed into one, we may be different but we co-exist as one, the pulse is one because all of humanity is one. Soweto is a breeding place for stories, content and inspiration roams all around, it is the place that made Gibson Kente, he told his peoples' stories, he brought solace to those who needed it, he reflected and made sense of reality, he was a pillar, he entertained, he made people forget, he inspired, he is forever, Kente, the father of black theatre. 

Dr. Andile Xaba the lecturer of the program is a great teacher, knowledgeable, prepared, articulate, passionate and has a lot of love for the arts. He grew up in Soweto and knew Gibson Kente, he was influenced and inspired by him. I learned a lot from him. It was a great lecture that covered Kente's whole life. It was thorough and informative. iComplete and the band were amazing, heavenly voices, sharply dressed in all black, they were the tempo of the day, smooth and sophisticated. The violinist, Tshegofasto Matabane blew me away! She is so talented, showed so much focus and attention when she was playing the violin, it sounded so beautiful. Shoutout to the Artistic Director of the show James Ngcobo, the program was wonderful, it was an incredible day. It was an experience, my taste, while we chilled outside waiting for the lecture to commence we were treated to some wonderful Jazz music, it was a treat. Counselor Lubabalo Magwentshu provided the Keynote Address. Nomathemba Matu a student of Gibson Kente was the guest speaker sharing entertaining stories about his mentor. She shared life lessons with the audience. She is an amazing storyteller and I was engaged, I took what she had to say to heart. Her perspective humanized Gibson Kente, she made him a person. She was relatable. Soweto is awesome! I enjoyed the performances, everything was masterfully executed. The whole event was well coordinated and professional. One word to describe the event, "Masterpiece". It was honestly the best day of my life. Kente, the father of black theatre, SamSays on the credits. 

The great man

ANTAKALIPA