Blantyre samples ‘Ku Kabula’ play
Theatre lovers in Blantyre on Easter Monday sampled Nanzikambe Arts latest production Ku Kabula.
The play was premiered at Chingalire Rural Growth Centre in Lilongwe on Easter Saturday before being staged at Manase Gardens in Blantyre.
And on Monday night, Nanzikambe made sure they continued from where they left off in Lilongwe where they won the hearts of Blantyre people.
Nanzikambe still without a theatre home as they are currently building at Chimwankhunda, performed at Manase Gardens where the venue is probably not that convenient for theatre.
Ku Kabula is a story that talks about Malawi and its people. The story focuses on a little village where a lot of things happen.
It moves in to talk about parents with a sick child, a long distance to the hospital, a minibus driver, who will not drive without money, a friend who can help, a traditional leader, who is dreaming of a big TV and also loves attending workshops in order to generate money but also eat.
It also moves in to talk about the friendships that women build in the village and they share different stories from their families.
But with all that comes a reunion at the end where they reconcile and aim at developing the village together.
Being a music, dance and theatre piece, apart from the story, the audience were taken on a journey of some of the traditional dances performed in the country.
One of the people, who watched the production Nkhwachi Peter Mhango, said he was satisfied with the play which is the first for Nanzikambe this year.
“For a long time I have not seen a production of this quality. This is contemporary theatre which featured both veteran and upcoming actors. The piece fuses, music, video, dance and proper acting,” said Mhango.
He said the play has all what it takes to represent Malawi and tell its story adding that he would love it to be taken to more places.
Random interviews with other people also indicated that they were satisfied with the production which they said was telling real life stories happening in Malawi.
“We are working at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital; we are from London in UK but the play talks about a lot of issues including health which we have actually noticed for instance long distances to the hospital and shortage of drugs,” said two female theatre fans.
Uwe Schuran, a director from Germany, who is fascinated by the Malawi -Warm Heart of Africa, created the production.
“I devised the piece and through this production we want to tell a story about Malawi and that is why it’s titled Ku Kabula. I have fallen in love with Malawi and I want it to be known to the world,” he said.
Schuran observed that there are people who have confused Malawi for Mali.
He said he was satisfied with the response they have got so far from people.
There is however, room for improvement for the production, there are some loose ends that need to be tightened including on the traditional dances where some actors need to have an intensive training.
Former Fikisa members of Saidi and Selemani Yusuf are featuring in the play where they take centre stage in playing drums.
The other actors starring in the play are Mphundu Mjumira, dancers Robert Magasa and Joshua Bhima, who takes a key role playing chief, Allen Tepelunde, Cynthia Zonde and Carol Zulu.
From Blantyre according to Mjumira, the play goes to Mzuzu on April 1 and 2 and Zomba on April 8.
The actor, who has starred in several of Nanzikambe productions said they have been invited to Norway and Cameroon for festivals and that the play will also tour Grmany and Switzerland.
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