Difference between revisions of "Gift Buqa"

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Gift Buqa
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[[Gift Buqa]] (1959-2014) was a stage and TV actor, director and playwright.
(Born: ? - Died: 25 July 2014.) Stage and TV actor, director and playwright.
 
  
  
 
== Biography ==
 
== Biography ==
  
Born in Gqebera Township, Port Elizabeth. He completed his high school diploma at Precious Makwabe Night School after the end of White minority rule. He was scheduled to go on a national tour shortly before his untimely death in 2014. He was married with two sons and a daughter and two grandchildren.
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Born [[Nanana Amos Buqa]] in Gqeberqa Township, Port Elizabeth on June 6, 1959.  
  
== Training ==
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He completed his high school diploma at Precious Makwabe Night School and started his acting career in at the age of 14 when he joined the [[Masizakhe]] ("Let's Build Ourselves") acting group, beginning his formal career in theatre in 1979, performing in protest plays around the country during the apartheid era. He wrote his first play in 1990.
  
[[Gift Buqa]] started his acting career at the age of 14 when he joined the Masizakhe (Let's Build Ourselves) acting group. He wrote his first play in 1990.
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In 2014 he was scheduled to go on a national tour, but sadly died on 25 July of that year, shortly before the commencement of the tour.  
  
== Career ==
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He was married with two sons and a daughter and two grandchildren.
  
[[Gift Buqa]] began his career in theatre in 1979, performing in protest plays around the country during the apartheid era.
+
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
 +
 
 +
[[Gift Buqa]] began his career in theatre in 1979, initially creating and performing in protest plays around the country during the [[apartheid]] era.
 +
 
 +
Among his many performances have been:
  
Shortly before his death, [[Gift Buqa]] directed a group of five adult township actors with [[Phambili Ngcayisa]] at the Isithatha Trust in Gqebera. The Trust also had a youth theatre group with about 12 children.  
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2004: Co-wrote and performed in ''[[Heugh Road Blues]]'' with fellow playwright and actor, [[Phambili Ngcayisa]], a play about the life of Black casual day labourers. The play was performed on a Double Bill at [[The Barn]] in Port Elizabeth in August 2004, at the National Theatre Competition at the [[Market Annex]] in Johannesburg (2005), in the [[One Act Play Festival]] at the [[Port Elizabeth Opera House]] in 2008 (directed by [[Sharon Rother]]).
  
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
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2008: Co-wrote and performed in ''[[Fore]]'' with [[Phambili Ngcayisa]], a play about Black golf caddies who lived in the townships. They entered the play in the [[National Theatre Competition]] [[Market Theatre]], Johannesburg.
  
2011: Acted in [[The Dancing Sangoma]].
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2009: had lead roles in the [[Port Elizabeth Shakespearian Festival]] production of ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' and [[Jean Genet]]'s play ''[[The Balcony]]'' at the [[Port Elizabeth Opera House]]
  
Played the part of the Ghost in [[Hamlet]] in the Port Elizabeth [[Little Theatre]] (circa 2013).
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2011: Played a leading character in the 2011 [[SABC]] TV series, ''[[The Dancing Sangoma]]''[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3144228/].
  
2005: Co-wrote [[Heugh Road Blues]] with fellow playwright and actor, [[Phambili Ngcayisa]], about the life of Black casual day labourers. Performed at the [[Market Theatre]], Johannesburg. Two years later they came in second when they entered the play in the National Theatre competition at the Market Annex in Johannesburg.
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2013: Played the part of the Ghost in ''[[Hamlet]]'', produced by the [[Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival]] ([[PESF]]), directed by [[Linda-Louise Swain]]. Staged in the [[Noel Morgan Auditorium]] at the [[Little Theatre]] of the [[Port Elizabeth Musical and Dramatic Society]] ([[PEMADS]]).
  
2008: Acted in [[Heugh Road Blues]] at the [[Port Elizabeth Opera House]] in the One Act Play Festival. Directed by [[Sharon Rother]], starring [[Phambili Ngcayisa]].
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Among the plays he wote or co-wrote have been:
  
2008: Co-wrote [[Fore]] with fellow playwright and actor, [[Phambili Ngcayisa]], a play about Black golf caddies who lived in the townships. They entered the play in the National Theatre competition [[Market Theatre]], Johannesburg, and were in the top 10.
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''[[Heugh Road Blues]]'', ''[[Uncle Rhoo]]'' (a [[Xhosa]] play) about traditional funerals, emphasizing the dilemma of artists who often die as paupers and only receive recognition after death.
  
Wrote [[Uncle Rhoo]], a play based on traditional storytellers.
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''[[Back of Beyond]]'' (co-authored with [[Phambili Ngcayisa]] and [[Linda-Louise Swain]], a drama about the relationship between a gardener and his madam), .
  
2009: Starred in the [[Port Elizabeth Shakespearian Festival]] production of [[Romeo and Juliet]].
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He also became involved in teaching drama in 2007 when he met another Walmer resident, [[Sharon Rother]], of [[Rother Swain Studios]]. Their meeting later led to the formation of the [[Isithatha Theatre Development]] association and a number of productions.
  
 
== Awards, etc ==
 
== Awards, etc ==
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2010: Named Best Performer at the 2010 [[Fugard Festival]].
 
2010: Named Best Performer at the 2010 [[Fugard Festival]].
  
2013: Won the Showtime Award for the best play of the year along with [[Sharon Rother]] and [[Phambili Ngcayisa]] for [[Master Harold and the Boys]].
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2013: Won the Showtime Award for the best play of the year along with [[Sharon Rother]] and [[Phambili Ngcayisa]] for a performance of ''[[Master Harold . . . and the boys]]''.
  
The Gift Buqa Auditorium at the [[Isithatha Theatre]] in Port Elizabeth is named after him.
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The [[Gift Buqa Auditorium]] at the [[Isithatha Theatre]] in Port Elizabeth is named after him.
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
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https://networthpost.org/net-worth/gift-buqa-net-worth/
 
https://networthpost.org/net-worth/gift-buqa-net-worth/
  
"Theatre group breaks boundaries," [[The Herald]], 25 January 2014
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''[[The Herald]]'', 26 August 2004.
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 +
"Theatre group breaks boundaries," [[The Herald]], 25 January 2014[https://www.heraldlive.co.za/news/2014-01-25-theatre-group-breaks-boundaries/]
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https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/Hamlet
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https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3144228/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cl_sm
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== Return to ==
 
== Return to ==
  
Return to [[ESAT Personalities  A]]  
+
Return to [[ESAT Personalities  B]]  
  
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]

Latest revision as of 09:44, 15 March 2024

Gift Buqa (1959-2014) was a stage and TV actor, director and playwright.


Biography

Born Nanana Amos Buqa in Gqeberqa Township, Port Elizabeth on June 6, 1959.

He completed his high school diploma at Precious Makwabe Night School and started his acting career in at the age of 14 when he joined the Masizakhe ("Let's Build Ourselves") acting group, beginning his formal career in theatre in 1979, performing in protest plays around the country during the apartheid era. He wrote his first play in 1990.

In 2014 he was scheduled to go on a national tour, but sadly died on 25 July of that year, shortly before the commencement of the tour.

He was married with two sons and a daughter and two grandchildren.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Gift Buqa began his career in theatre in 1979, initially creating and performing in protest plays around the country during the apartheid era.

Among his many performances have been:

2004: Co-wrote and performed in Heugh Road Blues with fellow playwright and actor, Phambili Ngcayisa, a play about the life of Black casual day labourers. The play was performed on a Double Bill at The Barn in Port Elizabeth in August 2004, at the National Theatre Competition at the Market Annex in Johannesburg (2005), in the One Act Play Festival at the Port Elizabeth Opera House in 2008 (directed by Sharon Rother).

2008: Co-wrote and performed in Fore with Phambili Ngcayisa, a play about Black golf caddies who lived in the townships. They entered the play in the National Theatre Competition Market Theatre, Johannesburg.

2009: had lead roles in the Port Elizabeth Shakespearian Festival production of Romeo and Juliet and Jean Genet's play The Balcony at the Port Elizabeth Opera House

2011: Played a leading character in the 2011 SABC TV series, The Dancing Sangoma[1].

2013: Played the part of the Ghost in Hamlet, produced by the Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival (PESF), directed by Linda-Louise Swain. Staged in the Noel Morgan Auditorium at the Little Theatre of the Port Elizabeth Musical and Dramatic Society (PEMADS).

Among the plays he wote or co-wrote have been:

Heugh Road Blues, Uncle Rhoo (a Xhosa play) about traditional funerals, emphasizing the dilemma of artists who often die as paupers and only receive recognition after death.

Back of Beyond (co-authored with Phambili Ngcayisa and Linda-Louise Swain, a drama about the relationship between a gardener and his madam), .

He also became involved in teaching drama in 2007 when he met another Walmer resident, Sharon Rother, of Rother Swain Studios. Their meeting later led to the formation of the Isithatha Theatre Development association and a number of productions.

Awards, etc

2010: Named Best Performer at the 2010 Fugard Festival.

2013: Won the Showtime Award for the best play of the year along with Sharon Rother and Phambili Ngcayisa for a performance of Master Harold . . . and the boys.

The Gift Buqa Auditorium at the Isithatha Theatre in Port Elizabeth is named after him.

Sources

https://ewemasenze.wordpress.com/gift-buqa/

https://networthpost.org/net-worth/gift-buqa-net-worth/

The Herald, 26 August 2004.

"Theatre group breaks boundaries," The Herald, 25 January 2014[2]

https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/Hamlet

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3144228/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cl_sm


Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography

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Return to ESAT Personalities B

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