My Children! My Africa!

My Children! My Africa! is a play by Athol Fugard (1932-).

The original text

The action takes place in a small Eastern Cape Karoo town in the autumn of 1984.

First published by Theatre Communications Group, New York, NY, 1990, therafter published in a variety of editions over the years, including Faber and Faber (1990) and Witwatersrand University Press (1990) (the latter in the collection My Children! My Africa! and Selected Shorter Plays, compiled by Stephen Gray).

The play was a Grade 12 government schools set work for English in 2023.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1989: Performed by the Market Theatre Company at the Market Theatre and latrer at the Baxter Theatre in October 1989, directed by Athol Fugard assisted by Lesley Nott, starring John Kani (Mr M), Kathy-Jo Ross (Isabel Dyson), Rapulana Seiphemo (Thami Seiphemo) and children of Zolile High School. Lighting design by Mannie Manim, lighting design supervised and sound coordination by Patrick Curtis.

1993: The first professional, unabridged production of the play in Bloemfontein was directed by Gerben Kamper for PACOFS at the Batho Community Hall from 3 to 13 March 1993 starring Corien Pelt and Nomsa Nene.

1996: Staged by PACOFS at the Sterrewag Teater in October 1996, directed by Gerben Kamper, with Nomsa Xaba, Maurice Carpede and Onida Cowan.

2009: Performed by the Lee University Drama Department, .

2018: Produced by the National Children's Theatre, with Christine van Hees as "Isabel".

2023: Produced by the National Children's Theatre at the South Africa State Theatre, Pretoria, from 1-17 March, directed by Kathy-Jo Ross.

2025: Produced in The Opera at the South African State Theatre, Pretoria, in March. Directed by Aubrey Sechabi with Penny Wolhuter as "Isabel", Olly Zondi as "Thami Mbikwana" and Madla Gadika as "Mr. M". The timning of the production was particularly poignant as it was performed in the month of Fugard's passing. A second season of the play done in August.