Ziyankomo and the Forbidden Fruit
Ziyankomo and the Forbidden Fruit is an opera sung in Zulu composed by Phelelani Mnomiya to a text by poet Themba Msimang.
Contents
Original text
The opera tells the story of two of King Mpande’s wives who find new lovers, an act that, according to Zulu tradition, is punishable by death. In the opera, Mnomiya draws on African rhythms, the sounds of church and gospel music, and even some Baroque ornamentation to craft an intriguing aural mixture.
Productions
2012: Presented by Opera Africa at the Joburg Theatre, with Kelebogile Boikanyo and Given Nkosi as "Gabisile" and "Ziyankomo" and Fikile Mvinjelwa as "Mpande".
Sources
Hilde Roos. 2012. 'Indigenisation and history: how opera in South Africa became South African opera'. Acta Academica Supplementum. 2012(1).
DailyMaverick.co.za: Ziyankomo and the Forbidden Fruit' taste great, shine brightly”. 26 March 2012.
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