Difference between revisions of "Asinamali"

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[“We have no money”] by [[Mbongeni Ngema]] and cast. The story of six black prisoners who tell the stories of their lives and their road to prison under the apartheid regime. A simply staged but powerful piece of improvisational theatre, utilizing sounds, narrative, mime and physical action in exciting ways. First performed at the [[Market Theatre]] by [[Committed Artists]] in 1985, under the direction of Ngema, it won numerous awards as text and for the ensemble acting. A BBC film was made of it and shown in England (but banned on the SABC). First published in [[D. Ndlovu]] (ed) ''[[Woza Afrika! An Anthology of South African Plays]]'' by [[Braziller]], 1986. Later also in ''[[The Best of Mbongeni Ngema]]'' ([[Skotaville]], 1995). ''Asinamali'' by Mbongeni Ngema. This play which was also directed by Mbongeni Ngema was staged at the [[Laager]] in May 1985 before going on a world tour and returning to the Market in December that same year.  
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''[[Asinamali]]'' ("We have no money") is a workshopped play by [[Mbongeni Ngema]] (1955-2023) and cast.  
  
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== The original text ==
  
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Return to [[ESAT Plays 1 A|A]]
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The play tells the story of five black prisoners who tell the stories of their lives and their road to prison under the apartheid regime. It was inspired by events that surrounded the 1983 rent strike in the Lamontville township, led by the martyred activist Msizi Dube, in which the rallying cry was ''Asinamali!''  ([[isiZulu]] for "We have no money!").
  
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Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Plays]]
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Improvised by the original cast of [[Bongani Hlope]], [[Bheki Mqadi]], [[Solomzi Bhisholo]], [[Boy Ngema]] and [[Thami Cele]], led and directed by [[Mbongeni Ngema]]. A simply staged but powerful and enormously energetic piece of wonderfully synchronized improvisational theatre, utilizing sounds, narrative, mime and physical action in exciting ways to explore the backgrounds of the various characters and their experiences of life under apartheid. What made the disturbing play particularly intriguing is the creators' balanced portrayal of each character and his reasons for being in prison.
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The text was first published in ''Woza Afrika: An Anthology of South African Plays'' (edited by [[Duma Ndlovu]] and publshed by George Braziller in 1986). Later also published in ''[[The Best of Mbongeni Ngema]]'' ([[Skotaville]], 1995). 
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It won numerous awards for both as text and for the superb ensemble acting, including the Vita Award for acting in 1985.
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== Performance history==
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1985: First performed by [[Committed Artists]] in [[The Laager]] at the [[Market Theatre]] in May, directed by [[Mbongeni Ngema]] with [[Bongani Hlope]], [[Bheki Mqadi]], [[Solomzi Bhisholo]], [[Boy Ngema]], [[Thami Cele]]. It then went going on a world tour and returned to the [[Market Theatre]] for a second run in December.
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1986: The same cast played at the [[Baxter Theatre]] in 1986,
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1988: The play was performed at the [[National Arts Festival]].
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2002: Directed: [[Mbongeni Ngema]] at the [[Market Theatre]].  Cast : [[Thami Cele]], [[Bhoyi Ngema]], [[Ntusi Gordon Ngema]], [[Bongani Hlophe]],  [[Bheki Mqadi]].
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2013: Performed at the [[National Arts Festival|Grahamstown Festival]] in Grahamstown in July, then the [[Barney Simon Theatre]] at the [[Market Theatre]] from 16 July to 18 August. This version directed by  [[Prince Lamla]], with [[Mncedisi Baldwin Shabangu]] - Solomzi [[Menzi Biyela]], [[Tshallo Chokwe|Tshallo Sputla Chokwe]], [[Xolile Gama]], and [[Lungi Pinda]] - Bheki. Musical Direction by [[Boy Ngema]], Lighting Design by [[Nomvula Molepo]], Set and Costume design by [[Karabo Legoabe]] and Stage Management by [[Bongani Motsepe]]
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== Film versions ==
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===BBC documentary (1985)===
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A BBC film was made of the British production and shown in England (but banned on the [[SABC]]).
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===''[[Asinamali. Music Set Them Free]]'' (2017)===
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In 2017 Ngema's play ''[[Asinamali]]'' was adapted as a film musical, billed as  '''''[[Asinamali. Music Set Them Free]]''''' (or simply as ''[[Asinamali]]'' on occasion)[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4781238/plotsummary/?ref_=tt_ov_pl]. First shown at the [[Durban International Film Festival]] on 23 July, 2017(), going on general release in South Africa on 3 August, 2018.
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Produced for [[Kwazi Mojo Media]] by [[Darryl Roodt]] and [[Christianne Bennetto]], directed by [[Mbongeni Ngema]] to a script by Ngema and [[Dylan Ben-Israel]]. Unlike the stage version, the expanded film version has a large cast that includes [[Mbongeni Ngema]], [[Danica De La Rey]], [[Boitumelo Shisana]], [[Luzuko Nqeto]], [[Tertius Meintjes]], [[Sbu Ngema]], [[Gérard Rudolf]], [[Dikeledi Letebele]], [[Sibusiso Kotelo]] ... Hammerman
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Bhekithemba Zwane Bhekithemba Zwane ... Thami
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Moses Mahlungu Moses Mahlungu ... Moonlight Jwara
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Congo Radebe Congo Radebe ... Shoe Shine (as Congo Hadebe)
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Kere Nwayo Kere Nwayo ... Bra Tony
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Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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Ataliyah Chana Ataliyah Chana ... Mrs. van Niekerk
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Jakkie Groenewald Jakkie Groenewald ... Foreman
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Mfana 'Jones' Hlope Mfana 'Jones' Hlope ... Msizi Dube (as Mfana Hlophe)
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Bongani Hlophe Bongani Hlophe ... Sgt. Khumalo
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Nompumelelo Mncube Nompumelelo Mncube ... Choreographer (as Nompumelelo Gumede)
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Lucia Mthiyane Lucia Mthiyane ... Salamina
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Lindiwe Ndlovu Lindiwe Ndlovu ... Shebeen Queen
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Jonathan Taylor Jonathan Taylor ... Barney Simon
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Altus Theart Altus Theart ... Johan van Niekerk
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Cobus Visser Cobus Visser ... Store Owner
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Kevin White Kevin White ... KGB Officer
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Music by
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Chris Letcher Cinematography by
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Dino Benedetti ... director of photographyEditing by
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Lucian Barnard Production Design by
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Samantha Lotter
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== Sources ==
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[[Market Theatre]] programme for ''[[Asinamali]]'', 1985. (Copy held in the [[ESAT Archives]])
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[[Ruphin Coudyzer]]. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of [[Market Theatre]] productions. (Provided by Coudyzer)
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''[[Artslink]]''.co.za [news0713@artslink.co.za]                       
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https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4781238/?ref_=ttrel_ov
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Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
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== Return to ==
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Return to [[PLAYS I: Original SA plays]]
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Return to [[PLAYS II: Foreign plays]]
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Return to [[PLAYS III: Collections]]
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Return to [[PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances]]
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Return to [[South_African_Festivals|South African Festivals and Competitions]]
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Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
  
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
Return to [[Main Page]]

Latest revision as of 16:20, 4 June 2024

Asinamali ("We have no money") is a workshopped play by Mbongeni Ngema (1955-2023) and cast.

The original text

The play tells the story of five black prisoners who tell the stories of their lives and their road to prison under the apartheid regime. It was inspired by events that surrounded the 1983 rent strike in the Lamontville township, led by the martyred activist Msizi Dube, in which the rallying cry was Asinamali! (isiZulu for "We have no money!").

Improvised by the original cast of Bongani Hlope, Bheki Mqadi, Solomzi Bhisholo, Boy Ngema and Thami Cele, led and directed by Mbongeni Ngema. A simply staged but powerful and enormously energetic piece of wonderfully synchronized improvisational theatre, utilizing sounds, narrative, mime and physical action in exciting ways to explore the backgrounds of the various characters and their experiences of life under apartheid. What made the disturbing play particularly intriguing is the creators' balanced portrayal of each character and his reasons for being in prison.

The text was first published in Woza Afrika: An Anthology of South African Plays (edited by Duma Ndlovu and publshed by George Braziller in 1986). Later also published in The Best of Mbongeni Ngema (Skotaville, 1995).

It won numerous awards for both as text and for the superb ensemble acting, including the Vita Award for acting in 1985.

Performance history

1985: First performed by Committed Artists in The Laager at the Market Theatre in May, directed by Mbongeni Ngema with Bongani Hlope, Bheki Mqadi, Solomzi Bhisholo, Boy Ngema, Thami Cele. It then went going on a world tour and returned to the Market Theatre for a second run in December.

1986: The same cast played at the Baxter Theatre in 1986,

1988: The play was performed at the National Arts Festival.

2002: Directed: Mbongeni Ngema at the Market Theatre. Cast : Thami Cele, Bhoyi Ngema, Ntusi Gordon Ngema, Bongani Hlophe, Bheki Mqadi.

2013: Performed at the Grahamstown Festival in Grahamstown in July, then the Barney Simon Theatre at the Market Theatre from 16 July to 18 August. This version directed by Prince Lamla, with Mncedisi Baldwin Shabangu - Solomzi Menzi Biyela, Tshallo Sputla Chokwe, Xolile Gama, and Lungi Pinda - Bheki. Musical Direction by Boy Ngema, Lighting Design by Nomvula Molepo, Set and Costume design by Karabo Legoabe and Stage Management by Bongani Motsepe

Film versions

BBC documentary (1985)

A BBC film was made of the British production and shown in England (but banned on the SABC).

Asinamali. Music Set Them Free (2017)

In 2017 Ngema's play Asinamali was adapted as a film musical, billed as Asinamali. Music Set Them Free (or simply as Asinamali on occasion)[1]. First shown at the Durban International Film Festival on 23 July, 2017(), going on general release in South Africa on 3 August, 2018.


Produced for Kwazi Mojo Media by Darryl Roodt and Christianne Bennetto, directed by Mbongeni Ngema to a script by Ngema and Dylan Ben-Israel. Unlike the stage version, the expanded film version has a large cast that includes Mbongeni Ngema, Danica De La Rey, Boitumelo Shisana, Luzuko Nqeto, Tertius Meintjes, Sbu Ngema, Gérard Rudolf, Dikeledi Letebele, Sibusiso Kotelo ... Hammerman Bhekithemba Zwane Bhekithemba Zwane ... Thami Moses Mahlungu Moses Mahlungu ... Moonlight Jwara Congo Radebe Congo Radebe ... Shoe Shine (as Congo Hadebe) Kere Nwayo Kere Nwayo ... Bra Tony Rest of cast listed alphabetically: Ataliyah Chana Ataliyah Chana ... Mrs. van Niekerk Jakkie Groenewald Jakkie Groenewald ... Foreman Mfana 'Jones' Hlope Mfana 'Jones' Hlope ... Msizi Dube (as Mfana Hlophe) Bongani Hlophe Bongani Hlophe ... Sgt. Khumalo Nompumelelo Mncube Nompumelelo Mncube ... Choreographer (as Nompumelelo Gumede) Lucia Mthiyane Lucia Mthiyane ... Salamina Lindiwe Ndlovu Lindiwe Ndlovu ... Shebeen Queen Jonathan Taylor Jonathan Taylor ... Barney Simon Altus Theart Altus Theart ... Johan van Niekerk Cobus Visser Cobus Visser ... Store Owner Kevin White Kevin White ... KGB Officer

Music by Chris Letcher Cinematography by Dino Benedetti ... director of photographyEditing by Lucian Barnard Production Design by Samantha Lotter

Sources

Market Theatre programme for Asinamali, 1985. (Copy held in the ESAT Archives)

Ruphin Coudyzer. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of Market Theatre productions. (Provided by Coudyzer)

Artslink.co.za [news0713@artslink.co.za]

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4781238/?ref_=ttrel_ov

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays

Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays

Return to PLAYS III: Collections

Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances

Return to South African Festivals and Competitions

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page

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