Milestones (musical)

musical play written by Mandla Langa (1999).

Performance history in South Africa

Premièred at the Grahamstown Festival in 1999, presented by Mannie Manim Productions, directed by Jerry Mofokeng, with Hugh Masekela, Owen Sejake, Sibongile Khumalo, Gloria Bosman, Sello Motloung, Mike Huff, Tsepho Desando, Motsumi Makhene, Mokale Koapeng and Steve Mofokeng, with choreography by Nomsa Manaka.

It opened at the State Theatre on July 10 1999

Subject

EDIT>>> In Milestones the new South Africa is the focus, and the conflict is between urban modern and rural traditional cultures. The theme is the recovery of their ancestral land by a community who had lost it in the 1960s under the apartheid Group Areas Act, and the opportunity for them to regain their pride based in their traditional values (the post-democracy symbolism is clear); after working on the mines for thirty years an old patriarch hears that his family’s land has been returned to him and he moves back to the place of his birth, where the challenge is for a community to rebuild and to redefine itself. His only son had been shot as a spy by comrades during the anti-apartheid struggle and when the patriarch dies his surviving heir, his daughter, has to take over the leadership from him. The modern young woman is confronted by the choice between a life of relative poverty as traditional leader of her people, or a career as an urban lawyer in the big city with the bright opportunities available to her in the new South Africa. Her third option, the play suggests satirically, is to join the government and earn a fabulous salary with the perk of a big Mercedes or a BMW...

EDIT>>> about forced removals and resettlements under apartheid in the 60’s:

EDIT >> Milestones tells the story of a people who are rallying themselves for a return to their land led by a patriarch, a modern Moses. They perform their rituals in urban areas, observing custom. The subject matter draws on numerous issues affecting the new South Africa, the role of women in society, the juxtaposition of traditional and contemporary lifestyles, land and the conflict between urban and rural lifestyles.

EDIT >>> Die ander ‘verrassing’ van Mi¬lestones is die basiese boodskap - die aanhalings is net om aan te toon dat dit toe later blyk dat ook ander swart produksies soortgelyke boodskappe uitstuur. Die verhaal is baie eenvoudig: n Ou patriarg (Owen Sejake) hoor dat hy sy grond terugkry en na dertig jaar na sy geboorteplek kan terug¬keer. Sy enigste seun, en opvolger, is egter in die struggle deur sy eie ANC kamerade geskiet omdat hulle be¬weer het hy was 'n spioen. Sy dogter Zodwa (Gloria Bosman) moet die nuwe leier word. Sy studeer egter om 'n prokureur te word en om¬dat hy oud en sterwend is, moet sy kies om te midde van taamlike ar¬moede haar mense te lei of om haar loopbaan to volg. Of sy kan natuurlik, soos half spottend voorgestel word, 'n ‘counsellor’ van die regering word en baie geld, asook 'n Mercedes kry. Of 'n BMW.

Sources

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