The Girl Who Killed to Save (Nongquase the Liberator)

by H.I.E. Dhlomo. (Also written Nonqause: The Girl who Killed to Save, uNongqawuse: The Girl Who Killed to Save, or simply The Girl Who Killed to Save.) A version of the story of the tragic Xhosa starvation resulting from the slaughter of the cattle under the chief Kreli, in response to the visions of the prophetess Nongqause.

Written in 193-35 as a reaction against Nonqause by Mary Waters, which he considered the "white people’s" version by of the story.

The first published play in English by a black writer in South Africa (Lovedale Press, 1935). Republished in H.I.E Dhlomo: Collected Works (Eds. Tim Cousins and Nic Visser, Ravan Press, 1985).

South African productions

2013: Directed by Mfundo Tshazibane, under the altered title of uNongqawuse: The Girl Who Killed to Save featuring the UCT final year Drama students in the Arena Theatre, Cape Town.

Sources

Nongqawuse: The girl who killed to save: review. Bantustanvillage, May 31, 2013[1]

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