Vincent Ncabashe

Vincent Ncabashe is an actor/dancer/singer, writer and musical director.

Also popularly known as Vincent "Viva" Ncabashe.

Biography

Vincent Ncabashe was born and raised in Diepkloof in Soweto. While still in school he joined the Thabisong Youth Club which had been formed in 1974 by Mrs Makhudu. The aim of the Youth club was to keep the children out of the streets, crime and drugs by offering alternative interests. There he received training in drama, poetry and dance.

In addition to his own later performances, he would thereafter also spend time training the young people of Soweto in dance (Gumboot) and music.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

In the early 1980's he became one of the members of a group called the "Rashile Poets", who performed gumboot dances and singing acts in shopping malls, markets and community halls, leading to a career that sent him on national tours as well as tours of neighbouring countries.

In 1990 he formed a group called the "Rishile Gumboot Dancers of Soweto" with which he co-created the theatrical phenomenon Gumboots in 2002, one of the most successful Gumboot shows to tour South Africa and internationally. Vincent not only co-created the show, but was also the lead singer, dancer and guitarist.

In 2019 he met Philippe Barreau and Magda Hadnagy and together they created a new version of the "Gumboot Show", for which he wrote the lyrics and the music.

Sources

https://www.sowetogumboots.com/show.html#:~:text=In%201990%20he%20formed%20a,show%20beautifully%20with%20his%20talent.

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

Go to the ESAT Bibliography

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