Raka

Raka is an Afrikaans dramatic poem by N.P. van Wyk Louw.

Seen by many as a visionary metaphor for the battle between good and evil, or even for civilization in Africa.

The original text

Raka - versdrama, Van Wyk Louw (1941: sedert sy verskyning al 40 keer herdruk).

1968: Engelse vertaling, Antony Dawes. 1970: Duitse vertaling, W. A. Kellner.; 1982: Vertaling in Kwanyama deur Paavo Hasheela.

Radio versions in Afrikaans, daarna vertaal in Zoeloe, Suid-Sotho, Noord-Sotho en Xhosa deur swart omroepers.

Stage versions

Raka has been performed numerous times in various ways in the country. Often simply as a dramatised verse reading (e.g by ** in **), though

1967: Ballet-variasie, Franks Staff and Graham Newcater.

1967: Radiofoniese drama - met sprekers in plaas van dansers - "toegelig" met seleksies van die balletmusiek, Graham Newcater.

1988: Raka - die Musical, André Letoit (ongepubliseerd)

1989: Radioverwerking deur Truida Pohl, daarna vertaal in Zoeloe, Suid-Sotho, Noord-Sotho en Xhosa deur swart omroepers.

1992: Raka, Niel le Roux (ongepubliseerd).

1999: Raka (Dansteater) in opdrag van die KKNK opgevoer deur Anton van Niekerk.

2004: Ballet tydens die KKNK deur die Kaapstadse Stadsballet opgevoer met Frank Staff as choreograaf.

2005: Raka, Gariepdam Amateur-toneelgeselskap.

Raka - The Ballet

In many ways the most notable version was perhaps Frank Staff's seminal ballet (1967), set to a score by Graham Newcater and the harbinger of a truly South African tradition in ballet. Raka proved such a success that it was soon made into a film that was distributed worldwide by Twentieth Century Fox.

Performed many times in various ways by a range of companies therafter, including the Cape Town City Ballet (choreographed by Veronica Paeper, KKNK, 2010), the George Arts Festival (2001, with Christo Davids). Staff's choreography recreated by Veronica Paeper and performed at the KKNK in 2010.

Raka by Niel le Roux

A stage adaptation has been done by Niel le Roux.

Raka – Die Musical (Vry Vertaling van die Bacchae) by André Letoit

The title was used by André Letoit for another kind of adaptation, called Raka – Die Musical (Vry Vertaling van die Bacchae) ("Raka The Musical. A free adapatation of the bacchae"): .

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Staff

Programme, Raka, Cape Town City Ballet, KKNK, April,

H. P. van Coller and A. van Jaarsveld. 2010. Die spore van Raka: oor herskrywing en kanonisering (Deel 1), Tydskrif vir Letterkunde, Vol. 47 no.1.

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