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| − | (Also known as the [[Mthethwa Lucky Stars]]). Perhaps one of the better known and more influential of the early African vaudeville groups, founded in 1929 by [[Isaac Mthethwa]] and his brother [[Esau Mthethwa]], they drew their casts mainly from the Amanzimtoti College, and performed mainly in the Natal region. Their performances consisted of songs, “[[Tribal sketches|tribal sketches]]”, dances, choral singing, in reconstructed [[Zulu]] costumes and the Zulu language, but apparently influenced by the European illusionist set to provide realistic painted backdrops to the sketches. The contents often historical and mythical stories and songs about the glorious Zulu past and an idyllic rural past, the performances were hugely popular with black workers and rural audiences. These included [[Ukuqomisa]] (Courting) and [[Umthakathi]] (Witch), devised by [[Esau Mthethwa]] and the cast, and performed in Natal between 1929-1936. In 1936 they were “discovered” while playing at the [[Bantu Sports Club]] in Durban by [[Bertha Slosberg]], and in the same year performed for white and other audiences under her auspices at the [[Durban City Hall]] (March), the [[Black Men’s Social Club]] in Johannesburg (May), and at the [[Empire Exhibition]] in October. The group apparently disbanded in 1937.
| + | Perhaps one of the better known and more influential of the early African vaudeville groups, founded in 1929 by [[Isaac Mthethwa]] and his brother [[Esau Mthethwa]], they were also known as the [[Mthethwa Lucky Stars]]). |
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| − | == Sources ==
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| − | [[David Coplan]], 1985; [[Robert Kavanagh]], 1985 and [[Loren Kruger]], 1999)
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| − | == For more information ==
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| | + | See [[Mthethwa Lucky Stars]] |
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Revision as of 05:53, 22 December 2010
