Nomathemba
Nomathemba is a play by Eric Simonson, Joseph Shabalala () and Ntozake Shange
Contents
The original text
The play's title comes from the song "Nomathemba", written by Joseph Shabalala (1940–2020) round about 1965, the play was created and performed by Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago in 1995.
The story, written by Eric Simonson, Joseph Shabalala and Ntozake Shange, is a love story and a familiar "Jim comes to Jo'burg" tale, set in post-apartheid South Africa. A very simple story, it tells of the spirited and restless young village girl Nomathemba, who is being courted by the proud and handsome Bongani, nevertheless decides to find her own life in the big city of Johannesburg. Bongani pursues her and they both go through many changes and suffer many hardships before they are at last reunited.
Translations and adaptations
Performance history in South Africa
Sources
Richard Christiansen, Tribune Chief Critic. `NOMATHEMBA' RAISES HOPES, AND FULFILLS THEM, CHICAGO TRIBUNE 10 April 1995.[1]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Shabalala
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