Mama and the Load

Hugely popular township musical by Gibson Kente (1932-2004). (Also known by a number of varieties of the name, often simply “The Load”)

The original text

The musical explores dramatizations of the conflict between political pressures and family/community solidarity.

Unpublished.

Performance history in South Africa

1979: First performed 1979. Toured the black townships of the country for years, with up to four companies out at a time, and was the first of his plays to be noticed by the non-black press.

1980: Performed in the Concert Hall, Baxter Theatre in 1980, directed by Gibson Kente, featuring Seipati Sothoane.

1981: Mama and the Load at Market Theatre.

Sources

Andile Xaba. 2021. 'Collective memory and the construction of a historical narrative, analysis and interpretation of selected Soweto-based community plays (1984–1994)'. Unpublished PhD thesis.

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