Sikalo

Sikalo (in some sources, Sikhalo) [“Lament”] by Gibson Kente (1932-2004). A jazz musical featuring the music of Mackay Davashe and jazz band.

The original text

Sikalo incorporated stock township characters (a shebeen queen, tsotsis, a policeman, a “Zulu boy” and Zion church members) into its storyline.

According to Loren Kruger (1999) it lives in black township memory as second only to King Kong.

Performance history in South Africa

Written and first produced in 1966, starring Kenny Majozi, Simon Sabela, Cocky "Two-Bull" Tlhotlhalemaje and Margaret M'cingana. First performed in the city of Johannesburg and went on a tour of the townships. It toured the country and finally played in the Witwatersrand University’s Great Hall under the auspices of Union Artists. It has been toured and revived numerous times.

Sources

New Nation, 3-9 May 1999.

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 Unpublished PhD thesis.

Sam Mathe. 'Gibson Kente: Overdue yet timeous tribute'. The Star. 15 December 2017.

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