Mama's Love

Mama's Love is a play and television series by Gibson Kente (1932-2004).

The original text

First performed in 1989. A re-working of Kente's No Peace in the Family.

Translations and adaptations

Kente wrote a 13-part television adaptation in 1995 of Mama's Love, starring Thembsie Matu. It earned such scathing reviews that it was nearly cancelled after just two episodes, and Kente's critics called him a disgrace to black theater. Despite the initial bad press, the project did remain on the air in its entirety, and one of its lines even entered the vernacular and became a popular soccer stadium chant.

Performances

1989: First performed.

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 Unpublished PhD thesis.

Sam Mathe. 'Thembsie Matu celebrates 30 years of exceptional acting'. IOL. 2 July 2018.

Go to ESAT Bibliography