Mkhumbane
Mkhumbane is a folk musical in three acts by Alan Paton and Todd Matshikiza. "Mkhumbane" is the African name for Cato Manor.
The original text
A cantata for 200 voices, dealing with life in Cato Manor outside Durban. Based on a story by G. Naidoo. Todd Matshikiza composed a score ranging from a slick, westernized cabaret number, through "blues", "laments", and concerted numbers, to a highly exciting witch-doctor's "smelling-out" dance.
Performance history in South Africa
First performed in 1960, opening in in Durban's City Hall in March and playing for a few months before closing because of police harassment. It was decided to use a cast recruited from actual inhabitants of "Mkhumbane" (the African name for Cato Manor) and to dispense with a "pit" orchestra, employing instead a choir of more than a hundred voices. Produced by The South African Institute of Race Relations. All proceeds from the Durban performance went to benefit The South African Institute of Race Relations. Directed by Malcolm Woolfson. Musical Direction by Todd Matshikiza. Choreography by Dorothea McNair. Decor by Carol Marais.
Mkhumbane closed only after a few months in Durban. Of the play, David Coplan in In Township Tonight says: Though production difficulties, police harassment and mixed reviews combined to allow Mkhumbane only a short run, its particular uses of theme and musical dramatics made it an important forerunner of the popular working-class township theatre of the 1970s.”
The cast included: MARIA — Fascina Nkoma; ELIZABETH BUTHELEZI — Miriam Nhlapo; BUTHELEZI (The Bull of Mkhumbane) — Alexander Mtabela; JOHN BUTHELEZI — Douglas Xaba; CATHERINE BUTHELEZI — Linda Nhlapo; ALFRED SITHOLE — Cyril Ngwenya; JANE BUTHELEZI — Regina Makhaye; GEOFFREY BUTHELEZI — Edmond Magwasa; LINDIWE — Maureen Mthembu; BHENGU — Michael Khuzwayo; OLD MEN — Oliver Khuzwayo, Cecil Matiwane, Slax Mhlongo, Linda Mhlungu, Arthur Msimang, Themba Ndunge, Michael Ngidi; RACHEL — Linda Molotto; TSOTSIS — Eric Dludla (leader of the gang), Sandy lack, William Lushaba, Elias Mavuso, Meshack Mbhebe, Daniel Mthembu, Elijah Mzimela, Philip Ndebele, Simon Ndebele, Samuel Ndlovu, Tony Ndlovu, Alfred Nokwe, Vuka Tshabalala; SHOPGIRLS — Gretta Dladla (leader), Dolly Cele, Peggy Mabandla, Beauty Malinga, Dorcas Nzamane, Sheila Pitso, Miriam Sibisi, Peggy Zuma; WATCHMAN — Amos Mkhonza; JACKAL — Joey Saint; CHARLEMAGNE — Ambrose Ngcobo; FACTORY OFFICIAL — Bill Bhengu; MUNICIPAL OFFICIAL — Malcolm Shabane; MKHUMBANE OFFICIAL — Selbourne Maponya; REVEREND HLUBI — Jeremiah Nhlangulela; GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL — Joshua Mlaba; BLIND WOMAN — Lilly Nyuswa; BLIND WOMAN'S COMPANION — Claribel Hlatswayo; DOCTOR — Theophilus Bophela.
INHABITANTS OF MKHUMBANE — Agrippa Cebekhulu, Themba Cele, loyce Dladla, Generosa Dlamini, Herbert Dlamini, Thomas Dlamini, Beauty Dube, Fred Dube, Sihauli Dube, Virginia Fihlela, Themba Gumbi, Gertrude Hlatswayo, Psychology Hlatswayo, Philemon Kanyile, Florence Khumalo, Monica Khumalo, Robert Khumalo, Timneth Khumalo, Christopher Langa, Ben Magubane, Agnes Makapela, Johnstone Makatini, Aletta Makheta, Kaya Matanga, Lindiwe Mbonambi, Peggy Mhlongo, Emmanuel Mkhize, Inez Mkhize, Meshack Mlaba, Michael Mlambo, Priscilla Mnyanda, James Mynandu. Naphtali Moloi, Claddie Mpanza, Victoria Msimang, Johannes Mthembu. Reynolds Mthembu, Irie M'Timkulu, Michael Mvelase, Abraham Mzuza, Constance Ndaba, Ceslina Ndlovu, Mabel Nduli, Seleke Ngakane, Robert Ngwame, Doris Ngwenya, Jerrine Nhlapo, Mark Nhlapo, Levi Nkabinde, Dolly Ntombela, Doris Ntuli, Rosamund Nyuswa, Isaac Pitso, Moses Sefatsa, Joshua Sibisi, Victor Sima, Constance Sithole, Ida Sithole, Eugene Umlaw, Alexander Yeni, Harrison Zondi.
CHILDREN OF MKHUMBANE — Philip Bhengu, Emmanuel Dlamini, Allison Hlope, Gloria Khoza. Doreen Khumalo, Emmanuel Kubeka, Esrom Kubeka, Maureen Makhanya, Fransisca Malinga, Erick Mfanazana, Ivy Mkhabisa, Enock Mkhungo, Paul Motholo, Michael Mthembu, Truth Mthethwa, Faith Ngcobo, Leonard Ngubane, Mandla Ntombela, Meshack Phewa.
Sources
Drum July 1950: 72; Kruger 1999: 96
https://www.flatinternational.org/template_volume.php?volume_id=158
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