Soundjata

Soundjata [1] is a famous West African epic, which has been dramatised in various ways.

The epic

The epic celebrates the exploits of Son-Jara, the legendary founder of the empire of Old Mali or Manden some 750 years ago.

The king is also known as Sunjata in West Africa, and the name is sometimes spelled Soundiata or Sundiata. ),

The play text

Circa 1995 a play called Soundjata, was performed in Cape Town, compiled from various versions of the African oral epic by the director and cast.

In 2011 another version, said to have been adapted by James Ngcobo, was performed at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg.

Performance history in South Africa

ca. 1995: Soundjata performed at the Little Theatre, Cape Town, text compiled and directed by Mark Fleishman, starring Buntu Pupa, Akin Omotoso, Sipho Masha, Mandisa Bardill, Amanda Lane, Jocelyn Hughes and Nomahulubi Mangele circa 1995. Jennie Reznek was the movement director, Glenn Morton the musical director and design and lighting was by Paul Abrams.

2011: Sunjata performed at the Market Theatre in January, adapted and directed by James Ngcobo with Dominique Gumede, Sibulele Gcilitshana, Conrad Kemp, [[Masasa Mbangeni]], Lerato Mvelase, Reshoketswe "Shoki" Sebotsane.

Sources

Soundjata theatre programme, undated.

Ruphin Coudyzer. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of Market Theatre productions. (Provided by Coudyzer)

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