Etla Ngwanaka, is a theatre and dance piece that combines spoken words, abstract images, vocals and movements, inspired by the poem of Prof Wally Serote, ‘Come and hope with me’. It is a story of hope, corruption and dreams. We are living in a world of false prophecy and hunger for power. People are selling empty dreams to those who are desperate for survival. Many are desperate for personal gain and achievements, however they do that through hurting others.
It’s never easy to know who to trust. Those with bad intentions shall not prosper they say, but as they also say those who sell dreams to others always have a hidden agenda. Those with high status have the power to convince and sell empty promises which provokes the internal and external emotions of those who believed in them. We are not of the same thinking and we are not all in the dark.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Directed and Choregraphed by Archie Oupa Matsetela
Music by Sanele Schuppo Mzimela
Performed by Mike Dzova, Tshepang Ramasetla, Mpendulo Mkungo, Nhlanhla Mabasa and Annati Nomava Ndaba
Stage Manager – Sizwe Jako and Technical Director is Themba Vukela
Inspired by Prof Wally Serote’s poem, ‘Come and Hope with Me’
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Archie Oupa Matsetela is a versatile performing artist, choreographer, dance teacher, dancer, actor, talent judge and MC. He started his artistic career in the performing arts with a drama crew called Publik Kreativity Drama Krew (PKDK), where he was introduced to acting, poetry, music, script development, dancing & directing. Since then he has grown from strength to strength in the field.
He has performed at various national & international stages/festivals in the USA, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Norway. He has created, directed and choreographed theatre productions which performed at national festivals around South Africa. He has also done roadshows and industrial shows for leading brands, using theatre as a medium for communication.
He is a graduate from Imagination Lab (Vega school of Advertising) and he obtained a Performance Arts qualification at Moving Into Dance Mophatong (MIDM), where he studied choreography, performance, dance teaching, arts administration & Edu-dance.
He has worked with renowned choreographers, directors & dance teachers such as Thabo Rapoo, Sfiso Kweyama, Silvia Magogo Glasser, Mpho J Molepo, Jerry Mofokeng, Meshack Mavuso, Mdu Mabaso, Gregory Maqoma, Zakhele Masasa, Nhlanhla Mahlangu and Ntshieng Mokgoro, to mention a few. He facilitates and runs rural Theatre development projects with Publik Kreativity Drama Krew.
Archie is currently the Artistic director, head of dance department and a choreographer at Alex Theatre Company and Academy.
Sanele Mzimela grew up in a musical family so music has always been around him. He started his career in 2000 working for a company called Victory Sonqoba Theatre Company (VSTC) where he trained in acting and dance. He started his career with musical shows like ‘Madiba Magic Songs’, directed by the late Bongani Linda. The music for the show was composed by Sanele himself, and his brother Sphelele Mzimela and was performed at the National Art Festival in Makhanda. He was the music composer for another of Bongani Linda’s shows, ‘God Is African’, which also ran at NAF.
In 2011 he started working for Newcastle Art Development Organisation (NADO) as a Music Director for their theatre productions. He was also a music director and composed songs for shows like ‘Zwelihle’ (directed by Zama Msibi), ‘Secret and Lies’
(directed by Sphelele Mzimela), ‘Loyile Lamabala’ (directed by Ntshieng Mokgoro), ‘Conversation with the Snake’ (directed by Ntshieng Mokgoro), ‘Zion’ (directed by Ntshieng Mokgoro), and ’Year 2024’ (directed by Sphelele Mzimela) where he was
a performer as well as music director.
In 2016 NADO organised a cultural exchange with a UK based group, Crazy Monkey. The result of this collaboration was ‘This World here, Nomhlaba le’ in which he was
a performer, music director and composer. The show was performed in Newcastle upon
Tyne, and was directed byAmy Goldens. This show was performed again in 2018, and it was then that Sanele got a chance to compose and write a song for a choir based in England as well as to conduct it.
In 2013, he was hired by Alexandra Youth Ensemble (AYE) to direct music for a show called ‘Woman’s Liberation – Isililo saBafazi’, directed by Nhlanhla Mazibuko and Bongani Dlamini. This was performed at the State Theatre. In 2019 he was musical director for ‘Open Wounds’, directed by Mashack Mavuso Magabane. This production touched on issues around GBV, and was performed at schools and corporate events around Joburg.
He is currently a freelancer and music teacher at Alex Arts Academy (AAA).
Sanele Mzimela. started his career in 2000 working for a company called Victory Sonqoba Theatre Company (VSTC) where he was trained to do acting and dance. Music is one thing he grew up with from a family that has a gift of singing. When he started his career, he did musical shows like Madiba Magic Songs Directed by the late Bongani Linda and the music was composed by Sanele himself, and his
brother Sphelele Mzimela which performed in a National Art festival in
Grahamstown.
He was also a music composer for God Is African also Directed by the late Bongani
Linda which also performed in a National Art festival in Grahamstown.
In the year 2011 he started working for an organisation called Newcastle Art
Development Organisation (NADO) working as a Music Director for theatre
productions produced by NADO.
He was also a music director and composed songs for shows like Zwelihle Directed
by Zama Msibi which performed in Zwakala festival Market Lab, Secret and Lies
directed by Sphelele Mzimela, Loyile Lamabala directed by Ntshieng Mokgoro which
performed in a National Art festival in Grahamstown, Conversation with the Snake
also directed by Ntshieng Mokgoro which performed in a National Art festival in
Grahamstown, Zion also directed by Ntshieng Mokgoro also performed in a National
Art festival in Grahamstown, Year 2024 directed by Sphelele Mzimela where he was
a performer and a music director which performed in a National Art festival in
Grahamstown and also at Playhouse theatre.
In the year 2016 Newcastle Art Development Organisation had exchanged cultural
project with an organisation in Newcastle England called Crazy Monkey and we
collaborated and did a show Called “This World here, Nomhlaba le” in which he was
a performer, music director and composer. The show performed in Newcastle upon
Tyne United Kingdom and the director of the show was Amy Goldens.
In year 2013 he was hired by an organisation called Alexandra Youth Ensemble
(AYE) directing music for a show called “Woman’s Liberation – Isililo saBafazi”
directed by Nhlanhla Mazibuko and Bongani Dlamini which performed at State
Theatre.
Joining the Dots directed by Nhlanhla Mazibuko which performed at Baxter Theatre
and UNdlela kaSompisi directed by Bongani Dlamini and Nhlanhla Mazibuko which
also performed at Baxter Theatre.
In 2018 both Newcastle’s collaborated again and performed the same show in
Newcastle Upon Tyne.
While he was in England Newcastle, He got a chance to compose and write a song
for a choir based in England and conduct it.
In 2019 he was a musical director for a show called “Open Wounds” directed by
Mashack Mavuso Magabane which was an industrial show which touches issues
around GBV, it was performed in schools and corporate events around Joburg.
His currently a freelancer and music teacher at Alex Arts Academy (AAA).
Themba Vukela is a technical production educator at Alex Company and Academy. He has had a successful career in the live entertainment industry as a freelance lighting crew, technical production assistant, a stage manager, sound engineer and a production assistant. He has a Live Entertainment Rigging course from DWR, a foundation course in Professional Audio Skills Program from Sound Fusion Media, a certificate in Radio Broadcast Engineering Skills Program from NEMISA, and he has a certificate from SA Roadies Association in Live Event Technical Production.
He has held numerous managerial positions and is recognised in his field. He was a sound warehouse manager at Zinto Marketing, is the founding member of Sounds Of Revolution Edutainment production, and was awarded sound engineer of the year for Moyo Restaurant and bar franchise in 2005. He has been at the helm of Alex FM as Technical Manager since 2017.
Themba is a social entrepreneur who hosts live events and a theatre practitioner who likes to share and teach life skills in the communities. He has years of experience in the industry and has good management, communication, and problem-solving skills. In his 19-year experience in the field of live entertainment industry, he has served the industry with precision, passion, dedication and distinction. He serves as sound engineer, lighting manager, audio visual manager, stage management, rigging, radio broadcast engineer, studio installation, Back–line, event coordination, production, and management. He has worked on projects such as multiple productions; project manager for Omnicom, for Barclays Super Fan United Africa Tour 2018, head of sound and technical department at Alex FM, Sound engineer at Zinto Marketing 2013-14, technical manager at Alex FM, sound engineer at Ear Drum Productions – Mmelesi lodge 2010, Maseru, Lesotho, stage manager for Arts Alive’s Jazz on the Lake Festival 2008- 9 &10, assistant stage manager for VWV Consortium at World Cup 2010, Assistant Stage Manager for VWV at Confederations Cup 2009, Assistant Stage Manager for OTBP for Presidential awards union building 2009, Assistant Site Manager for OTBP for Standard Bank Joy of Jazz 2008 , Assistant Stage Manager for OTBP for Nelson Mandela Concert 2008, Assistant Stage Manager for Quart Annual Festival in Norway 2002 and Assistant Stage Manager at Sun City for Miss World 2001.
Themba is currently a technical production educator at Alex Theatre Company and Academy.