ZemQadini is a narrative inspired by the wars that happened in the South of KwaZulu-Natal in 1998 just four years post-apartheid when the eZembeni community and emaQadini community were fighting over the physical placement of the Chief.
Trapped by the wars of the past and the ongoing battles within, Vuyo and Dumi relive the battlefield daily. Doomed by a war that bore little success and a system that tore apart communities and families, this tale told through the recollection of Dumi, is a story of two men bruised by a war that never benefited them, yet left them destitute. Dumi’s inability to see and Vuyo’s inability to walk forces them to function as one person that has no ability to walk away from their situation and no chance of seeing ahead. They are stuck in their non-existence, forced to look back in order to make sense.
The play happens in flashbacks when the two characters remember the days when the war was active.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Writer: Sboniso Msimango
Director: Philisiwe Twijnstra
Producer: Bongani Mbatha
Cast: Bhekani Shabalala, Bongani Mbatha and Zweli Buthelezi
Stage Manager: Simphiwe Khumalo
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Philisiwe Twijnstra (Director)
Philisiwe Twijnstra is an international award winning South African playwright and steering committee member of AWPN. She resides in Durban working as a scriptwriting lecturer at Durban University of Technology. She obtained her MA degree in Creative Writing from Rhodes University. Ms Twijnstra is one of 21 African longlisted writers selected by Short Story Day Africa (2021) for her short story ‘The girl named Uku/pha/za/mi/se/ka’ published by Catalyst Press
Her award-winning play, ‘The road is on tour’, was produced by Swedish company Darling Desperados and her short story, ‘Little Black Sandals’, was produced by Talisman Theatre Kenilworth UK on YouTube (2021). She was granted a CASA residency (2018) to write her new play ‘Not Enough Buses in Spring’. She was selected to be part of a fellowship in Germany.
Her play, ‘The Red Suitcase’, was produced as a stage reading in Canada by Zee Zee Theatre Company (2018). She was part of the novel script project (2015) after which she wrote ‘Salty Pillows’ which took 2nd place at Pansa (2017). She recently directed La Familia which premiered in Nelson Mandela Bay Theatre Complex and was also staged in Durban. Currently she is writing her Novel.
Bongani Mbatha (Actor/Producer)
Bongani Mbatha previously delighted audiences in All Gone!, Maluju Zulu, Skungpoomery, Sophiatown and Bigly Yuge. He’s been in a string of TV ads and on SABC’s Uzalo, Imbewu on ETV, Durban Gen, and many Mzansi Magic dramas (eHostela S1, Qhakaza, Forbidden Love and Sawubona We Lova).
Bhekani Shabalala
Shabalala has appeared in many theatre works, including Macbeth, Sleepwalking Land, Sitting Around The Fire, Horse Shoe, Boom Gate and Just For You. He also appeared on the drama series UKHAKHAYI as Chief Biyela, Bay of Plenty, Imbewu, eHostela S1, Grade 13 and other Mzansi Magic Films
Simphiwe Thamsanqa Khumalo (Stage Manager)
Khumalo is a young energetic artist from Ulundi who strongly believes in team work. He is an actor, director and stage manager. He is a Drama and Production Studies graduate fresh from Durban University of Technology. He directed shows like Ijazi, Oxamu, Between Brothers, and Umuzi Kababa. He was a stage manager for shows like Voices of Emma, Wathinta Abafazi, and Itshe.