Q&A
Siyabonga Twala is the latest in a not-so- long line of South African male actors who openly harbour ambitions to make a name for themselves here, and more lucratively, abroad.
This Umlazi, Durban native has had a taste of life abroad with his United States tour of Duma Ka Ndlovu’s Bergville Stories (1997). Apart from this, he has appeared in Burning Blue, Janice Honeyman’s Turkish Delight, Aladdin, which he did in Afrikaans, and Blues Brothers, for which he won a Vita award. He is currently appearing in Zenzi Mbuli’s Siyavuma! where a lot of the action pivots around him. You are rather coy and modest about your status as a sex symbol, why is that? Well good looks are merely an extra you happen to possess. Only talent can determine how far you go in this or any industry.
How old are you, when and how did you start acting?
I am 32. I started acting in 1989. When I was much younger I used to attend Gibson Kente’s shows in Durban. After studying aimlessly for a while, I met Bra Gib and he invited me to come to Johannesburg. What did you learn from this doyen of South African black theatre? I think people who know his work only from TV [SABC’s Mama’s Love and Lahliwe] misunderstand him. But he is brilliant. He is actually one of the best drama teachers. He looks for quality and emphasises technique perfection. Do you see yourself imparting the same kind of influence to the next generation? Not now. Although I have been lucky to work with some of the best talent in the arts industry, I feel that teaching is something I will do at a much later stage when I have done it all. What is Siyavuma! about and how did you get involved with it? Siyavuma! is really a musical that is purely entertainment. It is a spiritual journey celebrating [the traditional healing practice]. After having worked with Bra Zenzi and having followed his work, he told me he had been commissioned to present a piece [as winner of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award]. We then drew on what we are both familiar with to come up with Siyavuma!
Were you mindful of the fact that Zenzi’s previous hit Boots has grown to be a phenomenon and the same could happen to Siyavuma!?
When the production started taking shape, we increasingly believed it would do well not only here but also overseas. The songs you do bring to mind projects like Lion King vocalist Faca Khulu’s recent CD release. Do you think you will ever record something? When I was touring with Bergville Stories, I actually met Sony Music’s Michael Maulding who suggested that I record. But I could not because I did not feel ready. When I record, I want to tell stories as implanted in me by my grandmother’s recitals, the sound of Princess Magogo. A person who currently does it well is Busi Mhlongo.
You recently experienced what many South African actors do not hope for: to be offered a cameo role in a local soapie. For that kills off any prospect of a longer term, more lucrative contract. How was your stint with Isidingo? I was actually offered the role of Godlieb Mofokeng when Isidingo started (the role has since gone to Rapolane Seiphemo). But I was not ready to commit to TV for a year. I still wanted to do theatre. The stint that I did accept was for the character J, a former liberation-struggle cadre. I played because I wanted it and it was quite enjoyable.
What other projects are you working on? After the opening of Siyavuma! I will be working on an adaptation of Franz Kafka’s A Report to an Academy. It is a one-man play that was performed by Marius Weyers in the 1980s. Marthinus Basson will direct me and to be realistic, I would like to stage it abroad.
Siyabonga Twala spoke to Thebe Mabanga. Siyavuma! is showing at the Market Theatre’s main theatre until December 2. Enquiries: (011) 832E1641