The King of the AmaRharhabe Kingdom, Maxhoba Sandile, has invited all chiefs to his Great Place in Mngqesha, Eastern Cape, on June 12 to discuss the controversial play Thuthula — Heart of the Labyrinth.
The play is expected to be performed at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival on June 27 at the Rhodes University Theatre.
Sandile’s representative, Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe, said the meeting would consider applying for an interdict against the performing of the play at the festival.
He lashed out at playwright Chris Mann and director Janet Buckland for failing to consult the king before composing the play.
”This is disgusting and disrespectful of our monarchy. This directly affects the image of our king,” said Burns-Ncamashe.
”As custodians of this heritage, we always welcome initiatives that seek to promote awareness of our history and heritage, especially among young people, but now we are smelling a rat.”
But production manager Duncan Shelwell perceived it as a celebration of the Xhosa history — not an attempt to defame anyone involved.
In 1980, the play was performed for the first time at the Mobil National Festival of student drama in Grahamstown, directed by Buckland as part of her honours directing project for Rhodes University. This will be its first professional performance.
”The Eastern Cape has a lot of stories and most of them have never been told. This play has no controversy. It talks about the human dilemma and love, and portrays Ndlambe and Ngqika as extremely heroic,” said Buckland.
The play tells the story about the battle for power between Ngqika and his uncle Ndlambe and their love for a woman called Thuthula.
Vista University lecturer in Xhosa Literature, Professor BB Mkhonto, said it was unfortunate that traditional leaders were not properly advised.
He said Mann had researched well, and managed to get the other side of the story of Thuthula.
”The play does not defame the Xhosa nation,” he said.
”We cannot politicise this literature, because our children should learn about it. This is a story of love and Thuthula is a heroine to people who like love stories.”
Provincial politicians supported the play, saying the story of Thuthula formed part of the Eastern Cape history and should be told.
ANC provincial representative Phaki Hobongwana said ”We need to talk about these things and make them known so as to decrease the probabilities of such behaviour in the future.”
UDM provincial secretary Mabandla Gogo said the play would reveal the reality of Xhosa tradition.
”It will play a pivotal role in reminding us where we come from — unlike SABC’s Yizo Yizo,” said Gogo.
PAC national secretary for publicity and information Waters Toboti said the story was not known by everyone and it was high time that people were told.
”It is also recorded in books, so it must also be played in theatre,” he said.
Toboti said he was also from a royal family — the Tshawe clan’s house of Hintsa — and he did not see any embarrassment in the play. – Sapa