A tribute to the last warrior monarch in
the history of the Zulu kingdom, King Dinuzulu, is set to be staged at the
Durban Playhouse Company under the hand of director Jerry Pooe.
Pooe reflects on the rich history of
Dinuzulu, like the fact that he was exiled in St Helena where he learnt English
and the piano, taking the crown at a young age, making him the youngest
reigning Zulu king. Dinuzulu spent most of his life fighting the English,
Afrikaners and uZibhebhu, who Pooe explains was considered a “puppet” for the
English.
Viewed through the eyes of Dinuzulu’s
mother, okaMsweli, with vibrant dance and song, Pooe said: “The content of the
production is the journey of Dinuzulu from the death of his father to his
birth, to his inauguration as a king; his involvement in the Bambatha
Rebellion, his arrest, his trial, his wars, his exile and his death … it is a
chronological historical account, but portrayed in a creative and artistic way.
“This is a powerful musical with dance,”
Pooe adds. “The music composition is by Mthandeni Mvelase, Pooe and the cast,
with a mixture of indigenous Zulu music, gospel and theatrical sounds.”
The production involves a cast of 26, with
the title role of Dinuzulu performed by Mxolisi Ngubane, Melmoth by Thulani
Mngadi and KaMsweli (mother to Dinuzulu) by Sam Hlophe, popular with the Dance Your Butt Off reality TV
programme.
King
Dinuzulu: The Last Warrior King runs at The
Playhouse from September 11 to 15 at 19h00 and 10h00. For more details contact Sphindile
Myeni on 073 898 3575.
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