(Musa Njoko & cast
members. Pic by Val Adamson)
In My Own Voice, a
courageous new musical by Musa Njoko chronicling her challenges of living with
and surviving HIV Aids for 22 years is to be staged in the Playhouse Opera.
Presented by Musa Njoko Music and Entertainment in
association with the Playhouse Company, and supported by Ethekwini Municipality,
the production will run from July 21 to 24.
Long-term AIDS survivor and
activist Musa Njoko, who in 1994 was one of the first people to consciously and
publicly disclose her HIV status, has crafted an original musical theatre
production which chronicles her astonishing life. In her production entitled In My Own Voice, she shares her triumphs
and challenging personal journey as one of the country’s earliest AIDS
activists.
Njoko, who is probably one of the
only known South African recording artists publicly living with HIV, has
created a musical theatre production with original live music which tells her
unique and universal story of courage, hope, victory and celebration. Directed
by Edmund Mhlongo and choreographed by Delani Makaye and Thami Njoko, In My
Own Voice features a cast of 16 performers with a five-piece band under the
musical direction of Wanda Kwela.
In creating her ground-breaking
new work, Njoko has sought to give expression to the faith that sustained her
through her darkest times of feeling abandoned by those around her as she
struggled to come to terms with her perilously deteriorating health during the
early days of the AIDS pandemic.
Facing the rejection that stemmed
from widespread ignorance and prejudice, not least from her close associates,
Njoko was even expelled from her church. But she never lost her grip on her
religion and the faith which gradually and miraculously enabled her to triumph
over her adversity, empowering her with the knowledge that she was meant to
share her experience with others, and so help them come to terms with life’s
many challenges.
“We live in a world dominated by
fear, mistrust and societal fragmentation, where our families are damaged by
the hurt of abandonment, unkindness and cruelty,” says Njoko. “We need to build
and nurture a conducive environment in which we can all share our past with
each other, and heal our hurt through communicating truthfully and learning to
understand each other, and by learning to love each other.”
In My Own Voice runs in the Playhouse Opera Theatre with performances on
July 21 and 22 at 19h00; on July 23 at 15h00 and 19h00 and on July 24 at 15h00.
Tickets R120 (R60 pensioners and students). Booking is through Computicket
outlets at branches of Shoprite Checkers, or telephonically on 0861 915 8000,
or online at www.computicket.com. Alternatively, bookings can be made by calling the Playhouse
Box Office on 031 369 9540 or 031 369 9596 (office hours). The production has a
12 years PG rating, and its duration is two-and-a-half hours including
interval.
“In My Own Voice” is to be staged as
part of the AIDS2016 global conference in Durban. Musa Njoko is also a key role
player in South African Voices:
Towards a Museum of HIV Memory and Learning, the AIDS educational
project at Durban’s KwaMuhle Museum which documents a critical and defining
chapter in South Africa’s collective history, offering people space to
celebrate the achievements and reflect on the journey we have taken since the
dark days of denialism and calls to "Break the Silence" at AIDS2000.