(Right: Mohamed
Alli)
Actor
and radio presenter Warrick Frank pays tribute to the late Mohamed Alli.
It's is with a heavy heart that I post
about the loss of yet another pioneer in the South African Indian theatre
community. One half of the ever-popular EKMA Productions, Mohamed Alli.
Rest in peace Alli, I am honoured to have
had the privilege of being mentored by you and Essop Khan.
I joined EKMA at the start of my career and
I am grateful for all that you, Essop and Savy have instilled in me. You all
were more than just friends and mentors, you became family over the years.
I remember speaking to you about finding
yours, Essops and Savys legacy in a matric textbook while I was teaching Grade
12 last year. I will carry you with me the rest of my journey through the
wonderful memories we shared.
Rest well my dear friend, till we meet
again.
Tribute
to Mr Mohamed Alli
On Tuesday February 18, 2020, at 12h54, as
I prepared to start my final teaching lesson at school for the day, I received
the devastating news from Mohamed Alli’s nephew, Ridwaan Dawood, of Alli’s
passing. I was overwhelmed with emotion as Savy Ramsamy and I were on the phone
the previous night making arrangements for our next visit to him the coming
Thursday. As the final bell rang at school, I quickly rushed to my car to call
Savy to inform her of the sad news. She was in shock and disbelief at first but
I managed to give her all the details.
Alli (77) was born and grew up in
Clairwood, South of Durban and later owned a home in Isipingo Rails, then later
moved to Isipingo Beach, which was his current residence.
Alli first started theatre at ML Sultan
Technikon while studying towards his diploma in commerce and was cast along
with Savy Ramsamy for Muthal Naidoo’s play which was being staged on campus in
the late 1960s. He later completed his diploma and ventured out into the arts
and met Essop Khan at a social club called 225. The two became friends after
they realised that they were the only two Muslims at the club and shared a love
for the arts. Their brotherhood grew from there. Alli, Essop and Savy later joined
the Shah Theatre Company under the mentorship of Ronnie Govender and worked
closely with theatre stalwart, Kessie Govender and Muthal Naidoo. Alli and Savy
starred in Kessie Govender’s hit protest play, Stable Expense.
(Essop
Khan, Savy Ramsamy & Mohamed Alli)
In 1985, Alli formed one half of the
popular comedic duo that was EKMA productions, along with fellow pioneer in
arts, Essop Khan. They had much success with their hit plays over their company’
30 year run in the arts and went on to produce, write, direct and star in over
60 productions. Veteran actress Savy Ramsamy was also an original member of
EKMA and was specifically recruited by Khan and Alli. EKMA productions first
play Jamal Syndrome, was staged in
1986 at the Aquarius Theatre in Reservoir Hills and ran for two years. Khan and
Alli were no strangers to hit plays of that era as they both were the original
cast members of the longest-running play in the 1970s, Lahnee’s Pleasure, by Ronnie Govender.
EKMA was synonymous for community theatre
as they brought and introduced theatre to the masses, performing an average of
80-100 shows a year across the country. They assisted countless communities,
charity organisations, schools, temples, churches, sporting and social bodies
with fund-raising initiatives through their shows. They were the only
travelling theatre company for many years and gave many young artists a break
in the industry. They always nurtured young talent and shared their wealth of
knowledge.
I met Mohamed Alli and Essop Khan in 2010
and began work with them in January of 2011. I have so many wonderful memories
with them. They became my mentors and guided me through the industry as I had
just finished my tertiary education. We travelled all over the country together
and spent so much time with one another that we were not just colleagues and
friends, we were family. I toured with the company for five years until it was
disbanded in 2015, but I still maintained a close relationship with Alli and
Essop.
A full-circle moment for myself and Alli
came in 2013 with the revival of Kessie Govender’s play Stable Expense, where I got to play the role of “Rama” originally
played by Alli in the 80s.
We laughed, we cried, we stressed and
worried with each other. No-one understood the life of a travelling artist. We
only had each other and we leaned on each other for support through our
difficult times. At first, I couldn’t fathom how these three did it for many
years before me, but I quickly learnt. EKMA gave me a break at the start of my
career when no-one else would. They taught me discipline and hard work within
the arts and gave me the tools to create a career.
The loss of Essop Khan (2018) and now the
loss of Mohamed Alli weighs heavy on my heart but I have always promised them
that I would keep their legacy alive and I would carry them with me through the
rest of my journey.
Alli passed away from a severe stroke at
his residence on Tuesday February 18, 2020. He is survived by his wife Rehana
and four daughters Zaheda, Fathima, Ayesha and Sumaya. – Warrick Frank
Posts
