Earlier today, the University of Fort Hare’s Music Department hosted a captivating conversation between renowned theatre director Mr Edmund Mhlongo and Music Lecturer Mr Thembeka Vokwana, focusing on the making of Nandi – The Musical.
The discussion set the stage for the much-anticipated showcase of the production at the East London Guild Theatre this evening – a performance brought to the Eastern Cape through the support and coordination of the UFH Music Department.
Held at the Miriam Makeba Centre for the Performing Arts on the East London campus, the conversation delved into the history and legacy of Queen Nandi, mother of King Shaka.
The exchange with Mr Vokwana gave the audience a unique opportunity to engage with both the historical context and the creative process behind the musical, providing a platform where academia and the arts intersect.
Mhlongo shared insights into bringing Queen Nandi’s life to the stage and why telling her story was so important. He explained that during his research, he found very little information about her.
“Little has been written about Nandi, and that inspired me to undertake a journey of discovery about this remarkable woman who gave birth to the warrior Shaka. I discovered how she is revered worldwide.”
“Her story is universal. It is the story of a single mother who, despite the challenges she faced, managed to raise her childre – including a King,” he said.
Mr Vokwana and the Head of Music, Mr Ndumiso Mtshali, emphasized the importance of creating such platforms to advance scholarship, particularly within the creative arts.
The conversation ended with a brief performance by the the cast, giving the audience a glimpse of the music and the storytelling to expect in the full production.