Nkadzi Touches On Women Affairs

Dumisani Ncube | Monday July 24, 2017 18:00

 

The four-woman play was showcased last Friday at the University of Botswana.  It featured nameless characters played by Lolo Setshedi, Chikombe Basiami, Neelo Lentebanye and Thelma Seitshiro. 

It starts off with four women wearing all black and African print wraps seated on chairs. They were talking to themselves in different languages such as Kalanga and English, and sounding as if they are praying till they all stand up facing each other.

The first pair of women come forward as they talk of marriage simultaneously; one speaking in Kalanga and the other one interpreting in English. The women talk of heartbreaks, promiscuity, abuse and mistreatments that women face in marriages, as they question an imaginary man if he will be able to marry and treat woman without any of the mentioned ill treatment.

Within the women, more characters develop as one comes forward talking of the abuses she faced in her father’s hands after he discovered that she has been drinking alcohol. While describing how she was physically abused, her co-actors stage some contemporary dance moves that express the physical abuse in action and pain she felt.

On another episode, one of the women tells about her life at 21 years of age when she experienced drug abuse and boys trying to take advantage of her.

One of her accomplices acts a boy as he tries to have sex with her after giving her alcohol.

Through the play all the four women display the difficulties and challenges they face as women through storytelling, contemporary dance and at some point even shedding tears which even evoked emotions to a number of people within the audience.

Within all the episodes and stories there was a link to mental issues, which would have been triggered by what they would have experienced. After stating all the challenges and difficulties they face in the society they put their hope unto God, as they concluded the play praying asking God for guidance and protection.

 Apart from the play being a four women cast it was also produced by an all-female production team, which comprised Tumisang Baatshwana, Lebogang Disele, Moduduetso Lecoge and Thato Tidimane. They played various roles that range from directing, producing and stage management. After the play there was a round table discussion as the production team, actors and audience interacted discussing about the play, experiences that women come across in life and engaging more women in theater production.