The year is 1954, and the streets of Kofifi are buzzing with the energy of cherries and jitas all getting ready to go to Mamariti's tavern. Unbeknownst to them, in less than a year, their lives would be turned upside down as they are forcefully evicted and repopulated in a settlement close to 20km away from their homes and places of work. A close-knit community is disrupted by the threat of the apartheid government's rule of segregation that drives a wedge between the residents of Sof'town. Friends and accomplices; families and lovers now have to come to the reckoning of their racial differences and forego a livelihood they have become so well attuned to. A lot of hostility and suspicion is raised.
While a lot has changed and transpired following the enforcement of The Native Resettlement Act of 1954, the effects of the existential crisis caused by a government with laws rooted in separation still engulf us. We now have the freedom to live in any neighbourhood we please, we have the right to and freedom of association, and we can sit together in a theater and watch a production about a history that affects us all, but are we having the necessary conversations. This production evokes a lot of emotion, showing how easily joy and harmony can be tainted by the stench of unchecked bias, where a symbiotic ecosystem can be disrupted and pulled apart by a system of power. More than anything, I appreciate the opportunity it creates for us to speak openly about pain, betrayal, displacement, and unfulfilled hopes.
What I particularly enjoyed about the show was the depth of emotion and relatability of the family life, where strangers from different backgrounds are brought together by similar struggles and hopes, holding space for each other in the true nature of ubuntu. While their livelihoods are quite varied - from a gang member to a young journalist; an old mother selling "pineapple" for her family to survive; to a vivacious schoolgirl with big dreams and an uncle fluent in fafi/mochina; to a slum queen seeking an escape and an inquisitive white girl born on the wrong side of the line - this play encapsulates the melting pot that was and continues to be our beloved country, South Africa. The cherry on top is the harmonious voices of the cast, displayed through the songs that tell deep riveting stories that'll leave the hairs on the back of your neck standing, and the exhilarating band, so well orchestrated, they do not miss a single beat, setting the tone of Sophiatown, leaving their hearts on every strum. This was an absolute treat!
So gather your friends, family, and your community and head out to the Market Theatre to see it for yourself. The dedication from the cast and crew in delivering this story is captivating and engages the audience so charmingly that you even forget you are actually there to watch a play. It is all of our story, completely relatable in one way or another and it needs to be heard!
Here is a link to where you can read a short excerpt from the director, as well as buy tickets.
P.S. You can get discounted tickets for groups above 10. All information is on the website.
The show is running until Sunday the 24th of March 2024.
