Celebration of SA jazz
Ilizwi directed by Nox Donyeli, with assistance from Ingrid Wylde and Sisonke Yafele, celebrating the best in South African jazz, will be performed in Grahamstown next week.
Director and writer Ingrid Wylde and Empowerdex’s Vuyo Jack have combined their talents to create Ilizwi, using the rich history of South African jazz standards as a starting point.
Set in the 1950s and 60s in Meadowlands, Soweto and linking to the present, Ilizwi is a love story told through jazz.
Original new compositions by Zanika Mehta feature alongside standards such as Meadowlands, Ntyiko, Ntyilo Ntyilo, Lakutshoni Langa, and Weekend Special.
Ilizwi (voice in isiXhosa) is a musical about those who work hard simply to survive, about the men and women who labour to build this country, especially the miners deep in the belly of the earth. It is a celebration of love and hope.
The cast is Nox Donyeli, Sisonke Yafele, Ayanda Nondlwana, Nombasa Ngoqo, Sithsaba Koko, Siyabonga Bawuti, Mandisi Heshu, Anele Heshu, and Lucky Ngcani.
Ingrid Wylde has featured extensively over the past 10 years at the National Arts Festival, and other festivals.
She has worked extensively with UBOM! Eastern Cape Drama Company on projects as diverse as Kwela Time, inkwenkwezi and the 10 Tsotsi’s and Sandile.
Nox Donyeli has been involved in the theatre industry for over 16 years. She worked with UBOM! Eastern Cape Drama Company as performer and facilitator, and performed with Andrew Buckland and Beki Mkwane in Makana.
She is currently the director of Elesen Theatre Group, which won the Best Production award with Split, at the Cacadu Arts and Culture Competition.
Sisonke Yafele is a profes- sional performer who has worked with various local drama groups and professional companies.
He worked with Brett Bailey’s Third World Bunfight, performing for the National Arts Festival in The Prophet and Imumbo Jumbo. He worked full time for the UBOM! Eastern Cape Drama Company playing a lead role in Kiss My Boot and performing in festivals around the country.
He currently works as an assistant director in the Elesen Drama Group.
Blue Sky, Elesen and Via Kasi Movers in association with Rhodes University Drama Department present Ilizwi ‘The Voice’ at 7pm on 13 and 14 March 2017 in the Rhodes Main Theatre.
Age recommendation: 10plus. Duration: one hour
Ticket prices: R40/ R25 Students/ R20 pupils and block bookings Contact Katlego at 046 603 8542 or ru.ac.za