Land of Nonesi, Theatre
Venue: Amazwi Literature Museum
Next performance: Saturday 29 June 16:30
Preview
By Ntombekhaya Busuku
Award-winning playwriter Sonwabile Mfecane and his cast are staging Land of Nonesi at the Festival becuase Mfecane says that women’s contributions to South Africa’s history are often erased or misrepresented.
“I stumbled on the story of Nonesi when I was helping a friend of mine who was asked to make a statue of Nonesi by Abathembu but he could not make it because there was nothing about Nonesi in the archives and I found that strange and funny because she was a powerful figure during the colonial time,” said Mfecane.
The play brings to life the courageous story of a woman who fought for her people’s rights and land and foregrounds her significant role in resisting colonialism.
“Nonesi fought very hard for the land rights of Abathembu when they were chased away by white farmers who were interested in their land and she resisted the removal until she was sent to Robben Island,” said Mfecane.
The story will showcase Nonesi’s journey from bravely refusing to give up land to taking charge as a regent of Abathembu after her husband NNgubengcuka died.
Land of Nonesi is not just a story about one woman; it’s about the untold stories of African women who fought for their rights and freedom.
The play challenges the way history has been written and remembered and gives voice to the silenced and forgotten. “Historians who write about women in history, victimise them and leave out the positive impact they had,” said Mfecane.
