Ndinkhubanyi, Theatre
Venue: Dicks
Next performance: Monday 30 June 16:00
Preview
By Ntombekhaya Busuku
Ndinkhubanyi is a powerful play about two young women who are on a journey to find out who they are beyond the strictures of tradition and societal expectations. It is written and directed by Lisakhanya Bodla and Naledi Hopshire under their production company, Thyala Pty (Ltd). This play asks a question that echoes through generations: Ndinkhubayi? – Who am I?
Bodla says those who grow up in abusive homes can still find out who they are despite what they experience. They can choose a different path and redefine themselves.
“At home, we are taught stories and how to behave – for example, when you marry into another family.” People can lose themselves because of “abantu bazothini ngam” [what people will say about me].
Bodla says the play does not suggest that people should break away entirely from what they were taught at home. “At the end of the day, those people at home have helped to build who they are. But people should refuse to become a negative duplicate of their family.”
“Don’t always take to heart what they are teaching you. Become a businessperson, become who you want to identify yourself,” said Bodla.
This play explores language, memory, and movement into a story of rediscovery. As the characters dig through layers of culture, history, and personal truth, they confront the silence that often surrounds questions of self and home. The play marries English, isiXhosa, and Afrikaans, but it is mainly in isiXhosa and Afrikaans because those are the actors’ home languages.
“I think one thing about art and theatre is that even if someone performs in Italian [i.e. a language you don’t understand], you will be left changed. Art will hit who it is meant to hit. Theatre is already a language in itself. I think we shouldn’t think of our home languages as restrictions but rather as testing our limits. And as artists, there is no better language to express yourself than your mother tongue,” said Hopshire.
Ndinkhubanyi? – A question still searching for an answer. Will you find yourself?
