The inception of Camagu Theatre and Dance Festival: Black women shifting the paradigm, disrupting and decolonising theatre in South Africa

abstract

The historical contours of South Africa are mapped with racism, political conflicts, social and economic inequality and gender inequity. One of the less acknowledged gender inequities is the imbalance in the gender representation of women in theatrical performances. This article is written through a lens that aims to question and challenge the apartheid and colonial legacies that have created race and gender disparities in the South African theatre industry. It reflects on how the Camagu Theatre and Dance Festival is a significant platform for black theatre makers in South Africa to reclaim the stolen memory of their cultural history. In illustrating the importance of creating an alternative festival that forges new narratives that strive to be truly reflective of the culture, heritage and languages of black South Africans, the article will describe how black female theatre practitioners from the Free State are changing the trajectory of South African theatre. I attempt to articulate the urgency of telling stories in indigenous languages in order to preserve and document our narratives and decolonise theatre practice in South Africa.

keywords:

• black female theatre makers
• indigenous languages
• decolonising
• Camagu

Notes

1 Interview, Majali A, Njaba Z and Majavu Z with Mbothwe M (July, 2016, Bloemfontein).

2 For a discussion of indigenous terms, their retrieval and the meaning of Camagu, see: http://ixhantilam.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-politics-of-camagu.html (Accessed 2 January 2020).

3 Interview, Lekalake Plaatjie K and Leisa L (September, 2018, Bloemfontein), ‘Talking Paleho on stage’.

4 Paleho won the 2016 Standard Bank Ovation Award.

5 For a full description of the production and links to videos of the performances see: https://www.freestatewombmanintheatre.org/past-productions (Accessed 2 January 2020).

6 Interview, Doni T and Mbothwe M, ‘Talking about Ityala Lamawele’ (September, 2018, Bloemfontein).

7 Vrystaat Kunstefees, previously known as Vryfees, is a festival that promotes Afrikaans language and culture that takes place in Bloemfontein.

8 Interview, Lekalake Plaatjie K and Noko P, ‘Creating Camagu’ (September, 2018, Bloemfontein).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Karabelo Lekalake Plaatjie

KARABELO LEKALAKE PLAATJIE holds a Master’s Degree in Drama and Theatre Arts from the University of the Free State. The academic space encouraged her to interrogate the role of women in the South African theatre industry. She published a chapter on ‘Black female directors in South African theatre’ in Performative Inter-Actions in African Theatre 3: Making Space, Rethinking Drama and Theatre in Africa. She is the chairperson of the non-profit organisation Free State Wombman in Theatre, a collaboration of women in the arts fraternity who are aspiring, developing and professional artists. Recently, Lekalake Plaatjie curated the Camagu Colloquium: Celebrating the Life of Winnie Madikizela Mandela Through Storytelling which was held in Brandfort, in the Free State. The colloquium aimed to encourage female theatre makers from South Africa, especially in the Free State to create theatrical works that reflect on the life of our heroine Winnie Madikizela Mandela. Email: [email protected]