Donate
Contribute
  • About us
  • Contribute Content
  • Donate
Friday, March 5, 2021
  • Login
  • Register
The African Theatre Magazine
  • Home
    • About us
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • People
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
The African Theatre Magazine
  • Home
    • About us
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • People
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
The African Theatre Magazine
No Result
View All Result

Ssegawa Impresses With His Political Erotica

Kaggwa Andrew by Kaggwa Andrew
June 1, 2019
in Reviews
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterWhatsapp

It has constantly been said that politics is like a sexual relationship – good while it lasts and usually messy at a break up. It’s not surprising that since time immemorial, art has always found a way of putting up political allegories masked with love themes. For instance, the imagery in Byron Kawadwa’s Oluyimba Lwa Wankoko that tended to focus on the drama between the Princess and Nyonyi Ntono.

It was this kind of aid that made John Ssegawa’s latest outing Zansanze surprising; it is a production that earlier on may not have promised much besides the flowery famous cast, yet when the curtains went up, it was clear none of them was there for romance or even the beauty of it. It’s one production where Segawa obviously took a number of creative risks.

The girls in a group referred to as Buyi in the play

The opening scene was a rehearsal – yes, his first act was made of six girls that were rehearsing for a performance before a delegation. At that point, the script doesn’t make it clear if among delegates would be Ssabaddu, brought to life by a convincing Charles Bwanika Ssensuwa, he is a calculative sinister politician that seems to wield a lot of power that he abuses. But one thing that was clear, was that the girls in a group only referred to as Buyi were going to spit some unpleasant lines with their poetry and song. “You want these girls to go out and say the truth before a delegation? That’s bold,” noted one of the passersby.

But that was a starter course, the production roles in motion when the trainer of the girls, Ssegawa receives one his daughters portrayed by Tania Kakindi claiming rape or an attempted rape by Ssabaddu. An aggitated father, he grabs a spear and makes an attempt on Ssabaddu’s life in public. Humiliated, Ssabaddu brings his status into play using money, power and authority to frustrate the father, daughter and family.

Some of the performers of Zansnze

The production mirrored Uganda as known to many people, those that misuse power, those that never do work but have access to people in power and those that are actually trying to do good but are continuously persecuted by those with the power. In one scene, you had a village leader promising to help local leaders access a government fund, but even as he gives out the funding, he blackmails everyone into accepting less than a quarter of what they are allotted. Yet in another scene, is Ssabaddu’s wife, Ruth Kalibaka defending her husband even when she’s aware he is indeed guilty.

It’s a production that Ssegawa uses to tell the public that once focused, they can change or make things worse, but in this case, many of them were headed for the worst. His wordplay, use of cloth and color was one that was outstanding, not abstract and neither as it direct.

Genocide 25, a Rwandan Generation Learning About 94

Zansanze at the National Theatre

It’s surprising that even when most of the show’s twist and major plot play took place around Kakindi’s character, she was never the Zansanze we had pictured. In fact, Zansanze was brought to life by Laura Kahunde, Julianna Kanyomozi’s sister we had no idea could even sing. It was hard understanding why she was a lead role when her character, besides the melodies lacked a background or story strong enough for a lead.

Happening at the National Theatre, it has been the first time in a long time that a commercial production by a group as renowned as Beyond Borderz has staged anything at the venue.

The production also features Patrick Nkakalukanyi, Flavia Namulindwa, Nkalubo Ronnie, Felix Bwanika as well as musician Aloysius Migadde.

 

Photos by Beyond Borderz

By Kaggwa Andrew Mayiga

Andrew is an Arts and Culture reporter, a trained theater, music and film critic. In the past, he has served as a jury member for various film festivals and is one of the co-founders of African Movie Night Kampala and founder of the annual Nteredde Documentary Showcase.

Kaggwa Andrew

Kaggwa Andrew

Related Posts

Kamphoer – die verhaal van Susan Nell featuring Sandra Prinsloo and directed by Lara Foot (Photo by Eye Poetry Photography)
Reviews

Kamphoer – die verhaal van Susan Nell, a story of tragedy and pain

February 25, 2021
49
Fantastic Mr. Fox at the National Children’s Theatre (Rebecca Hearfield)
Reviews

Fantastic Mr. Fox wows audiences at the National Children’s Theatre

January 16, 2021
132
Angola Camp 13 written and directed by Sello Maseko at South African State Theatre (Photo by Itumeleng Khumisi)
Reviews

Angola Camp 13 is an all-powerful musical and choreographic masterpiece!

January 7, 2021
221
Next Post
A dithch in Madagali presented by Fehinty African Theatre Ensemble

A ditch in Madagali in Chicago

What people are saying

More Reads

  • People
  • Opinion
  • Festivals
  • Reviews

Popular Reads

  • Uganda's Theatre pioneer Elvania Namukwaya Zirimu

    Uganda’s Elvania Namukwaya who Broke the Glass Ceiling of Theatre

    772 shares
    Share 577 Tweet 81
  • Robert Serumaga: The Pantheon of Uganda’s Theatre in the ‘70s

    200 shares
    Share 80 Tweet 50
  • 10 Masterpieces in Ugandan Theatre

    550 shares
    Share 449 Tweet 42
  • Namasagali College: How the School Became Uganda’s Arts Hub

    376 shares
    Share 281 Tweet 40
  • Rose Mbowa of ‘Mother Uganda’ and Her Theatre

    303 shares
    Share 216 Tweet 36

Follow us on Twitter

Tweets by @AfriTheatreMag

FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM

  • To everyone performing this weekend, break a leg! 

Follow us @afritheatremag
For more African Theatre content.  #TheatreInAfrica #TheatreMeme #castlist #auditions #Techweek #lines #leadrole 
#director #directors #theatrememes #theatre #production #broadwaymemes #gainwithmchina #bway #musicalmemes #theatrelife #gainwithmtaaraw #acting #stagemanager #rehearsals
  • The African Theatre Magazine brings the women making waves in African Theatre. Some of these are well known names but others are names you will wish you had read and known about yesterday. Read more on our website link in bio. 

#TheatreInAfrica
#WomenInAfricanTheatre #Women #theatre #gainwithmchina #africanwomen
  • Unpopular theatre opinion. 
.
.
.
.
Follow us @afritheatremag
For more African Theatre content.  #TheatreInAfrica #TheatreOpinion #unpopularopinion #castlist #auditions #Techweek #lines #actingtips 
#director #directors #theatrememes #theatre #production #broadwaymemes #gainwithmchina #bway #musicalmemes #theatrelife #acting #stagemanager #rehearsals
  • The #TheatreTerm for this week is; GREEN ROOM 

Follow us @afritheatremag
For more African Theatre content.

#TheatreInAfrica
#WorldTheatreDay #GreenRoom #learn #theatreart #art #prop 
#theatrememes #theatre #broadway #theatrelife #broadwaymemes #gainwithmugweru #gainwithmtaaraw #acting #rehearsal #theatrenerd #broadwaymusical
  • #AfricanTheatreCompanies this week we take a look at Troupe Lampyre. 🇧🇮

The Troupe Lampyre is a French-speaking theatre company from Burundi  established in 2006. It is based in the capital Bujumbura, where they perform regularly. Freddy Sabimbona, a Burundian Playwright and actor, is the artistic director of the troupe.

The Troupe Lampyre  has set itself the goal, as a public interest association, to: train in acting, directing and scriptwriting in order to support amateurs towards professionalism or strengthen the capacities of professionals and thus contribute to improving the quality of shows presented to Burundians. Raise awareness among young people about artistic expression, their culture and the values ​​of social cohesion, peace and development that it conveys. 

The Troupe Lampyre brings a modern, young and humorous theatre to the stage.  With many in-house productions, Troupe Lampyre  has reached a wide audience and has made guest appearances in Rwanda, Congo and Uganda. 

Here are some of the productions done by the Troupe Lampyre since its inception; Patrice Faye’s Un jeune homme responsable s
  • #OnTheAfricanTheatreStage this week. 🇿🇦

The Market Theatre presents Pass Over Directed by James Ngcobo. 

Pass Over explores the unquestionable human spirit of YOUNG BLACK MEN. 

Date: 26 Feb - 28 Mar 2021 
Venue: John Kani 
All shows start at 18:00 pm 
Limited Capacity ⚠️

Get your Ticket here bit.ly/PassOverTickets
#TheatreInSouthAfrica 🇿🇦
#TheatreInAfrica 
#PassOver #sa #markettheatre #gainwithmchina
  • #OnTheAfricanTheatreStage this week. 🇧🇮

Buja Sans Tabou presents Kati by Iwacu Dance Company. 

Date: March 5th and 6th 2021 
Time: 18 pm in Buja Sans Tabou
Price: 5 000FBU | 10,000FBU  for creative support 

#TheatreInBurundi 🇧🇮
#TheatreInAfrica
#Kati #burundi #bujasanstabou #gainwithmchina #danceproduction
  • #OnTheAfricanTheatreStage this week. 🇹🇳

Théâtre National Tunisien presents Martyr 
Directed by Fadhel Ja aïbi.
 
🗓️ Friday, March 05, 2021 at 16
🗓️ Saturday 06 March 2021 at 16
🗓️ Sunday 07 March 2021 at 16
📍 Location: Fourth Art Hall - Paris Street Tunisia
💸 Price: 20 D // 12 D for students - tickets are sold at the fourth art hall window
📞 For reservation: 71351783

#TheatreInTunisia 🇹🇳
#TheatreInAfrica
#Martyr #nationaltheatre #gainwithmchina
  • #OnTheAfricanTheatreStage this week. 🇹🇳

Theatre pole and theatre arts of the Opera-Tunisia Theater presents Don Quixote  on March 4th and 5th, 2021 at the Young Creators Theater in The city of culture.

Produced by Théâtre de l
  • #OnTheAfricanTheatreStage this week. 🇹🇳

El Teatro التياترو presents Bird logic play in Altatero space. 

About the text: Bird logic by Farid Al-Din Al-Attar
Dramatorgia and Directed by: Novel Ezara
Date: 
⏱  Friday at 17:30
⏱ Saturday at 17:00

Follow us @afritheatremag for more african theatre content. 
#TheatreInTunisia 🇹🇳
#TheatreInAfrica
#BirdLogic #tunis #gainwithmchina
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

Become a partner/Sponsor our work. Email tuvugafritheatre@gmail.com

© 2019 - The African Theatre Magazine - Developer.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • People
  • Donate

© 2019 - The African Theatre Magazine - Developer.

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
OR

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In