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Celebrating this year’s Freedom Month and 30 years of democracy, the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State (Pacofs) is hosting a production reflecting historic events that lead up to this celebration. The musical production, titled Sikelela, will take place in the Andre Huguenet Theatre from 25 until 27 April. The production showcases the most significant historical storyline, from South Africa’s transformation from its era of oppression to one championing democracy. It also fittingly pays homage to Enoch Sontonga and his influential legacy.
Sikelela is a biographical musical theatre production about the national anthem of South Africa, revisiting the life of Sontonga, the author and composer of “Nkosi Sikelela iAfrika”. The esteemed composer died in obscurity at the prime age of 32 years in April 1905. Although citizens (and beyond) sing the hymn, the majority is unaware of the story behind Sontonga’s composition of the hymn, and further iterations in its multicultural trajectory and relevance in popular culture, as a dominant musical deity for generations.
The producer of the show, Lungile Themba, strongly believes the production stands out for its relevancy and reflect the power of visionary leadership.
“For me, Sikelela is an aesthetic experiment contributing towards the accessibility of theatre. It merges South African Sign Language (SASL) simultaneously with verbalisation and stage direction while the treatment of fabrics weaves together the scenic design, complete with an exhibition of malleable paintings illuminated by a projector - surfacing an opportunity to influence contemporary visual poetry and oral narration,” he said.
This production has been in development since 2020 and evolved into a meditation on art and emotional connection grounded by a cinematic score that blends traditional folk, choral and classical arrangements, arena rock, house music, gospel and Negro spirituals, soul jazz, classic Afropop, operatic arias, and theatrical show tunes composed respectively over ten years. The plot is a poignant unraveling of dreams, flashbacks, and historical events set against a backdrop of the Drakensberg mountains, the scramble for Africa, the Gold Rush, migrant labour, the African Renaissance, and finally a democratic state in an unequal society.
Tickets are available on Webtickets and the Pacofs booking office at R100 per person, and R80 per person for a group booking.
