Asinamali
Asinamali is vibrant and exciting theatre
by JENNIFER de KLERK source ARTLINK
I first saw Asinamali in the late 80s – it was angry, raw, a work in progress, but those were raw and angry times.
Today, almost 30 years later, it shines like a finely cut diamond, the light flowing effortlessly from facet to facet, honed, polished and impeccable.
It is no less angry, but the anger and the issues that caused it have blurred into history, not forgotten, never forgotten, but not so raw.
What remains is superb storytelling, a vibrant, exciting piece of theatre that moves effortlessly from character to character, scene to scene, driven by music, dance, mime, gesture and expression, all perfectly in place.
The set is simple – five wooden chairs – the costumes are equally simple – prison garb. This is Lamontville prison in 1983 and these are the victims of the rent protest that caused the death of activist Mkise Dube; it was a protest powered by the slogan“ asinamali” – we have no money.
But these five men, hailing from around South Africa, are simple rural folk on the whole, caught up in a system that makes no sense, tossed from one official to another, clutching the dreaded passbook, stripped of their manhood and forced into snivelling servitude – except for the glare of hate and defiance as they turn away and their guard drops.
Yes, this is angry, but it is also vibrant with life and at times rollicking with humour. Skilfully these young actors internalise the emotions, expressive and sweating with effort and intensity.
And then there is a telling moment of silence, the singing swells, a hat or simple prop creates another character, the chairs become a courtroom, a taxi, a barricade … and the action flows into yet another finely polished facet of experience.
Asinamali, written by Mbongeni Ngema, was first staged in 1985. It has since been seen and applauded around the world and returns to the Market as part of its season of classic plays of the apartheid era, along with Woza Albert!, Sizwe Banzi is Dead and The Island.
Certainly it deserves its place and deserves to reach a new generation, but not only because of its message and the role it played in making its statement in a time when there were few other means of expression available.
Today the urgency has departed, the outrage is muted and Asinamali can shine for what it is – finely crafted and excellent theatre.
Asinamali, written by Mbongeni Ngema, directed by Prince Lamla with Lungi Pinda, Menzi Biyela, Xolile Gama, Tshallo Sputla Chokwe and Mncedisi Baldwin Shabangu. It is at the Market Theatre until August 18.
72 | WGSA MAG July 2013