The Sibikwa Arts Centre’s marketing manager, Bongani Yende, has paid homage to one of Mzansi’s top on-screen and theatre actors, Oupa China Malatjie.
Malatjie died last Monday and was laid to rest on Saturday in his home town of Acornhoek, Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga.
He died after a short illness.
Honouring his former mentor, Yende said Malatjie has played a pivotal role in developing arts and grooming local artists in Tembisa.
“I remember as a boy in high school, I would attend drama and dance classes that Oupa would conduct at the Tswelopele Arts Centre.
“He had such passion for working with the youth.
“One time I remember he collaborated our Zulu traditional dance group with an Indian traditional dance group, and back then that was unheard of. He was a visionary,” said Yende.
He said Malatjie was ahead of his time in terms of the techniques he used when teaching the young people dance, drama and theatre.
“Today we have a lot of people performing at big theatres and starring in TV shows, and they are all products of Tswelopele Arts. Oupa might be gone
now, but his work will keep shining and soaring. Thank you for your contributions to performing arts industry Nkunzi,” said Yende.
James Makhubedu who hails from Bushbuckridge, said he was inspired by Malatjie’s work and also decided to come to Johannesburg to train more in this craft.
“I actually grew up watching him from a distance and I marvelled at how he was able to create magic with such ease and precision. Later on, I decided
to follow and join him. He actually taught me a lot of things besides just acting. He was more like a father to most of us,” said Makhudebu.
