Derona learners enjoy Aloota Continua
Adapted from a four part radio drama of the same name, the stage play deals with the July, 2021 uprising.
Learners from Derona Academy were recently treated to a showing of Aloota Continua performed by the Botsotso Ensemble.
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Aloota Continua was written and directed by Allan Kolski Horwitz and performed by Xolani Dlamini, Nomso Tollie, Simphiwe Dladla, Nhlanhla Sithole and Bongani Mthembu.
Adapted from a four-part radio drama of the same name, the stage play deals with the July 2021 uprising organised by supporters of ex-president Zuma after he was jailed for contempt of the Constitutional Court.
This was after Zuma refused to give evidence to the Zondo Commission of Enquiry into state capture and general corruption in government.
Presented in English and Zulu, it advanced arguments for and against Zuma’s jailing and the actions taken by his followers.
Converting Zuma into ‘ex-president Moses’ who promises to take his followers to the ‘Land of Milk of Honey’, many different characters appear, including media workers, prison warders, Zuma’s children, Zuma himself, private security, hostel dwellers, African migrants, mall owners, businesspeople, vigilantes, victims of vigilante attacks, cabinet ministers and looters.
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In so doing, the play examines the background and the actual events that caused so much death and destruction (350 people died and R35b damage was done).
It invites a deeper understanding of political opportunism and manipulation inspired by crooks and adventurers that offer short-term but disastrous ‘solutions’ to the crises of unemployment, poverty and inequality faced in South Africa.
The gross lack of accountability inspired the writing of the play and continues to drive the ensemble in wanting to perform it as widely as possible so as to conscientious all sectors of society against the dangers of self-destruction whilst at the same time calling for justice and social advancement.
The play uses minimal props and is in the tradition of engaged ‘people’s theatre’ that can be performed literally anywhere and has no need for the technical features/equipment offered by conventional theatres.
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The one-hour performance was followed by a discussion with the audience about issues raised in the play.
The play was recently featured on the program of the 2022 edition of the Joburg Arts Alive festival and was very well received.
The Botsotso Ensemble is available to perform for a general audience, at schools and for civil society organisations.
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