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Penuel Bhekizitha Ndaba know as Hope - Narrator
Born in the township of Umlazi, in Kwa-Zulu/Natal. Hope is self-taught as a musician and cites rock as being a strong influence - Crosby Stills, Santana, music from the ‘70s and 80s. He plays guitar as well as piano, and prefers to write his own songs. Hope has recorded two albums, one of which was banned from radio airplay during the apartheid years. The album, called “Wavuthi’umlilo” (“the fire is burning”) aroused the wrath of authorities at that time.This is his first theatre role. “I love challenges so I said, let me give it a try.”
Hope worked with Todd and Thembi on a narrative story-line for |
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UMOJA and found that his own experiences as a musician, living through the tumultuous political changes and developments in his country began to ring through the music. “Although this is not my personal story, yet I see my own, the musicians’ and indeed the people of South Africa’s story appearing in UMOJA. “It is wonderful to be telling this story to so many different people. The young
people don’t know about the troubles in the past, the horrors, the dompass, the fear. They need to know. One has to relive the past to eliminate the mistakes and shed the load.”
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Joseph Motsamai Known as joe - Narrator
As a child, Joseph came under the influence of a relative who was a musician. When other children were playing outside in the dusty streets of Soweto, Joseph was singing while his uncle played the keyboard. Through this early childhood experience, Joseph developed his love of music and performance. Traditional music also featured strongly in his environment since Joseph’s father was a traditional singer.
Joseph moved fully into music, theatre and film acting as a career. His international film credits include: Fate of the Famous, Freedom
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Fighters (with Peter Fonda), Joe Bullet, Purgatory, and The Cross. He has been involved with the stage production of IPI NTOMBI and toured Europe with IZIDUMO. Joseph knew, from the moment he read the UMOJA script that he wanted to be part of the ‘Spirit of Togetherness.’
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Gregory 'Slender' Mkhabela
Gregory was born and educated in Soweto, Johannesburg, and it was here that he developed his passion for the performing arts. Encouraged by a traditional family background and his school drama group, Gregory became involved at an early age with African cultural expressions of music and dance. "When I was 11, my mother bought me a video of the Mbongeni Ngema production, Asinamali. Later I also saw a video of Woza Albert with Mbongeni Ngema and Percy Mtwa. From that moment I was inspired to be a performer." Upon completing his schooling, Gregory joined an arts group, Theatre Outreach, which toured South Africa and Botswana with the production, My Dream, My Destiny. He was also involved with the
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Stop Crime Drama Festival in 2000. Regarding Umoja, Gregory says: "It's an honour to perform. I saw the original show and I longed to be a part of it. This is a dream come true." Gregory's ambition is to educate township children in drama and the performing arts. He wants to give back to his community by sharing his skills, encouraging new talent and ensuring that dramatic performance in the townships grows and flourishes. |
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