969: ZAKATA

I recently went to watch one of the 969 productions that are taking place at the Wits Theatre. When I got the program in my email I printed it out and ticked all the productions that I wanted to go and watch. Zakata was one of them. Then as I was in the theatre chatting to a friend, he strongly advised me to go watch this play, knowing very well that I love good music, he said I would absolutely love it. So when the night finally came, I also convinced another friend to come with me. We were not disappointed. When it comes to music, I am very critical, I happen to be my very own biggest critic, I am never satisfied with anything I do when it comes to my music, and I always find that there is always room for improvement. Anyway, but with this performance, I was really happy with the music.

To cut a long story short, this play or musical play, is about the issues that women are facing in South Africa, very touching indeed. It takes you on an emotional roller coaster, one moment you are crying the next you are in hysterics. The music aided a great deal in carrying out the underlying message of the play. The ladies’ magnificent voices gelled together to form powerful harmonies that left the audience in awe. Short but very powerful statements were often used as punch lines, the well constructed choreography of the movements made me wonder exactly how long it took these women to perfect this amazing masterpiece.

I have to say, almost all the issues that are facing women in South Africa were dealt with, on a serious note, from relationships, to war aftermaths, to crime, to violence, you name it, and it was there. However, there one of most important issue I felt should have been there and was not was not was the issue of HIV/AIDS. Have they forgotten about it or did the feel it was big of a matter that it needs to be dealt with on its own? I would not know the answer to this question. All I know is that if you are going to make a play about matters concerning women, especially in South Africa, HIV should on top of the list, because as far as I am concerned, infected or not infected, it is women who are mostly affected by this disease. Who gets cheated on and get infected with HIV? Who gets sexually abused by their boyfriends and husbands, living them with HIV? Who gets raped and get HIV? Who looks after HIV infected people? Who looks after HIV orphans? “Since September 2, 2003, 9,591,588 women have been infected with HIV.” These women have done a great job with the play, there is no doubt about it, however I also think that the productions could have also managed to address the issue of HIV/AIDS as this is still a huge problem in our country, especially when it comes to women. This issue is still causing us a lot of paying. Many women are dying every day because of it; many are suffering because of it. Then why are we silent about it, we are in a lot of pain because of yet and yet we can talk about the husband who is cheating with another man, what about talking about the possibility that while sleeping with other men, or women, your husband could bring you HIV, then die, then live you with four children who will later become orphans when you die because of AIDS. This is not a fantasy, it is a reality, and people have dedicated their times and energies to find out what is killing most women, when it comes to HIV and these are some of the things that came out. I can go on forever, all I am saying is, women, let us use every opportunity we get to address the issue of HIV, maybe one day, our cry will be heard. Well dome ZAKATA for a brilliant performance, keep up the good work.