IsiXhosa Culture Comes To Life in BUZANI KU BAWO at the Artscape This July

With its production of the much-anticipated classic, BUZANI KU BAWO, the Artscape Theatre Centre is gearing up its plans to increase the use of isiXhosa language on its stages in the Mother City. BUZANI KU BAWO is one of many isiXhosa stories that will be staged as classics to share the amaXhosa culture and language. The production follows Artscape's recent successful staging of the production as a set work that was seen by thousands of Grade 11 and 12 isiXhosa learners from the greater Cape Town area.

Directed by Thokozile Ntshinga, BUZANI KU BAWO is a drama about love, family relationships and conflicts that arise when traditional expectations clash with changing values. The high-quality production, written by Witness K. Tamsanqa, also highlights the power of love and that one is meant to have a chosen one.

Ntishina, who is also the director of Artscape's Inclusive Arts Unit comments:

There are many of the isiXhosa classics that were written and shelved and we feel the messages that were brought by them are relevant now. By showcasing this classic, we want to show the difference in view of the youth to the older generation with particular reference to isiXhosa culture which does not always make sense to the youth when compared to the older generation.

BUZANI KU BAWO is an integral part of Artscape's mission to be an inclusive cultural centre, showcasing all arts genres as it has for more than four decades, making it stand out as an iconic cultural beacon in the Western Cape.

The production runs from 19 - 29 July at 19:00 nightly, with matinee performances on Saturdays at 15:00. Tickets, ranging in price from R40 - R80, are available at the Artscape Box Office, from Artscape Dial-a-Seat on 021 421 7839 and at all Computicket outlets nationwide.