| The train arrives to fetch you at the station to take
you into Soweto |
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| You're never going to be sure who are everyday commuters
and who are the "actors" in the musical play |
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3 main characters are
an older black man, Baba-father, who has been resident for
many years in Soweto . As a young man he experienced all the drama and trauma
of forced removals, pass laws, poverty and overcrowding and violence that has
formed Soweto . The second character is a young man, Mandla, a
relative from the rural areas and the third is Steve a white
resident of Johannesburg somewhat cynical and who has not yet accepted the “New
South Africa”. |
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On
the train itself covering the early migrant labour, the formation of
Soweto , the forced removals from Sophiatown and relocation in Meadowlands.
The culture of train travel will unfold.
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songs include: Shosholoza, Mombela, Meadowlands,
Inameva and Abazane Bami. |
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| As
this is a normal commuter train normal life goes on as the play is performed. |
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| You will move from one area to the other by Microbus,
visiting some of the historical areas and shown areas that are mentioned
in the play |
View
from The Oppenheimer Towers
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In a squatter camp in Soweto covering
the culture of a squatter community and sangomas. |
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The songs include:
We Ma-Dhlamini uphi umqombothi, Ababulayo and Tula Mntwana. |
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| Zulu cultural and gumboot dances are performed. |
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| One
of the highlight sof the tour is definately Duduzile singing Tula
Mntwana (made famous by Margaret Singana and Miriam Makeba)
to one of the little babies from the camp |
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| The
whole struggle history from 1976 through to democracy in 1994 is played
out within the precinct of the Hector Pieterson Museum in Orlando West
an area which was the focal point of the strife in those times. |
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The “struggle
music” includes:
Angekesizwe, Hamba Gahle Umkonto, Join MZ, Pitoli |
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The “struggle
music” includes:
Toyi-toyi
dancing, I can run and shoot |
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The “struggle
music” includes:
Oliver
Tambo and Botha, Too many people, Jikijela and Free Mandela as well
as the National Anthem. |
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The final sequence is played out as a
township wedding in Orlando East the oldest township in Soweto. |
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music includes: Traditional wedding songs such as : Umkonto Ushaka,
Baba Nmumzane, Ubuhle Bendoda, Nodole Daliuyeye and township jazz Bambezele,
The Click Song, Way back 60's Kwela Special Star, Kwaito and Pantsula
dancing. |
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The
music is well known and appropriate to the story and underpins the
tale in a moving way at all times. The performers are young talented
people some of whom are professional or semi-professional entertainers.
Others are enthusiastic amateurs. With one exception all are residents
of Soweto.
We invite to not just go on a Soweto Tour but enjoy a
genuinely
great Soweto Experience
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