& # 39; Sarafina & # 39; makes his second appearance at KNT

Nairobi Performing Arts Studio is putting on a new musical at Kenya's National Theater.

Sarafina will run for two weekends, the first of which will begin July 12-15. Based on a combination of the original piece and the film of the same title, the South African premiere will play on the Kenyan theater scene The second time since 2003. At the time, Leleti Khumalo, the original actress who Sarafina was playing, and playwright Mbongeni Ngema was invited to watch her.

Mkamzee Mwatela interprets Mary Masembuko, a history teacher who refuses to teach the bleached version of history. if it puts blacks or whites in a bad light. She played Sarafina in the first staging.

"It's a very popular show.The last time we had to do an extra show that was not in the plans.The idea is to bring the numbers back into the halls. Mkamzee explains about the reason the show was installed.

The idea is also to remember the works of the African peoples. Sarafina's music was composed and performed by the artist.

The play will see a main cast of many beginners.The award-winning Kenyan musician, Gilad Millo, has not been on stage since he played Oliver Twist at age 19 years old in high school.

In addition, the 46-year-old plays two roles in one character, Lieutenant Bloem and the interrogator, and he was ready to do so when director Stuart Nash showed him, but he now realizes how hard it is.

"I'm in rehearsal three times a week ine. I have some lines to memorize, and I am not as experienced as the other actors so I had to catch up very quickly. I am an actor of the personality, my friends know me to make imitations, not scripts, "said Gilad.

He had a great experience, feeding the most experienced actors and the production team. The challenge of playing a nasty white man who despises the blacks, to the point of calling a "monkey" character, showed especially when he had a hard time flowing in front of his daughter the first time.

"For a white man living in Kenya, it's very intense and graphic – I kill and torture people – but it's theater and you have the right to be in the If I go too soft, I will not do justice to the message against racism in history, "says the musician who enrolled his daughter as a line partner when he was at home

Patrick Oketch , famed as Charlie in Mother-Right, plays Sabela – a nasty policeman who is badually attracted to Sarafina – it's also his first time in a musical even though he's not singing and dancing. coincided with his period of availability and he accepted the director's request to appear there

"In addition, you see people on the screen and you would like to share a scene or a scene with them. Mkamzee, Brenda, Hellen, and – the cherry on the cake – Gilad, "says Patrick.

He says that art is supposed to mimic human feelings, situations, understandings and their reaction to their environment.

Sarafina's relevance to the Kenyan situation can be seen by the degbading of students from the Lang & # 39; ata primary school and the badault on the homes of the University of Nairobi, or by murdering the student leader of Meru University by law.

He calls it the oppression of children, even if there is no colonizer here. Sabela embodies this tribal discrimination. Patrick encourages students to watch the show and even ask questions later.

Brenda Wairimu, who plays the main character, will appear on stage only for the second time in her career. She says that no actress says "no" to Sarafina.

"If your main prerogative is to tell African stories, you simply say" yes. "As far as I know, Leleti has not played any other important roles and she has become a legend to because of her role, "says Brenda.

She realized later that she should improve by dancing and singing after accepting the role and she had to work on improving her not and the vocal range, which was a little bit of pressure on the famous actress.One poll that they conducted on social media to know if they had to keep the focus South African or "Kenyaniser" speech, the comments were divided in the middle.Therefore she has some songs in rehearsal to have the right words.

"It's a very South African story but its theme is something that is and is still happening in many countries; you will still be able to identify yourself with the problems, "she says.