The satirical one (wo)man show Bafana Republic that received support by the Prince Claus Fund written by Mike van Graan and perfomed by acctress Lindiwe Matsikiza was named “Best One Person Show” at the inaugural South African Comedy Awards. The award came a day after the show returned from the Hilton Arts Festival where it played to two sold-out houses and standing ovations, with more than 450 people at each performance.
Bafana Republic consists of several sketches each dealing with a particular theme related to the 2010 World Cup. At the core of each sketch is a unique character exploring particular themes e.g. the assistant to the new Bafana Bafana coach who is employed to collect his salary; a soccer radio commentator who provides running commentary on the “political game” of trying to get a stadium built in Cape Town; a tourism official giving a tour of South Africa’s big five including the young lion that’s evolved into a fat cat; a footballer’s wife giving a bitter sweet account of what it’s like to married to a footballer, etc.
While each sketch has football as its main theme, it is used as a vehicle for satirical commentary about “the state of the nation” including any and all contemporary themes of interest to its audiences: Super 14 rugby, crime, animal sacrifice in the suburbs, black economic empowerment, early prison releases, the Presidential succession race, and Bafana Bafana’s tactics to get to the second round.
Built into the piece, to provide texture within particular sketches or to serve as links between sketches, there are appropriate cartoons by some of the country’s top cartoonists – Zapiro in particular (recipient of the Principal Prince Claus Fund Award 2005) - projected onto a screen as well as satirical songs by various artists.
The play was a great success.
Some Extracts from reviews:
About the On Broadway season
Mike van Graan’s is a welcome new voice in the South African satirical landscape. Better known for his uncompromising and often hilarious newspaper columns and his provocative stage plays, this is his first foray into the satirical boxing ring. To begin, Van Graan’s title, Bafana Republic, is pure genius….Lindiwe Matshikiza…carries and inhabits 10 or so characters with consummate ease and expert timing, bringing them to life by seamlessly switching accents and mannerisms….Overall, Bafana Republic brims, crackles and sparkles with Van Graan’s often outrageous humour and caustic satire…you’ll enjoy a great, subversive night at the theatre.
What a welcome boon it is…to have Van Graan himself entering the satirical scene. Always the activist, he finds much to be dissatisfied with, and therefore to satirise in the new South Africa….Director Lara Bye has drawn impressive versatility from actress Lindiwe Matshikiza….This is activist theatre that trumps the bald language of protest.
At the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown
Bafana Republic puts into words what acclaimed political cartoonist Zapiro puts into pictures….Lindiwe Matshikiza single-handedly delivers Van Graan’s clever material with contagious energy…Zapiro’s cartoons strengthen the essence of the scenes. The fusion of such provocative talents is a recipe for an enjoyable and yet profound dissection of the state of our nation, and the menacing possibilities of what it could become.
Bafana Republic at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival is superb satire. It should precede the President’s speech at the opening of parliament….In this cleverly devised satire about the 2010 World Cup originating from Mike van Graan’s razor sharp pen and coupled with Zapiro’s outstanding cartoons in the backdrop, Matshikiza takes her audience on one rollickingly reflective journey to the next….Matshikiza is an outstanding comic actress….In Bafana Republic, Van Graan once again demonstrates his fearlessness as an honest playwright.
