Land Affairs is a production of poetry, written and performed by Babalwa Kona, about the problems faced by black women and black men within the patriarchy. Not only a critique of this system, the work also embraces black men - who are also victims of its terrible plague. From the questions in the poem Twerk to the interconnectedness of the rape that was colonization in Land Affairs and the painful lament of township life in Garden Town, the writer interrogates the physical and idealogical violence in discourses of power.
Production Credits
Writer and Director: Babalwa Kona
Photographer: Proshoot
Choreographer: Ayanda Gqamane
Storyteller: Esona Nzanze
About the Artists
Babalwa Queenete Kona is a literary activist, teacher, poet and storyteller renowned for Nalibali (on their National Storytelling StoryBosso Competition, 2017) and one of their Best Storytellers in the Eastern Cape. A community leader, she was born in 1990 in Kariega which is known for causing an international outcry during the 1985 uprisings at Kwa-Langa Massacre in Maduna road.
Writing everyday stories, in an easy-to-read language, yet with a voice which exudes passion, tolerance and sensitivity, Babalwa became interested in the arts when her grandmother persuaded her to go to the library after school and during school holidays, and fell in love with reading, and then began writing poetry which also led to her writing plays and children's stories. Her career highlights include Beyond the View theatre production, which was selected to play at the National Arts Festival Fringe (2012-2014), her musical play being selected for the ‘Mandela Centenary’ which toured Europe in 2018, the Yiyo Art Sessions (2013) and a headliner in the Eastern Cape International Spoken Word Festival (2022).
She was Volkswagen’s Literacy Centre Manager (2017-2022) and is the Founder and Chairperson of Caterpillar Arts and Education Foundation (2021-present). She’s also graced stages with respected artists such as Gcina Mhlophe, Siphokazi, Lebo Mashile, Mak Manaka, Lesego Rampolekeng, Don Materra, Mzi Mahola and Samantha Thornhill (USA) etc.
Publicity Info
- Venue: Mendi Centre
- Location: Mendi Arts Centre
- Venue: Athenaeum Little Theatre
- Location: The Athenaeum
- Ticket price: ZAR 80.00
- Programme type: Storytelling and Poetry
- Genre: Poetry / Story-Telling / Literature
- Duration: 45 minutes
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Ages:
PG (PARENTAL GUIDANCE)
- Strong Language
- Adult Themes
- Academic or Professional Content