No Christmas For Us, an award-winning play written by Nokuzola Zoe Bikwana, brings to light a lesser-known chapter of South African history, set in the townships of Nyanga and Gugulethu during the 1976 riots.
While the country remembers the student uprisings that began on June 16 in opposition to the imposition of Afrikaans in schools under the Bantu Education system, few know that the unrest continued well into December of that year, culminating in a tragic and violent Christmas Day.
The play delves into the complexities of this period, when student activists sought to involve migrant workers, mostly from the Eastern Cape, in their struggle. These workers, focused on earning a living for their families back in rural villages, saw this call to action as a deviation from their mission, creating conflict that was manipulated by external forces.
Tensions escalated, and by December 25, with the intervention of Apartheid police, violence erupted, resulting in the massacre of 25 township residents – a day remembered with no Christmas.
Performed by millennials from Imbiza Theatre Company, most of whom were born long after these events, No Christmas For Us challenges the cast to immerse themselves in history.
The play is directed by Sonwabo Mphandle, co-produced by Nelisa Fusa, performed by the Imbiza Theatre Company with props by Khanyisa James. The actors, many of them former students of Bikwana, a former English teacher in Western Cape townships, and now an educator at the Cape Town Holocaust and Genocide Centre, underwent deep research to bring authenticity to their roles.
No Christmas For Us provides audiences with a platform to reflect on the enduring legacies of Apartheid, including the tribalism, xenophobia, and racism that still pervade South African society today.
The play prompts viewers to consider the parallels between the struggles of 1976 and contemporary issues: what is today’s youth fighting for? Is alcohol still a concern among communities of colour? Has discrimination been eradicated or does it continue to evolve?
Bikwana, deeply passionate about human rights, aims to spark conversation through this powerful narrative. She believes that while the struggle for equality has made significant strides, there is much left to be interrogated about the progress – or lack thereof –since 1976.
The play will be staged at Theatre Arts, at the Methodist Church hall, on the corner of Milton Road and Wesley Street, Observatory, from Wednesday November 6 to Friday November 8 at 7pm, with a special matinee performance on Saturday November 9 at 2pm. No under-13s. Tickets are R100.
For more information and to book tickets, visit www.theatrearts.co.za
