“I am an African. I owe my being to the hills and the valleys, the mountains and the glades,
the rivers, the deserts, the trees, the flowers, the seas and the ever-changing seasons
that define the face of our native land.” — from Thabo Mbeki’s iconic “I Am an African” speech, delivered on 8 May 1996 at the adoption of South Africa’s new Constitution.
Africa Day is celebrated annually on 25 May not just on the African continent but throughout the African diaspora. The celebrations highlight African solidarity, unity in diversity, creativity, challenges and successes, and the cultural and economic potential of the continent.
Africa Month 2025 is celebrated under the theme “Building the Africa we want through Solidarity, Equality & Sustainability”.
Africa Month also seeks to increase the appreciation and demand for arts and culture goods and services, and to stimulate competitive markets for trade among African countries.
Artscape celebrates Africa Month with a host of African-Centred productions.
Africa Day is a celebration of who we are as Africans—our roots, our stories, and our shared future. For us in South Africa, and especially here at Artscape in Cape Town, it’s a chance to embrace the incredible richness of our cultures and the progress we’ve made as a continent. It’s also a time to spotlight the voices and creative talents that make Africa so vibrant and unique. Through music, theatre, dance, and community engagement, we honour our diversity and reaffirm that our strength lies in unity.
Krismis van Map Jacobs by Adam Small
Celebrating the official centenary of Afrikaans and its Indigenous African origins as proclaimed by PANSALB, Artscape proudly presents Krismis Van Map Jacobs, a Grade 12 set-work production written by the esteemed Adam Small. Set in the Cape Flats during the 1970s amidst forced removals, the play tells the gripping story of Map Jacobs, a gang leader struggling with his identity and past. The narrative probes whether Map has truly changed after his time in prison or remains trapped in violence, while exploring broader themes of identity, forgiveness, and the lasting impact of apartheid on the Cape Coloured community. Through this work, Small offers a poignant reflection on social justice and community resilience firmly rooted in South African history.
Adam Small was not only a talented writer, playwright, and poet but also a key figure in shaping the philosophical foundations of the first Black Consciousness movement in the 1970s. His legacy is honored at Artscape, where a bust of Small was unveiled in 2017 as part of Reconciliation Day celebrations. Donated by the Stigting vir Bemagtiging deur Afrikaans (SBA), this bust symbolizes the reclaiming of a theatre once reserved exclusively for “Whites Only,” where even Small’s work was performed by a white-only cast. Designed by Johannes du Plessis, the bust celebrates Small’s enduring contribution to South African arts and culture. Small’s deep ties to the Cape Performing Arts Board (CAPAB)—where he served as Chairperson in 1996—trace back to 1974, when his popular play Kanna Hy Kô Hystoe helped break racial barriers at the then Nico Malan Theatre, allowing all races to access the venue for the first time in South Africa’s history. Born in Wellington in 1936, Small studied languages and philosophy at UCT, earning an MA cum laude, and went on to become the first head of the Philosophy Department at the University of the Western Cape. Later, he led the Department of Social Work
until his retirement in 1997 and was awarded an honorary doctorate by UWC in 2001. Through productions like Krismis Van Map Jacobs, Artscape continues to honor Small’s legacy and the rich cultural heritage of Afrikaans and indigenous African storytelling.
Buzani Ku Bawo
We also stage Buzani Ku Bawo in isiXhosa, a powerful story about family, tradition, and reconnection with ancestral roots.
Adapted and directed by Thokozile Ntshinga, Buzani KuBawo is a drama about love, family relationships and conflicts that arise when traditional expectations clash with changing values.
The high-quality production, written by Witness K. Tamsanqa, also highlights the power of love and that one is meant to have a chosen one.
The play follows our annual staging of the production as a set work that has been seen by thousands of matric Xhosa learners from the greater Cape Town area.
Aida May 2025
Verdi’s AIDA by Cape Town Opera will be staged from 23 to 31 May on alternate days. This groundbreaking, African futuristic reimagining of Aida is directed by Magdalene Minnaar, and features an all-South African cast, including Nobulumko Mngxekeza as Aida, Nonhlanhla Yende as Amneris, Lukhanyo Moyake as Radamès, and Conroy Scott as Amonasro. The creative team incorporates innovative elements such as video projections, dynamic lighting, and choreography by Gregory Maqoma, aiming to offer a fresh perspective on this classic opera.
This upcoming production not only showcases the evolution of Aida at the venue but also reflects the broader transformation of South African opera, embracing diversity and contemporary artistic expressions.
Aida during the years at Artscape
Since its inception in 1971, the former Nico Malan Theatre — now known as the Artscape Theatre —has hosted several notable productions of Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida. These performances have evolved over the decades, reflecting South Africa’s complex socio-political landscape and the country’s rich operatic talent.
· 1971: Scheduled Inaugural Performance
Originally, Aida was scheduled to be the inaugural performance at the Nico Malan Theatre in May 1971. However, due to lead soprano Emma Renzi falling ill, the production was replaced at short notice by the ballet Sylvia, featuring Phyllis Spira in the lead role.
· 1971–1993: CAPAB Opera Productions
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Aida was staged multiple times by the Cape Performing Arts Board (CAPAB) Opera:
1973: Another production was mounted, showcasing the company’s commitment to classic operatic works.
1985: CAPAB Opera staged Aida from 16 March to 10 April.
1988: Notably, soprano Virginia Davids performed the title role, marking a significant moment in South African opera history as one of the first non-white singers to lead in this production at the venue.
1991 & 1993: Further productions continued to draw audiences, with performances running from 24 April to 13 May 1991 and from 27 September to 17 October 1993.
· 1999–2008: Cape Town Opera Era
With the transition from CAPAB to Cape Town Opera (CTO), Aida remained a staple:
1999: CTO presented Aida from 2 to 17 October, continuing the tradition of grand opera at the venue.
2002: Another production ran from 1 to 17 August, featuring local talent and contributing to the opera’s enduring popularity.
2008: CTO staged Aida from 2 to 10 October, with performances highlighting both seasoned and emerging South African artists.
Artscape featured In Time Out magazine!
Cape Town is listed as one of the only two African cities in Time Out magazine’s list of the world’s best cultural destinations, a leading international authority on entertainment and culture.
The article states that 89 percent of the locals they spoke to positively rated the city’s cultural offering, citing landmarks such as Artscape. This recognition highlights our ongoing commitment to enriching the arts and cultural landscape.
We thus offer a heartfelt thank you to all our patrons, producers, artists, and stakeholders for their unwavering support as well as our key partners — the National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the Western Cape Provincial Government, and the City of Cape Town, of which Artscape is proud to be a destination partner — for their invaluable role in supporting arts and culture.
Julius Caesar
Abrahamse & Meyer Productions present Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar at Artscape, a powerful exploration of the fragility of democracy and how easily it can be dismantled and replaced by autocracy. The play underscores the destructive cycle of violence, showing that it never provides a just or lasting solution to political conflict. Leading the cast is multi-award-winning Fiona Ramsay in a unique dual role as both Julius Caesar and England’s Queen Elizabeth I, bringing a complex and layered interpretation to this iconic figure. She is supported by Marcel Meyer as the conflicted Brutus, Matthew Baldwin as the manipulative Cassius, Tailyn Ramsamy as the passionate Marc Antony, Nkosinathi Mazai as the sharp-witted Casca, and Thinus Viljoen as the young Octavius Caesar.
Presented as part of Africa Day commemorations, this production speaks to the enduring relevance of Julius Caesar in contemporary society, especially in the South African context. It serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of safeguarding democracy, pursuing justice with integrity, and rejecting violence as a means of political change. The play holds particular significance given South Africa’s history; Nelson Mandela, while imprisoned on Robben Island, famously underlined the line from Julius Caesar: “Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once.” Mandela’s engagement with Shakespeare’s work, alongside his Nobel Peace Prize speech, enriches the production’s message about resilience, leadership, and the ongoing struggle for justice and freedom.
