Shaka Zulu, The Musical : a review
By Sholain Govender-Bateman - an experienced news reporter, magazine editor, freelancer, loving wife to Barry, mum of one beautiful girl, Isobel and someone with a passion for life and everything fun. Find her on twitter @sholain
Trying to merge South African history and theatre into an entertaining musical that appeals to a wide range of audience members is no easy feat, and unfortunately the creators of the current Shaka Zulu musical were not up to it. Whilst the narrator, Lindani Nkosi, and actresses Candida Mosoma and Nobunthu Mpahlaza, who play Nandi and Mkhabayi respectively, gave outstanding performances, other characters fell flat during the show that lasts over two hours.
The production, performed in English, shows the life of Shaka Zulu from birth to death and the set design and costumes are excellent. However, the story which includes Shaka’s brutal battles, family feuds and ongoing turmoil has lost a lot of historic value and impact in its now simplified form.
The first half is fast-paced and exciting to watch whilst the second half drags on a bit as Shaka’s life draws to a close. There are a few funny lines that 
helped lighten the mood.
The music is original work composed by Johan Voster and has breathtaking moments as the cast harmonise. The solos by Mosoma and Mpahlaza are definitely worth going to the production and hopefully as the cast get more settled into their roles they will be able to give a performance worth remembering.
I don’t recommend this play for children below 12 years of age if you’re wary of introducing your child to the concept of violence too young. However, high school students may find the musical interesting especially if they are studying Shaka Zulu in their history lessons. As for adults, this isn’t the ideal date night production but if you’re keen on watching something different give it a try.
What: Shaka Zulu – The Musical
Where: State Theatre – Pretoria
When: From 26 June 2010
Cost: R145 – R245 (Computicket)
I think the creators of the work tried to hard to come up with a fresh production of the most told story but it just did not do it for me. The form of the music does not come close to the Zulu musicality as the creators claim. There is not even a slightest part of the musical that resembles the Zulu music. We have seen music written in western form which brought out the Zulu feel. Princess Magogo, an Operatic work by Prof Mzilikazi Khumalo, managed to do that with ease. The fact that the music is fast-paced, I found it to be uncharacteristic of the Zulu music. And the fact that the lyrics are in English further spoils it.
Maybe the production achieves what the creators wanted to achieve but it is a definitely a low point.
I was so eager to watch this play about the legendary king of the Zulu nation who was a great strategist; warrior and composer of songs but to my great disappointment the show did not even come closer to that expectation. I expected to see the Zulu warriors singing and dancing (kuvuke usinga). The predominant use of English language in dialogues, narration and lyrics completely killed the show. I am also disappointed on Samson Khumalo with regards to the proper pronunciation of the Zulu words by the cast… “Dinniswayo” instead of Dingiswayo, just to recall the few… I suppose the directors should look into that. Apart from the sets, the show was not appealing at all. This was confirmed by the rare applauses during the performance. However one should congratulate Sarah Roberts for the work well-done; the sets were out of this world. For people who have watched great similar musicals like The Zulu, 1906 (Bhambata) and the House of Shaka by the African King of Theatre- Mbongeni Ngema will surely be bored. At least, if the creators had hired a musical director with a touch of both western and African music, but who knows may be that is what the creators wanted to achieve at the end of the day. The show looks and sounds like the Europeans living in Europe and trying to tell an African story in their own context and fusing it with their own music. It definitely did not gel at all. The story about King Shaka Zulu was a good choice and precisely fitting for 2010 World Cup but the actual execution was a disaster. This is my opinion in my own capacity others may see it differently.