‘Thokoza I Sing for Freedom’ cast (photo:Judith Mutunga)
*Attending a performance of ‘Thokoza in I Sing for Freedom‘ is like being at a gathering of the older women in your family and listening to them exchange stories about the struggles and triumphs of their journeys from childhood through adult life.
With an average age of over 62, the six South African and African American women who are the members of Thokoza know a thing or two about life. Conceived and directed by the exuberant singer, actor, dancer and choreographer Thulis Dumakeude, I Sing For Freedom plays most Monday nights through August 19, at the Baruch Center for the Performing Arts in New York City.
There is little production value for this show. This is theater at its most basic and, in many ways, most compelling. The stage is spare—just six black boxes on which the performers sit to listen to each other’s moving tales from their rich and varied experiences. The music that helps the women tell their stories is equally unadorned. With a collective total of more than 130 years of singing experiences, Thokoza’s members perform acappella and unamplified, delivering powerful and memorable renditions of songs that range from gospel to jazz, to R&B to traditional South African Township songs sung in Zulu. It is the music that the company members love the most and that makes them feel free.
Just like a family gathering, the experience is unscripted, and the organic nature of the performance give the audience the freedom to become a part of what is happening on stage. You find yourself relating their stories to your own, while clapping your hands, tapping your feet and adding your own voice to the tight harmonies of Thokoza as they sing their songs.
Thuli Dumakude was born in Durbin, South Africa. She is an award-winning performer who has acted internationally, playing roles as varied as Rafiki to Lady Macbeth in Zulu. Joining Dumakude in I Sing For Freedom are Ghanniyya Green, DeeDee Sims, Brenda Fair, Silindile Sokuto and Debbie Carter.
Dumakude created this piece because she wanted to find ways to help young people to connect to their history. What she found along the way, was that the experiences of the South African women and the African American women in the group were similar in ways that connected them to each other. There are, indeed, timeless and universal themes in the stories and songs in the show, which had its first run in February at the 62-seat Tank in the Theater District before moving to the 172 seat theater where it is having its summer run.
Despite its informal style, I Sing for Freedom is more than meets the eye. It’s a feast for the soul, served on a small plate.
Thokoza in I Sing For Freedom is produced by veteran off-Broadway producer Eric Krebs in association with Baruch Performing Arts Center. Performances are on Mondays July 1, 15 and 29, and August 5, 12, and 19 at 7:00 p.m. at the Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Avenue (enter on 25th Street between Lexington and Third Ave). All tickets are $20.00. Tickets: www.baruch.cuny.edu/bpac or call 646-312-5073.
Christy DeBoe Hicks is a veteran writer and communications specialist. A life-long theater buff, she lives and works in New York City. Contact her at cjdhicks@gmail.com.
Christy DeBoe Hicks