Popular vernacular drama group Kwathu, which is also among the oldest in the country, has admitted that it has sidelined the Northern Region with its productions.
Kwathu’s Director, Eric Mabedi, however, said they have always wanted to take their productions countrywide but they have failed to manage.
Some quarters from the Northern Region recently came out to complain that artists sideline them when it comes to performances.
This also came after filmmaker Shemu Joyah premiered his third movie The Road To Sunrise in Lilongwe on November 3 before screening it in Blantyre on November 11.
Mabedi said the last time they had a show in the Northern Region was during the time of the late John Nyanga.
“This is where we are also calling upon other drama groups to come out so that we satisfy the hungry theatre lovers,” Mabedi, popularly known as Jakobo, said.
He did not completely rule out performances there anytime soon.
“There is still hope but our target is during long holidays. At the moment, these other weekends are a challenge. We are looking at Easter for now,” Mabedi said.
He said Kwathu has been active this year and managed to stage three productions as per their target.
“Every year, our target has been to be staging three plays and we managed to do that. We started with Chaulere, then Mulhakho na Mphatizano and then Chibwana,” he said.
Mabedi said it has not been that easy for the group but was thankful to people for the support that has seen them being vernacular drama group Kwathu, which is also among the oldest in the country, has admitted that it has sidelined the Northern Region with its productions.
Kwathu’s Director, Eric Mabedi, however, said they have always wanted to take their productions countrywide but they have failed to manage.
Some quarters from the Northern Region recently came out to complain that artists sideline them when it comes to performances.
This also came after filmmaker Shemu Joyah premiered his third movie The Road To Sunrise in Lilongwe on November 3 before screening it in Blantyre on November 11.
Mabedi said the last time they had a show in the Northern Region was during the time of the late John Nyanga.
“This is where we are also calling upon other drama groups to come out so that we satisfy the hungry theatre lovers,” Mabedi, popularly known as Jakobo, said.
He did not completely rule out performances there anytime soon.
“There is still hope but our target is during long holidays. At the moment, these other weekends are a challenge. We are looking at Easter for now,” Mabedi said.
He said Kwathu has been active this year and managed to stage three productions as per their target.
“Every year, our target has been to be staging three plays and we managed to do that. We started with Chaulere, then Mulhakho na Mphatizano and then Chibwana,” he said.
Mabedi said it has not been that easy for the group but was thankful to people for the support that has seen them being evergreen for 37 years.
“To be evergreen for 37 years is not a joke but all that comes down to the support we have been receiving from people. Again, we also would like to thank MultiChoice Malawi for the support,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mabedi has said the group will be taking the three plays to different places this festive season.
On December 24, Kwathu will perform at Rivonia Lodge in Phalombe, staging Chaulere before dating Lilongwe Town Hall with Chibwana on December 25.
The group will also perform at Edgars Lodge in Mulanje on December 30 and then Blantyre Cultural Centre on December 31.
Kwathu Drama Group will also perform at Gymkhana Club in Zomba on January 1.
Mabedi has since revealed that Kwathu will be launching a new play titled Achithekere in January next year.
“Achithekere is a play written by Charles Mphoka. We are actually doing rehearsals now,” he said.
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