Photograph: ArtsCape
It is with a heavy heart that I write this tribute to Themba Mbuli.
I met Themba in 2011, at the time when he was one of the lead dancers in the production: Aia from Cave to Sky, produced by the French theatre company Talipot and supported by the French Institute, directed by Theirry Moucazambo and Philippe Pelen. It was co-produced with The Nirox Foundation and Artscape documenting the history of the Khoi and San, First Nations of South Africa.
A great deal of research went into this production, and as a result, we all worked closely together for nearly 6 months. The production was in residency at Artscape for rehearsals and this piece was performed from the 1 – 18 September 2011.
In this production, he most certainly pushed the boundaries of dance as he needed to use his body depicting an animal emerging into a human body. It was one of the most memorable and magical pieces I believe Artscape has ever produced.
Themba was an exceptionally good dancer and this was given credence when he won the Standard Bank award.
I fell “in love” with his absolute dedication to his craft, his gentle soul, often misinterpreted in his soft spoken voice, as shy. His quest for knowledge made him a deep thinker, a visionary and a humanitarian.
Themba made Cape Town his home and it was here that he lived his vision and saw it to fruition. He was unapologetic in his quest for inclusivity and lived his convictions in the establishment of the UNMUTE Dance Company. I acted as an advisor to the company and Themba was a sponge for knowledge in our termly meetings. He yearned to learn more about company governance, finance, funding applications. It was one of our proudest moments when UNMUTE became an associated company of Artscape.
In that quiet mind, there brewed a thinker, a visionary, a philosopher – a lover of people; of all people. His vision was that of inclusivity with no excuses, no prejudice. In his life he lived his dream of dancing and travelling, and even having a family.
Amidst COVID in 2020, Themba did his best work. UNMUTE engaged with disability stereotypes through documented questions that people pose to persons with disabilities. He made it a life mission to change the thinking of people, in disproving some of the conceived myths about people who are differently abled.
Themba, you will be truly missed. You lived a life time, in your young life.
‘A single person is missing for you, and the whole world is empty” – Joan Didion.
We unashamedly mourn, the loss is great.
ArtsCape's tribute, used with their permission
About Themba Mbuli, the professonal
Themba Mbuli – a dancer, activist, performer, and choreographer.
Themba Mbuli began his journey with dance when he joined Soweto-based youth club, Zola Musical Drama, almost 20 years ago. His began his formal training at Moving Into Dance in 2007. He joined Izalo Dance Theatre Company as a trainee performer in 2008.
Mbuli’s first ensemble creation, Dark City, won the Pick of the Fringe award at the FNB Dance Umbrella Festival in 2010. In 2011, Mbuli joined Theatre Talipot Company in Reunion Island as a principal dancer. He began his solo career in 2012 with Dark Cell, performing the work nationally and internationally in 10 countries. He was co-founder of Broken Borders Arts Project, as well as Unmute Dance Company - the only remaining theatre company for performers with disabilities to come together and create new work.
He went on to receive the 2016 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance, and has made a name for himself in the performing arts as one of South Africa’s brilliant storytellers.
Mbuli was interested in reflecting his observations on the global mistreatment of women, and took much of his creative inspiration from the works of poets, musicians, and dancers.
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