Act 1
Scene 1
It is from the well that a
village draws its life. It is from there also that early in the morning, woman
meet to discuss what happened yesterday and possible predict what will happen today.
Giving tomorrow its own turn when the sun rises again. There has been a lot of
talk in the village, a lot of things have happened but the predominant issue is
about the foreign mistress, Mukunda the teacher that bought her a bed and the
rumour that Mukunda has fallen in love with a foreign lady. On stage are three
women at the well.
Woman 1
Woman of
Barwa, what else do you know except to wake up at the witch’s hour leaving your
half dead husbands snoring like a
roaring river after a mighty flood. Sneaking out every dawn the same way you
snatched the heart of your man from the hands of a woman you knew she was twice
better than you. Now in your lifeless life built out of selfishness what else
can you do except to bewitch the poor man by the softness of your breast. Women
of Barwa what else can you do except to talk about other people.
Woman 2
Oh!! The all
wise maKhumalo, solve your life first before you try to be a solution to ours.
You are old yet still selfish. You have four sons yet none of them you have
allowed to marry. Why? Oh yes I know, who would want to share a broom with
another woman. Go on maKhumalo marry your sons just like a chicken eats its own
eggs.
Woman 3
Peace woman
of Barwa, if we do not stand as sisters we will die as fools. Pulling each
other in a hot pot, instead of allowing one of us to stand on top and pull us
out of the fire. Slowly and surely we will escape the heat. Do no worry
maKhumalo, have you not heard of the foreign mistress and her beauty? I think
one of your sons might fall for her and eventually take away your reproach.
Woman 1
Never, not
on my wrinkled body will any of my sons marry an alien. We have seen people eat
monkeys and monkeys eat cats but we will never see a foreigner marry one of our
children. Anyway who is this foreigner?
Woman 2
Have you not
heard?
Woman 1
Yes I have
not heard.
Woman 2
Her name is
Rachel. She was deployed by the education office to come and teach at our
school. They say she is good. When she came her beauty fooled us we thought she
was one of us. However hell broke loose.
Woman 1
How did
people find out?
Woman 2
That is not
what matters now. What matters now is that her beauty has not gone unnoticed.
Woman 1
What do you
mean?
Woman 2
She has
captured the heart of one of the teachers at school, Mukunda. It is said that despite warnings from fellow teachers Mukunda went on to buy a bed for the new
mistress. He has been seen several times at the mistress place at night. I
guess he wants to start a movement called love has no eyes it neither hears nor
can smell.
(All laugh)
Woman 1
You mean Mukunda, cousin to Mangi the
gentleman to be ordained Chief.
Woman 2
Yes
Woman 1
Pity of pities
to Mukunda, what a wasted life, but his brother is a good man. We are all
grateful for him. This land had gone for while without a chief and we really
need him now.
Women 2
Yes we do.
People believe when Mangi comes he will order the retention of the teacher or
even speak to education officer to transfer her.
Woman 3
I know a
story I heard it a long time ago, how love joined two nations. You cannot blame
Mukunda for his deeds. Surely love has no eyes. It neither hears nor smells.
When love takes over you forget who you are and realize that even foreigners
are people like you. At least he has a heart to love.
Woman 1
Oh poor
maNtuli your heart still bleeds for a man that left you years ago. People tell
you everyday that Siziba is not coming back. They say he has married in the
city. Surely love is blind to you.
Woman 3
I will not
speak. Let me leave lest the sun sets on me at the well.
Woman 1
Yes woman of
Barwa go home what else do you know, for tomorrow we shall meet again.
to be continued......
Love in the time of Xenophobia is play meant to reconcile the locals and foreign nationals existing in the same nation.
written by Hawulethu Patrice Dube
a saxjax7 production
All rights reserved
@hawulethu on twitter
'I hear them say your name and i know you live in me. They 'd say ''viva he's a legend'',then i would smile and my mind would fly..viva you are a legend''. An inspiring song by Zonke Dikana. I know good songs and sweet melodies,well done albums that give you value for your money amongst them is Zonke 's album Ina ethe. Well known for hits like 'Feelings and Jik'izinto' the album is loaded with love and inspiring messages. 
