Thlupe go’s theatre blow

There is an agreement that the theatre industry is not as vibrant as it ought to be. It is more of a shadow of its old self.

The promise that theatre show, three decades ago has sort of waned. By and large, we have only witnessed flickers of what can potentially be transformed into a thriving trade. From what we have seen, it is not due to lack of talent or know-how.

Somehow and somewhere, things cannot just click into gear. The able players present have in a way lacked the vigour and drive to get things rolling. They have allowed the system and environment to frustrate them.

However, there are still others who are giving it their all to row the boat despite the tide being against them. That is why the passing on of actor and play wright ThlupegoChisiza on Sunday represented a new downgrade on the country’s theatre hopes.

Thlupego, maybe owing to his background, really had belief in theatre. Like his father Du Chisiza Jnr, he demonstrated that one can make a life out of theatre. Maybe it was hunger to walk in the steps of his dad or just to keep his legacy afloat that pushed him all the way.

Whatever muse he was operating on, it was good for the industry. That is why his passing is a huge blow to the theatre industry. The actor did not confine himself to one acting stream. Thlupego had his footprints almost everywhere.

He acted, wrote stage plays, did radio acting, produced radio plays and even acted in films. Sadly enough by the time of his death he was producing a movie, Bellinda, which will be released posthumously in August.

It is evident that Thlupego had invested all his energy in his art. In the end it was the industry which benefitted from the acting fire that lay in him.

His sister Khumbata said during the funeral on Monday: “I never saw my father on stage. I have only seen his performances through videos. But Thlupego was a replica of our father. In him I saw my dad.

“Thlupego was a genius, he was rare. Very few are like him. It is sad he did not do a lot.”

And just like that a theatre jewel has been plucked away from our midst. Unsurprisingly news of his death sent shivers among players in the industry. Here was a huge talent that we should have supported in many ways.

Just like in times of any death, there are always side bars which are sparked. The death of Thlupego has reignited calls to have the Arts Council established. During his send off at Robin’s Park on Monday, National Theatre Association of Malawi president Maxwell Chiphinga seized the opportunity to retaliate calls for the establishment of the council.

Chiphinga made a direct plea to Minister of Tourism Vera Kamtukule, who was present to make the Nahec Bill a priority when it comes to Parliament.

He underlined how the art industry is losing out in the absence of the Arts Council. Some of those being lack of a cohesive welfare response mechanism to assist artists during their time of need.

Kamtukule gave assurances that the gathered artists probably wanted to hear. She said the passing of the Bill is among government’s priorities and she had no reservations that once the Bill goes to parliament it will get the nod.

The Arts Council issue has rumbled on forever and we can hope that it is nearing its conclusion. If art players are going all the way to raise the issue even during funeral ceremonies as was the case on Monday, it just goes to show how much they have grown weary of the waiting.

Let the Arts Council come so artists can start singing a different song. And in the same vein, let the spirit of Thlupego rest in eternal bliss. There was an actor here, when comes another?