The Head & the Load Libretto

PHILIP MILLER THUTHUKA SIBISI GREGORY MAQOMA HOMI BHABHA DAVID OLUSOGA

Éditions Xavier Barral

PRELUDE

This book is a record of the theater production The Head & the Load, made by a group of musicians, actors, dancers, writers, composers, and video editors with costume, set, and lighting designers. The project is a record of the inadequately known history of the African porters who were part of the First World War in Africa.

The book contains the libretto of the piece, images of performances, reflections on the process of making the piece, and expansions on themes that arise from the project. The production took as its principle the concept of history as collage, bringing different fragments together to find a provisional history. In the book we try to follow a similar process, allowing the reader to construct a sense of the production from the libretto, texts, and images.

The texts at the end contain historical detail and reflections on the project. It should be noted that these reflections and essays come after the completion of the work of making the piece. There is a wide chaos in the making; and we hope a lack of settling in the meanings of the piece.

This book project was undertaken by Xavier Barral, with whom I have worked with great pleasure in the past. On the morning we received the first layout of the book (substantially as it is now) we heard the shocking news of his sudden death. This book is one of many testaments to his work as a publisher and designer.

William Kentridge

Sirens Mncedisi enters

1. MANIFESTOS

MNCEDISI

Lonyenti litsema kutsi tingcoondvo tabo tingange ngcondovo yemhlaba.

Man may claim to be the brains of the world, Kodwva empleneni mhlaba ngumgogodla webantfu bonkana.

but in real life the world is always the brains of mankind.

Tiphanga netikhwepha kuba tifiso nje tebuhlakanipni.

Muscular actions must substitute themselves for concepts.

Ngaphandle kwethibe kubete lutfo. Without struggle, there is nothing.

Ngaphandle lekucondzisa tidzingo, kubete lutfo nga – Without the knowledge of the practicalities of action,

there is nothing except: Kubatingubo takanokusho, fancy dress parades, Kutlebhela kwemacilongo

the blare of trumpets, Nekubhebhetseka kwemi bhelebhele. flag waving.

Ekugcineni labampofu nalabaphuyile bahambisa sikhatsi loko kusakaza umombo. At the bottom the poor man is endlessly marking time.

I do not come with timeless truths.

My consciousness is not illuminated with ultimate radiances.

But there are too many idiots in the world.

I think it would be good if certain things were said.

LUC

Parlez le français.

Speak French.

Parlez le français de la France.

A FRENCHMAN’S FRENCH. Le français français des Francaises de la France.

French of France French. French.

(in siSwati)

A A A A A A A A A

Les magnifiques voyelles.

Le grande AAAAAAAAA.

Le noble eeeeeeeeee, uuuuuuuuuuu, le è!

For the sake of the great OOOOOOOOO uuuuuuuuuu AAAAAAAA noble eeeeeeeeeeeee

MOLIÈRE!

EEEEE

17

EEEEEEE

EEEEE

MNCEDISI Siyanisebentela

Deputations Noma siyafa sifela lite Massacres Ngisebentela wena ngenkani Forced labor Le yo migomo yabosomabhizinisi These are business policies

LUC

MNCEDISI

LUC

Faisons une tour de l’opulence des mots,

Let us make a tower of the opulence of words, Faits de diamants et de pétrole, Made from the diamonds and oil, De soie et de coton, The silk and cotton, De tout produit exotique des colonies. From all the exotic produce of the colonies.

LUC

Les délégations Les massacres Le travail forcé l’esclavage Ne sont que pratiques commerciales

HAMILTON

If asked for a definition of myself, I would say I am one who waits.

I investigate my surrounds, I interpret everything in terms of what I discover.

Le grand AAAAAAA A A A

THINK

I shout: THINK THINK THINK THE FACT THE FACT THE FACT KABOOM KABOOM KABOOM THIS IS A FAIR IDEA OF PROGRESS.

THINK

THINK

Nous ne sommes pas des anges, mais au moins nous avons quelques remords. We aren’t angels, but at least we feel some remorse.

HAMILTON This is a fair idea of progress.

This is a fair idea of progress LUC

A A A AA A

HAMILTON

Ngiyanitshela, asiyesabi asinazwelo. I assure you,

we are not afraid, WE ARE NOT SENTIMENTAL Sifana nomoya othukuthelayo oqoqa izingubo zamafu nemithandazo We are like a raging wind

that rips up the clothes of clouds and prayers Silungiselela umbukiso omkhulu wenhlekelele, amalangabi nokubola. We are preparing the great spectacle of disaster, of conflagration and decomposition.

Siqeda ukulila bese sithatha izinyembezi sizivale ngemisindo esakazeka kusukela kwelinye izwekazi kuya kwelinye kwalinye izwe.

We put an end to mourning and replace tears by sirens

spreading from one continent to another.

MNCEDISI Singakubalekeli kuhlaba kwemavi Ngiko kujula kwenkulumo loko.

Let us not avoid the bit of a word

The vertigo of a question mark.

MNCEDISI

HAMILTON

LUC

MNCEDISI

HAMILTON

18

19

When the whites feel they have become too mechanized, they turn to men of colour and ask them for a little human sustenance.

My chest has the power to expand without limit, and yet I am advised to adopt the humility of the cripple.

When the whites feel they have become too mechanized, they turn to men of colour and ask them for a little human sustenance.

I assure you, we are not afraid. We are not sentimental.

I ASSURE YOU, WE ARE NOT AFRAID. WE ARE NOT SENTIMENTAL. Nous ne sommes pas des anges, mais au moins nous avons quelques remords.

We aren’t angels, but at least we feel some remorse.

Lalelani lolomemetako Listen to the voice/ravine Iyahloma Impi. Kaboom. Kaboom KABOOM KABOOM

KABOOM

KABOOM

KABOOM

Thola iKaboom yethu, The artist’s kaboom, iKaboom yomculi, iKaboom yengoma the dancer’s kaboom

ta ta ta

ta ta ta

ta ta ta

ta ta

ta taa

ta ta ta ta ta ta

LUC

Le Kaboom de Pigalle, Le Kaboom de Paris

Annihilate the brutes

HAMILTON

Kaboom. Kaboom. Ra ta ta ta ta ta ta ta

MNCEDISI

Siyagqitshwa We can be dominated, Kodwa asivumi But not domesticated.

(overlapping)

ta HAMILTON

Let us try for once not to be right.

Let us try for once not to be right

LUC

Une pure fatigue les stupéfiera

(overlapping)

KABOOM

KABOOM

Ra ta ta ta ta ta ta ta…

Babhalelana tingwadzi ngatsi, mikhwepha. (overlapping) ta ta Listen to their telegraph

Ta ta ta tatta tatta taa ta…. etc.

CHORUS Ta ta ta ta ta ta ta….

MNCEDISI

ta ta ta tatta tatta taa taa

ta

ta ta ta

ta ta ta

(thru to the end)

LUC

A la moindre résistance, les soldats tireront et basta

MNCEDISI

Ukuphi lo Zeppelin Lo Zeppelin ule eKhartoum

(overlapping)

LUC

(overlapping)

MNCEDISI

(overlapping)

WHERE IS THE ZEPPELIN? The Zeppelin is over Khartoum.

Célébrons les voyelles d’en dessous les genoux. Ouououououo Kaboom De derrière les épaules tirons le grand ooooooooooo Kaboom Corneille. Racine. Ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta KABOOM Simemo sabo impi. Ta ta tatta tatta taa taa Kaboom Nginikeni litulu lami lesandla Ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta Namuhla ngibulala tonke tibheva! KABOOM KABOOM

ta ta ta tatta tatta taa taa HAMILTON

ta ta ta tatta tatta taa taa

ta ta ta tatta tatta taa taa

Let us try for once not to be right.

LET US TRY FOR ONCE NOT BE RIGHT. TO ta tta a tta a t a ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta

20

Jo enters

MORSE CODE

2. MO RS E CO DE /

SWAH ILI PHRA SEBO OK

JO

Ash, ash, ash, dust.

MNCEDISI

Ni Ni Ni Sha. Lako. Ni Ni Lako.

JO

Ash dust naught save Ash Dust.

MNCEDISI

Ni Ni Ko

JO

Di di dead die

MNCEDISI

Hai hai hai dhuru. Hai dhuru Ni Ni.

JO

Red sweat red Dust

MNCEDISI

Ash ash ash ash ash ash

Si Si Si pende

JO

Sweet red wine Ash

MNCEDISI

Parazett Börrel

Ni Ni Ni Sha

Kaiser Jött

Ash ash ash fehër

Dust

Red youth red Dust

A valluk faett

A regi Kaiser Ash ash ash Ash ash dead gall

Si Si Si taki

Fall. Fall dead. Fallen dust. Ash.

Kêt Magyar testör

JO

Fi fi fi Lako. Ni. Lako.

Ash ash ash Kaiser Jött

Regalmas

Ash ash dead gall Ash

Dust

Gallant ash dead

Pluck Dust MNCEDISI

Hai dhuru Ni Ni

Nendo zugu sasa

JO

Who who Dust Ash

Who’s your lady friend

Ash dust is the lady Dust Dust

Your wife Dash

Who who who’s your lady friend Ash Ash

Ash

Your wife

Is the lady Dust Transition to Bugle taps & Swahili Phrasebook. Big box turns and opens

29

SWAHILI FOR BEGINNERS ANN

JO

MI MI (“I”) MI MI SI SI (“we are”) SI SI WE WE WE WE MI MI SI SI MI MI SI SI MI MI SI SI WE WE MI MI SI SI WE WE MOJA (“one/at once”) MOJA TENESASA SA SA SA SA SA WUZUNGU (“pale man”) WUZUNGU MULUNGU (“white person”) MULUNGU MULUNGU STAM IBUTI (“a boot”) BEETEE IBUTI IBUTI IGLAVU (“a glove”) IGLAVU ISOKSI (“a sock”) ISOKSI LA LA (“sleep/lie down”) LA LA PANGANA (“line up/be in”) PANGANA PANGANA PANGANA MULUNGU MULUNGU STAMPI STAMPI (“stamp”) GU GU GU GU STAMPI STAMPI STAMPI STAMPI STAMPI GU GU GU GU GU GU GU GU STAMPI STAMPI STAMPI STAMPI STAMPI STAMPI GU GU GU GU STAMP(I) STAMP(I) MULUNGU MULUNGU PANGANA PANGANA PANGANA PANGANA PANGANA PANGANA LA LA LA LA PANGANA PANGANA LA LA LA LA MULUNGU MULUNGU MULUNGU GU GU GU GU MULUNGU GU GU GU GU PANGANA PANGANA MULUNGU MULUNGU GU GU GU GU (repeating) PANGANA. PANGANA. NA PANGANA NA

30

Small box opens

( A)

3. UR SO NA TE

HAMILTON

Fümms bö wö tää zää Uu, pögiff, kwii Ee.

NHLANHLA

Oooooooooooooooooooo

& LUC LUC NHLANHLA LUC NHLANHLA LUC NHLANHLA HAMILTON

LUC

NHLANHLA & HAMILTON LUC HAMILTON NHLANHLA LUC

HAMILTON LUC NHLANHLA HAMILTON

LUC, NHLANHLA & HAMILTON

43

dll rrrrr beeeee bö dll rrrrr beeeee bö fümms bö, rrrrr beeeee bö fümms bö wö, beeeee bö fümms bö wö tää, bö fümms bö wö tää zää, fümms bö wö tää zää Uu: Fümms bö wö tää zää Uu, pögiff, kwii Ee. Dedesnn nn rrrrr, Ii Ee, mpiff tillff too, tillll, jüü Kaa Jüü Kaa? Rinnzekete bee bee nnz krr müü? ziiuu ennze, ziiuu rinnzkrrmüü, rakete bee bee, Rrummpff tillff toooo?

Ziuu ennze ziiuu rinnzkrrmüü, Ziuu ennze ziiuu rinnzkrrmüü rakete bee bee? rakete bee zee.

Fümms bö wö tää zää Uu, Uu zee tee wee bee fümms. rakete rinnzekete

rakete rinnzekete

rakete rinnzekete

rakete rinnzekete rakete rinnzekete rakete rinnzekete

LUC NHLANHLA LUC NHLANHLA LUC NHLANHLA LUC NHLANHLA LUC NHLANHLA LUC NHLANHLA LUC NHLANHLA LUC NHLANHLA HAMILTON

Beeeee bö fö böwö fümmsbö böwörö fümmsböwö böwörötää fümmsböwötää böwörötääzää fümmsböwötääzää böwörötääzääUu fümmsböwötääzääUu böwörötääzääUu pö fümmsböwötääzääUu pö böwörötääzääUu pögö fümmsböwötääzääUu pögö böwörötääzääUu pögiff Kwiee, kwiee, kwiee, kwiee, kwiee, kwiee.

HAMILTON NHLANHLA LUC HAMILTON NHLANHLA LUC HAMILTON NHLANHLA LUC HAMILTON NHLANHLA LUC HAMILTON NHLANHLA LUC

( C ) HAMILTON, NHLANHLA & HAMILTON

( B ) HAMILTON NHLANHLA LUC HAMILTON NHLANHLA LUC HAMILTON NHLANHLA LUC HAMILTON NHLANHLA LUC

Zikete bee bee nnz krr müüüü, ziiuu Rinnzekete bee bee nnz krr müüüü, ziiuu Rakete bee bee nnz krr müüüü, ziiuu Zikete bee bee nnz krr müüüü, ziiuu ennze Rinnzekete bee bee nnz krr müüüü, ziiuu ennze Rakete bee bee nnz krr müüüü, ziiuu ennze Zikete bee bee nnz krr müüüü, ziiuu ennze ziiuu rinnzkrrmüüüü Rinnzekete bee bee nnz krr müüüü, ziiuu ennze ziiuu rinnzkrrmüüüü Rakete bee bee nnz krr müüüü, ziiuu ennze ziiuu ennnzkrrmüüüü Rakete bee bee Rummpfftillfftoooo?

Ziuu ennze ziiuu ennzkrrmüüüü, Ziiuu ennze ziiuu rinnzkrrmüüüü, Rakete bee bee Rakete bee zee

(overlapping)

Zikete bee bee Rinnzekete bee bee Rakete bee bee Zikete bee bee ennze Rinnzekete bee bee ennze Rakete bee bee ennze Zikete bee bee nnz krr Rinnzekete bee bee nnz krr Rakete bee bee nnz krr Zikete bee bee nnz krr müüüü Rinnzekete bee bee nnz krr müüüü Rakete bee bee nnz krr müüüü

Rum! Rrummpff?

Rum! Rrummpff t?

Rrrr rum!

Rrummpff tll?

Rr rr rr rr rum!

Rrummpff tillff?

Rr rr rr rr rum!

Rrummpff tillff toooo?

Rr rr rr rr rr rr rum!

Rrummpff tillff toooo? Ziiuu!

Rr rr rr rr rr rr rum!

Rrummpff tillff toooo? Ziiuu ennze ziuu nnkrrmüüüü!

Rr rr rr rr rrumm!!!!!!

Tears maps 44

45

MNCEDISI

STOP! Do it again.

Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm, Grimm glimm gnimm bimmbimm

(repeated)

46

LUC

4. OR DE RS & COMM ANDS

HAMILTON

LUC HAMILTON LUC HAMILTON LUC HAMILTON LUC

ANN & TJ

TROMMLER, LAß DEIN (Drummer, let your KALBFELL SCHWINGEN Calfskin ring UND TROMPETER BLAS DAREIN And trumpeter, let it fly, DAß SIE AUS DEN BETTEN SPRINGEN So that they out of their beds do spring, MORDIO, MICHEL, MORDIO SCHREIN

Murder, Michel, murder! They’ll cry.

TUUT UND TRUMM, Toot and blare, TUUT UND TRUMM, Toot and blare, ZIPFELMÜTZEN RINGS HERUM Night-caps appearing everywhere.

TUUT UND TRUMM Toot and blare, TUUT UND TRUMM Toot and blare, ZIP FELMÜTZEN RINGS HERUM Night-caps appearing everywhere.)

LUC

REGIMENT, NE BOUGE PAS! Umzimba N’ose pas bouger un muscle.

Umzimba olenga e sihlahleni njenge nsimbi ye sonto labe lungu

HAMILTON LUC HAMILTON

ANN & TJ

63

Squad To the right, to the left.

Move to the left in threes Leffffff TUN Squad Régiment, garde-à-vous!

By the right in sections of trees Qoshama Mark time Qoshama ngakwe sokudla Hold time Avec tous les muscles tenus en tension, Reverse time. Forward.

Qoshama Ngazo zonke izicubu nama lunga omzimba UCCH Avec toute la colère qui se tient dans le ventre, Squad change to double quick time Qoshama Ngayo yonke intukuthelo no lunya olunga phakathi By the left single file – Avec toute la raideur des déjà morts, quick march Qoshama nje Ngo ku qina komzimba ofile oshabalele ongena mpilo EN AVANT!

UND SO GEH’ ICH DURCH (And so happy, DIE HELLEN Through the glowing, MONDESHELLEN GASSEN HIN Moonlit lanes, I press, FRÖHLICH ZWICHEN ZWEI MAMSELLEN Between two Mademoiselles going,

Transition into Nachtwandler musica

WÄSCHERIN UND PLÄTTERIN A launderer and a seamstress (ironer): LINKS LUISCHEN RECHTS MARIE Little Louisa on the left,

on the right Marie, UND VORAN DIE MUSICI And leading the way, the musicians LINKS LUISCHEN RECHTS MARIE Little Louisa on the left,

on the right Marie, UND VORAN DIE MUSICI And leading the way, the musicians

Transition into ‘Marching’ with Footstomps music JO

Squad

do not budge,

do not dare to move a muscle.

What is marching? Marching is accentuated walking.

Double March: This is simply: “Knee Bending” in double time.

Draw the knees well, lean the body slightly backwards, bend arms at the elbows.

No two men’s legs are exactly the same length, so he must adapt his step in conformity to the rules laid down.

The regulation length of step is 30 inches.

Exercise 1: Breathing Exercise 2: feet opening and closing – position, attention Exercise 3: Heel raising

Squad, CHORUS s c h t u n d h r n , s c h t s a c h t e u m d a s h a u s by the great oooooooh s c h t u n d h r n , s c h t by the great aaaaah s a c h t e u m d a s h a u s s c h t u n d h r n , s c h t s a c h t e u m d a s h a u s by all the vowels of s c h t u n d h r n , s c h t the patrimony. s a c h t e u m d a s h a u s pas de gymnastique.

MUSS By the right, Squad, with all the stiffness of the

u n d h e r u u n d h e r f u n d h e r f u n d h e r f

h r m h r u m h r u m h r u m

n n n n

already dead.

RIIIIIIIGHT

EEL. 64

Nhlanhla enters

5. RE CR UI TI NG

MNCEDISI

Arithmetic for those who should know better.

Oh the great Empires.

400 million 300 million The British and French empires.

Trusting in God and poison gas.

From Nyasaland, 265,000 carriers.

From Uganda, 190,000 carriers.

NHLANHLA

Usungithathele konke enginako Kodwa ngoba ungumgodi kawugcwali Nakhu usubuyile usuzolanda indodana yami You have already taken all I have.

Now you are taking my son.

Mhla semuka sasinjengamaqabunga esihlahla somkhiwane ehlobo When we left we were as numerous as the leaves on a tree.

Abasala enkudleni banjengamaqabunga phansi komuthi entwasahlobo Mhla sibuya sasinjengesihlahla esishaywe yizulu lamaNdebele The dead lay like leaves under a tree.

When we returned the tree was bare.

Bathathwa ngenkani yeselesele bengafuni Wonke umuzi kwakufanele unikele ngomdondoshiya wensizwa eyodwa Amabhinca askhihla esikaNandi They were recruited by force.

Every household had to produce one young man.

The mothers were crying.

Okwentambo batshutshwa ezindlebeni baboshwa njengezinkabi emasimini Ropes were put through their earlobes and tied together

73

NHLANHLA

Amaphupho ayasikhombisa.

(“Dreams are showing us…”)

MNCEDISI

I assure you this is the truth.

NHLANHLA

Amathemba ayishumi nanye.

MNCEDISI

We had to move a boat from Cape Town to Lake Tanganyika.

NHLANHLA

Kwathi emvakwezi ntsuku ezimbini (“… after two days…”)

MNCEDISI

The engineers took the boat apart.

NHLANHLA

Kwase kwasala amathemba amathathu

MNCEDISI

First it was carried on a train.

NHLANHLA

Aphela amaphupho (“… dreams were shattered”)

MNCEDISI

When the train line ended, it was pulled by tractor,

NHLANHLA

Aphela amathemba (“… hopes diminished”)

MNCEDISI

When the road defeated the tractor,

NHLANHLA

Atshabalala amathemba (“… hope disappeared”)

MNCEDISI

It was put on the backs of oxen.

NHLANHLA

Aphela amaphupho

MNCEDISI

When the tsetse fly killed all the oxen, it was put on the backs of men.

NHLANHLA

Bacabanga ukuthi sizofa

(“….high hopes…”)

(“… hope started to fall apart.”)

(“… dreams were shattered”)

Kodwa ngeke ngikwenze lokho Sizobuyela emagcekeni kaMthaniya Sinethezeke emabeleni kaMakoti They hope we will die and not return home That I will not do

But will go back home

74

Thulani enters with flag

6. PR OC ES SI ON TO WA R

MNCEDISI

From the Congo, 200,000 carriers.

From Nigeria, 4000 carriers each month.

For every soldier, 3 carriers.

For every officer, 9 carriers.

For every machine gun, 12 carriers.

For every canon, 300 carriers.

If a man dies, another remains.

If a hundred die, a hundred remain.

If a thousand die, another thousand carry the boat to the lake.

N’FALY

AU MOMENT DU DÉPART NOUS ÉTIONS AUSSI NOMBREUX QUE LES FEUILLES SUR UN ARBRE LES MORTS JONCHAIENT JONCHAIENT LA TERRE COMME DES FEUILLES TOMBÉES D’UN ARBRE

CHORUS

(repeated)

KELENI TANTAYE HAMBA NHLIZIYO YAMI UYE EZULWINI

N’FALY

(repeated)

CHORUS

(repeated)

91

KELENI TANTAYE

KELENI TANTAYE

(“leave now, my heart”)

(“to the heavens”)

ANN

EUROPE UMSEBENZI WETHU NGITHI EUROPE UMSEBENZI WETHU

“Europe is our work.

Who are going? Our brothers!

NGIYABUYA BA

Who are going? Our sisters!

ABAHAMBAYO

Europe is our work.”

OBHUTI NOSISI BETHU EUROPE EUROPE UMSEBENZI WETHU NGITHI EUROPE UMSEBENZI WETHU NGIYABUYA ABAHAMBAYO Sound of sirens

OBHUTI NOSISI BHETHU EUROPE EUROPE UMSEBENZI WETHU NGITHI OBA(NI) ABAHAMBAYO OBHUTI NOSISI BHETHU

JO

AHHHHH! AHHHHH! AHHHHH!

92

No. 1 The Heat No. 2 The Heart Hindemith Piano Music

No. 3 The Mouth No. 4 The Tongue

7. EI GH T TH IN GS WE MU ST RE ME MB ER

MNCEDISI

No 5.

The Teeth

Eight things we must remember.

There are eight things you must remember: Number one: The Heat.

Number two: The Heart.

Number three: The Mouth.

Number four: The Tongue.

Number five: The Teeth.

Number six: The Mosquito.

Number seven: The boots.

Number eight: The boots we did not have.

No. 6 The Mosquito No 7.

The Boots No. 8 The Boots we did not have

Where is the machine gun?

NHLANHLA Uphi uMbayimbayi? Where is the machine gun?

MNCEDISI Where is the Zeppelin?

NHLANHLA Uphi uZapenini? Where is the Zeppelin?

MNCEDISI The Zeppelin is over Khartoum.

NHLANHLA UZapenini ungale kweKhathuni The Zeppelin is over Khartoum MNCEDISI When do we start?

NHLANHLA Siqala nini? When do we start?

MNCEDISI Tomorrow, or the day after that?

NHLANHLA Kusasa noma phambi kwakusasa Tomorrow, or the day after that?

MNCEDISI Or perhaps the day after that.

NHLANHLA Mhlawumbe ngosuku olulandelayo. Or perhaps the day after that?

MNCEDISI I need a whisky and soda.

LUC Il veut un pastis. I need a whisky and soda MNCEDISI Rub my back.

NHLANHLA Ake unginwaye umqolo Rub my back MNCEDISI Rub my back with a small stick.

NHLANHLA Nginwaye umqolo ngenduku encane with a small stick MNCEDISI That is too hard LUC Gratte-moi le dos avec un petit bâton That is too hard NHLANHLA Oh kwaze kwakubi That is just fine MNCEDISI That is just right.

NHLANHLA Awuzweke! Kwaze kwaba mnandi O MNCEDISI, NHLANHLA & LUC Ooooooooooooooooooooo Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Aaaaaaaaaaa MNCEDISI

OOOO O O

OOO

AA AA A A A A A

117

AAAA

There are eight things we must remember .

The medals that were not ours.

MNCEDISI MNCEDISI HAMILTON NHLANHLA LUC MNCEDISI

Der Krieg verschlingt alles

NHLANHLA HAMILTON LUC MNCEDISI NHLANHLA HAMILTON LUC MNCEDISI NHLANHLA HAMILTON LUC MNCEDISI HAMILTON NHLANHLA LUC MNCEDISI NHLANHLA HAMILTON LUC MNCEDISI HAMILTON NHLANHLA MNCEDISI LUC HAMILTON

La mort du ciel

There are eight things we must remember.

Number one: the anopheles mosquito.

We are bombarded by their aeroplanes Basidubula ngamabhanoyi.

La mort du ciel

We carried the boat on our heads.

Number two: the tsetse fly.

Yathi ingalala inkunzi sawuthwala umkhumbi emakhanda When beasts died, we carried the boat on our heads.

La mort par les bêtes Number three: the jigger flea.

Ukufa kwezinyawo Death of Feet La mort aux pieds

The graves that were not marked

Number four: The warrior ant.

Sagida odakeni kwashunqa uthuli We had no boots.

La mort par le poison.

Number five: The wild bee.

Where are our medals?

Ziphi izimendlela zethu?

La guerre détruit tout.

Number six: The hippopotamus.

Iphi imiklomelo yethu?

Where are our rewards?

La guerre détruit tout.

Number seven: The open spaces.

Our deeds were not recorded.

Okwethu okwezandla.

Lest their behavior merit recognition,

Number eight: The cold night.

La guerre détruit tout.

Lest their behavior merit recognition, their deeds must not be recorded.

their deeds must not be recorded.

118

8. TROUBLE S OF TH E BO DY

127

128

129

130

THE VOICE OF THE AFRICAN NATIVES IN THE PRESENT WAR Letter to the Nyasaland Times, Rev. John Chilembwe January 1915

MNCEDISI

9. CHILEMBWE’S LETTER

CHORUS

KWALALABA, KWALALABA (“the chant of war: who lay there”)

MNCEDISI

We ask the honorable government of our country, which is known as Nyasaland, will there be any good prospects for the Natives at the end of the war?

Shall we be recognized as anyone in the best interests of civilization and Christianity after the great struggle is ended?

CHORUS

KWALALABA, KWALALABA! KWALALABA, KWALALABA! KWALALABA, KWALALABA!

HAMILTON

Why should I hesitate?

Ningatatazeli?

I must go and die for my King and country.

Vele kufanele ngiyifele inkosi yami nezwe lami.

Why should I go?

Kungani kufanele ngihambe?

I am getting a good salary.

Ngikhokhelwa kahle.

Mr. Sachs is a good employer.

Umnumzane Sachs ungumqashi omuhle.

For our part, we have unreservedly stepped into the firing line of every conflict, and played a patriot’s part, with a spirit of true gallantry while honour and credit have gone to others.

NHLANHLA HAMILTON NHLANHLA HAMILTON NHLANHLA HAMILTON NHLANHLA HAMILTON NHLANHLA MNCEDISI

CHORUS

KWALALABA, KWALALABA! KWALALABA, KWALALABA! KWALALABA, KWALALABA!

HAMILTON

Over there men are dying.

Ba nahana hore re a ho swa.

I am a pure coward.

NHLANHLA HAMILTON

139

The voice of African Natives in the present war.

We understand we have been invited to shed our blood in this world’s war.

NHLANHLA

Empa re ka se se liri seo.

I must have been born a pure coward.

Re ya ho boela metsing.

How nice to die without having a wife.

Lefatsheng la badimo ba rona.

CHORUS

KWALALABA, KWALALABA! KWALALABA, KWALALABA! KWALALABA, KWALALABA!

MNCEDISI

In times of peace, everything for Europeans only, and instead of honor, we suffer humiliation with names contemptible.

But in times of war, it is found that we are needed to share the hardships, and shed our blood in equality.

WE DEMAND THE RIGHT TO SERVE IN THE ARMY AS ALL FRENCH CITIZENS DO. WE OFFER A HARVEST OF DEVOTION.

NHLANHLA HAMILTON NHLANHLA HAMILTON

HAMILTON

CHORUS

KWALALABA! BHEKA LE! KWALALABA! BHEKA LE! KWALALABA! BHEKA LE! (“look over there!”)

KWALALABA! BHEKALA! KWALALABA! BHEKALA! KWALALABA! BHEKALA! (“pay attention!”)

MNCEDISI

If this is a war for honor, government gain of riches, and so on, let the rich man, bankers, titlemen, shopkeepers, go to war and get shot. Instead the poor Africans who have nothing to own in this world, who in death leave only a long line of widows and orphans, and utter want and dire distress, are invited to die for a cause which is not theirs.

CHORUS

KWALALABA! (KWALALA HAYI HAYI) KWALALABA! (KWALALA HAYI HAYI) (“no no”)

MNCEDISI

We leave all for the consideration of the government.

We hope in the mercy of almighty God that someday things will turn out well, and the government will recognize our indispensability and that justice will prevail.

Signed John Chilembwe on behalf of his countrymen.

140

11 . GO D SA VE TH E KI NG

G O D S AV E O U R G R A C I O U S K I N G

GRACE

LONG LIVE OUR NOBLE KING. G O D S AV E T H E K I N G .

CHORUS

(overlapping ad lib)

LYDIA

(overlapping)

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O GOD SAVE OUR GRACIOUS KING GOD SAVE OUR GRACIOUS KING

LONG LIVE OUR NOBLE KING. LONG LIVE OUR NOBLE KING.

MAPULE

(overlapping)

ANN

(overlapping)

GOD SAVE THE KING. GOD SAVE THE KING. GOD SAVE OUR GRACIOUS KING

GOD SAVE OUR GRACIOUS KING

GRACE

(overlapping)

LONG LIVE OUR NOBLE KING. LONG LIVE OUR NOBLE KING.

GOD SAVE THE KING. GOD SAVE THE KING.

ANN GOD SAVE

(overlapping)

OUR GRACIOUS KING

GOD SAVE OUR GRACIOUS KING

LONG LIVE OUR NOBLE KING. LONG LIVE OUR NOBLE KING.

GOD SAVE THE KING. GOD SAVE THE KING.

159

MAPULE

(overlapping)

CHORUS

E E - E E ( O O ) E E - E E ( O O ) E E - E E ( O O ) E E E E ( O O ) E E - E E ( O O ) E E - E E ( O O ) E E E E - E E ( O O ) E E - E E ( O O ) E E - E E ( O O ) GOD SAVE

GOD SAVE THE

GOD SAVE THE GRAC NAAAAA NAAAAAAA NAAAAA G O D S A V E , G O D S A V E , G O D S A V E E E - - - E E - - - E E - - - E E - - - E E - - E E - - - E E - - - E E - - - E E - - GOD SAVE. GOD SAVE. THE KING. THE KING. GOD SAVE OUR GRACIOUS KING,

LONG LIVE THE NOBLE KING GOD SAVE THE – S E N D H I M V I C T O R I O U S

TJ

HE IS THE SPECIAL ONE, SEND HIM SEND HIM. SEND US OUR KING

CHORUS

MHLABA

(overlapping)

CHORUS CHORUS

(overlapping) MHLABA GRACE

Foghorns NHLANHLA

Who is the king?

MNCEDISI

(SiSwati praise singing)

NHLANHLA

Where does he live?

MNCEDISI

(SiSwati praise singing)

NHLANHLA

Who is the king?

MNCEDISI

(SiSwati praise singing)

NHLANHLA

Where does he live?

MNCEDISI

(SiSwati praise singing)

NHLANHLA

Who is the king?

MNCEDISI

(SiSwati praise singing)

CHORUS

S E N D H I M V I C T O R I O U S SEND HIM VICTORIOUS

GOD SAVE OUR GRA- CIO GOD SA – S E N D H I M

GOD SAVE OUR – CIOUS

GRACE

GOD SA

Chorus exits, Tlale enters – transition to Amakatsi music Big box turns and opens 160

12 . AM AK AT SI

HAMILTON

They are not men, because they have no name.

They are not soldiers, because they have no number.

You do not call them, you count them.

LUC

Allez, hop!

CHORUS

MAKHUBA KATSI SHIBILIBA, BAS’NCHITIVE BANOMONA (“the man is a fat cat, he’s / they are stingy with their tea”)

HAMILTON

They are placed in formation by the force of a stick.

You put a cargo on their heads.

And that is it.

LUC

Allez, hop!

CHORUS

MAKU BKATSI SHIBILIBA (BAS’NCHI SH’ITIYE SHIBILIBA) MAKU BKATSI SHIBILIBA (BAS’NCHI SH’ITIYE SHIBILIBA) INDOD’ ENOBOYA EMLONYENI (“the man with the cat on his face”) (HAH! HAAH!)

HAMILTON

NHLANHLA

Always tired.

Ridzula ro neta.

Always hungry.

Ridzula Rina dora.

Always thirsty.

Ridzula Rina ndara

LUC

Allez, hop!

CHORUS

INDOD’ ENOBOYA EMLONYENI (HAH! HAAH!) INDO - (HAH!)

NHLANHLA HAMILTON NHLANHLA HAMILTON

169

HAMILTON

I sleep very late.

CHORUS

MAKU BKATSI SHIBILIBA (BAS’NCHI SH’ITIYE SHIBILIBA) INDOD’ ENOBOYA EMLONYENI –

HAMILTON

Even if I could persuade myself that Franz Josef is dead, I could never persuade myself he was ever alive.

I commit suicide at 65 percent.

My life is very cheap.

But it is only 30 percent life for me.

My life is only 30 life.

LUC

CHORUS

Allez, hop!

LUC

MAKU BKATSI SHIBILIBA

(BAS’NCHI SH’ITIYE SHIBILIBA) MAKU BKATSI SHIBILIBA MAKU BKATSI SHIBI-

Allez, hop!

(BAS’NCHI SH’ITIYE SHIBI-) I sit down to a good German breakfast, good beer, plenty of eggs, cream and asparagus.

LUC

Allez, hop!

CHORUS

MAKU BKATSI SHIBILIBA

CHORUS

(BAS’NCHI SH’ITIYE SHIBILIBA)

MAKU BKATSI SHIBILIBA

MAKU BKATSI SHIBILIBA

(BAS’NCHI SH’ITIYE SHIBILIBA)

(BAS’NCHI SH’ITIYE SHIBILIBA) INDOD’ ENOBOYA EMLONYENI

’ ENOBOYA EMLONYENI

(HAH! HAAH!) INDOD’ E-

(HAH! - )

(HAH! HAAH!)

If you don’t get rich in this war, you don’t deserve to live through it.

LUC

MAKU BKATSI SHIBILIBA

(BAS’NCHI SH’ITIYE SHIBILIBA)

HAMILTON

Allez, hop!

Allez, hop!

(BAS’NCHI SH’ITIYE SHIBILIBA)

HAMILTON

Allez, hop!

INDOD’ ENOBOYA EMLONYENI

(HAH! HAAH!)

Allez, hop!

(continues to musical climax, cued by Thuthuka)

170

171

MNCEDISI

Just like a stone, when after killing a bird, nobody bothers about, nobody cares to see where it fell.

Now then my countrymen,

NHLANHLA

Nina beSilo,

MNCEDISI

Calmly face your death.

NHLANHLA

Sukumani ngesizotha, nibhekane nokufa kwenu.

MNCEDISI

This is what you came to do.

NHLANHLA

Ngokuba lokhu yikona enikuzele Sukumani nibhekane ngeziqu zamehlo.

MNCEDISI

This is why you left your homes.

NHLANHLA

Yikona loku okwenze sashiya amakhaya nemindeni yethu.

MNCEDISI

Peace on our brave warriors.

NHLANHLA

Ukuthula makube kini.

MNCEDISI

Peace on you sons of heroes.

NHLANHLA

Ukuthula akube kini nina zingane zikaNTU.

MNCEDISI

Today is your final day.

NHLANHLA

Namuhla konke kuyo phelela la.

MNCEDISI

Prepare for the ultimate crossing.

NHLANHLA

Zilungiseleni ukuyokhahlela amabhakede neluse amadada niketuke nibheke le

172

Jo 3 phrase improve, consonants – ends with “raven” three times.

Kreisler Waltz music

13 . KA IS ER WA LT Z

JO

An das Deutsche folk der Welt, der Welt, der we we we den Frieden zu erhaaaa Iten Heimliche Feinschafft von Ost zum West Ost, zum West Ost, West, Ost, West, O.... oh Oma. Oh Mutter!

Von jenseits der See Ferr

(raven sounds)

Aat am Vater vaaaaaa (raven sounds × 3 into cockatoo)

Ter lande Darum auf! zu Waffen!

Verant wortung und Kraaaaaa - ft.

189

Oh!

Kommt der Kaiser mit seinem ela- stisch – chen – schr -

- itt – t- t- t- kat

Kaiser-t Kaiser-t Schwarzer dee DIE DIE Schwarzer DUST

Schwarzer Lakaien kanon footer

Vom Sein oder Nicht sein

Sein nicht sein ja nein ja nein nein

oder?

Wir warden uns wehrrrrrrrren

Weeeeeeeeeeeeee (Jo makes sound of bomb)

Auch gegen eine Welt Zum Feind

Biss Zum letzten hauch zon Mann und Rrrrrrrrrrrross

Vorwarts, vorwarts, vo – Music stops Jo raven improv to climax and offstage 190

14 . RU NN IN G

MNCEDISI

Sasigijimisa kwetinhlanya kuchuma inhlavu, sasidubula natsi

We were running like madmen. Shots rang out‌ we were striking.

Ingati isiphotisa, umjuluko usicedza koma.

Blood and sweat cooled and refreshed us.

Sasidubula lapho kuchamuka khona inhlavu.

We were striking where the shots came from.

Emahhoko bekasha, kukhatitela kwemalangabi kuvakala kamnandzi

etihlatsini tetfu

The outhouses were burning and the flames flickered

sweetly on our cheeks.

Bebadubula ngetikhala temafasitelo.

Tsine saphul tivalo.

199

They were firing from the windows.

We smashed the doors.

Umnyango wemdzeski wavuleka ngeee!

The master’s room was wide open.

Sabukana ngemehlo. Kwakungimi, mine sigcila lesilungile,

sabukana ngemehlo. Sigcila, setgcila.

It was I, I the good slave, faithful servant. Slave of slaves.

Ngekuphatima kweliso.

Suddenly his eyes were like two cockroaches.

Ngachumisa inhlavu, swasaphaka ingati: ngetufuka ngoba ngangcala

kubulala umuntfu.

I struck and the blood spurted: that is the only baptism

I remember.

200

ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! (“White people are damned”)

NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)! (“Damn white people”)

ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN!

NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN!

NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN!

NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! CHORUS ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! ANN NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

CHORUS NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

ANN ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! CHORUS ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! ANN NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

CHORUS NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

ANN ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! CHORUS ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! ANN NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

CHORUS NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

ANN ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! CHORUS ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! ANN NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

CHORUS NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

15. RUNNING & FALLING

ANN

(“they refuse us tea”) BASINCISHA ITIY(E) ANN BASIBIZA NGOSWAYN (“they call us pigs”) CHORUS BASIBIZA NGOSWAYN ANN BASINCISHA ITIY(E) CHORUS BASINCISHA ITIY(E) ANN BASIBIZA NGOSWAYN CHORUS BASIBIZA NGOSWAYN ANN CHORUS

205

BASINCISHA ITIY(E)

ANN

BASINCISHA ITIY(E)

ANN

CHORUS

BASINCISHA ITIY(E) BASIBIZA NGOSWAYN BASIBIZA NGOSWAYN BASINCISHA ITIY(E) BASINCISHA ITIY(E) BASIBIZA NGOSWAYN BASIBIZA NGOSWAYN ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

BASINCISHA ITIY(E) BASINCISHA ITIY(E) BASIBIZA NGOSWAYN BASIBIZA NGOSWAYN BASINCISHA ITIY(E) BASINCISHA ITIY(E) BASIBIZA NGOSWAYN BASIBIZA NGOSWAYN BASINCISHA ITIY(E) BASINCISHA ITIY(E)

CHORUS

ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS

ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS ANN CHORUS

206

207

BASIBIZA NGOSWAYN BASIBIZA NGOSWAYN BASINCISHA ITIY(E) BASINCISHA ITIY(E) BASIBIZA NGOSWAYN BASIBIZA NGOSWAYN ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU) NGO-DAMN! NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

NGO-DAMN! ABELUN(GU)!

BASINCISHA ITIY(E) BASINCISHA ITIY(E) BASIBIZA NGOSWAYN BASIBIZA NGOSWAYN BASINCISHA ITIY(E) BASINCISHA ITIY(E) BASIBIZA NGOSWAYN BASIBIZA NGOSWAYN BASINCISHA ITIY(E) BASINCISHA ITIY(E) BASIBIZA NGOSWAYN BASIBIZA NGOSWAYN

ANN

SEBENGIQEDE AMANDLA, BANQABA NGESIBHAMU, BAQAMBA AMANGA NGEZIZATHU ZABO ZOKUNGILETHA LAPHA PHESHEYA EYUROPHU. BANGIGCINA EKHISHINI, BANGINIKEZA UMSEBENZI ONZIMA WOKUGAWULA IMIDONDOSHIYA YEZIHLAHLA, NGIGQILAZWA NGOKUPHULA AMATSHE AMAKHULU, KEPHA BAHLULEKA UKUNGINGQANDA UMA NGIDANSA UMDANSO WOKUFA. NAMHLANJE NGIDANSA IDEATH DRILL. NGIXOXA INDABA YAMI, ANGINANDABA UKUTHI NGIYAFA NOMA KWENZEKANI, AKUSASHO LUTHO. KEPHA AKEKHO ONGANGINGQABELA UMA NGIGIYA NGENZA UMDANSO WAMI WOKUFA… ABELUNGU NGODEMU! “They might have emasculated me, they might have refused me a gun, they might have lied about their reasons for bringing me to Europe, they have confined me to the kitchen, to tree-felling duty, to breaking stones at the quarry, but they couldn’t stop me from dancing the death dance. Today I am dancing the death drill, I’m telling my story. Whether I die or not does not matter any more.

No one can deny me my own dance of death…white man be damned!”

- excerpt from Fred Kumalo’s “Dancing the death drill”

CHORUS

ABLUN(GU) – (NGO-)DAMN!

208

16 .

JE TE VE UX

ANN

J’AI COMPRIS TA DÉTRESSE CHER AMOUREUX ET JE CÈDE À TES VŒUX FAIS DE MOI TA MAÎTRESSE LOIN DE NOUS LA SAGESSE PLUS DE TRISTESSE J’ASPIRE À L’INSTANT PRÉCIEUX OÙ NOUS SERONS HEUREUX JE TE VEUX

I understood your distress Dear lover And I yield to your wishes Make me your mistress Far from us wisdom More sadness I aspire to the precious moment Where we will be happy I want you

(Jo begins whistling)

JE N’AI PAS DE REGRETS ET JE N’AI QU’UNE ENVIE PRÈS DE TOI LÀ TOUT PRÈS VIVRE TOUTE MA VIE QUE MON CŒUR SOIT LE TIEN ET TA LÈVRE LA MIENNE QUE TON CORPS SOIT LE MIEN ET QUE TOUTE MA CHAIR SOIT LA TIENNE (Jo begins speaking)

ANN

I have no regrets And I have only one desire Close to you there nearby Live all my life That my body is yours and your lip mine That your heart be mine And let all my flesh be yours

Our former kingdoms It’s not true J’AI COMPRIS TA DÉTRESSE It’s not true CHER AMOUREUX

ET JE CÈDE À TES VŒUX FAIS DE MOI TA MAÎTRESSE LOIN DE NOUS LA SAGESSE PLUS DE TRISTESSE The medals that were not J’ASPIRE À L’INSTANT PRECIEUX OÙ NOUS SERONS HEUREUX ours JE TE VEUX

Our former lives 217

The dreams that did not come true

Always tired The poems that were not our own

Our former hopes The prices we did not

receive

LUC

Quelles cloches sonnent pour ceux qui… quelles cloches quelles cloches qui meurent comme des bêtes Seule la colère des canons pa pa pa des mitraillettes, Mitraillettes peuvent ponctuer leurs oraisons? hâtives.

HAMILTON

It is not easy hitting someone in the face for the first time.

So that it crunches. You have to step over that line, then – crunch.

On a mountain ascent, if you fall, don’t call out.

Fall in silence.

It is the only way to save your brothers.

You have to fire a little bit ahead of an animal, otherwise it will slip past your bullet.

It is the same for a running man.

218

Gregory & Thulani enter USL and begin dance.

Kora Ravel music plays

17 . WO UN DE D MAN

HAMILTON & BHAM

Vocal improvisation

(Gregory & Thulani at center project is cue for Mncedisi)

MNCEDISI

235

O sleep, the poor man’s fat.

They have milked our goats dry.

The pool dried up while I was looking at it.

Darkness gossips about no one.

Hope causes no shame.

But when a man dies – a man remains.

A man’s back is fitted for the burden.

He eats his grain with a thorn.

The hand never loses its way to the mouth.

Darkness has eaten her own child.

Hunger makes no man wise.

God’s opinion is unknown.

The pool ahead is not to be trusted.

Hindemith music Tlale drum sounds

18 . AD VA NC ED MATHEMATICS

MNCEDISI

Advanced Arithmetic.

The diminishing utility of the carrier: Each day 5% of the load is the carrier.

Times 14 days and he carries only 76 cartridges for the soldier.

By the 20th day the carrier has no use.

Let’s start again.

One man dies from a bullet.

31 are out of action from disease.

40 percent of those with dysentery die.

Others die from sleeping sickness, malaria, exhaustion.

26,000 carriers.

176 miles to the front.

25 miles a day.

Wastage rate – 3 percent per day.

Food wastage, 17 percent.

Desertion, 16 percent.

Times 16 percent per day wastage.

Ah, let’s start again.

JO

(overlapping Mncedisi and Nhlanhla)

245

Good send to the troops.

By the committee for the welfare of African troops in Europe.

26 gramophones, 634 records, 600 mouth organs, 2 guitars complete with cases and extra strings, 3 concertinas, 1 coronet, 1 portable organ, 2 footballs, 1 football pump, 1 bagatelle board, 21 sets of ludo, 17 cricket bats, 5 sets of cricket stumps, 6 cricket balls, 12 dumbells, 6 sets of boxing gloves, 30 sets of dominoes, 30 sets of draughts, 39 pairs of mittens, 2806 mufflers, 1600 pairs of leather gloves, 600 hymn and prayer books, 111 song books, 12 union jacks, 108 coloured handkerchiefs, 1250 school primers, 3000 slate pencils, 1440 pen holders, 4320 pens, 120 packets of ink powder, 13 tuning forks and pipes

JO

1 coronet,

26 gramophones,

1 portable organ,

634 records,

2 footballs,

600 mouth organs,

1 football pump,

2 guitars complete

1 bagatelle board,

with cases and extra strings,

21 sets of ludo,

3 concertinas,

17 cricket bats,

1 coronet,

5 sets of cricket

1 portable organ,

stumps,

2 footballs, 1 football pump, 1 bagatelle board,

MNCEDISI

(overlapping)

Questo basso grave scandere degli strani folli agitatissimi acuti della battaglia. This deep note beating the strange foolish nervous sigh notes of the battle. Furia affanno orecchie occhi narici aperti attenti! Fury breathlessness; ears, eyes, noses are open! Attention!

forza! What a joy to see, listen, smell everything, everything, Che gioia vedere udire fiutare tutto tutto taratatatata delle mitragliatrici strillare a perdifiato sotto morsi schiaffi of machine guns shouting under bits, slaps, VINCENZO

For every carrier 7 dreams.

For every carrier on the first day, 11 hopes.

21 sets of ludo,

For every carrier by the fifth day, three hopes left.

17 cricket bats,

Not one of our dreams ever came true.

5 sets of cricket stumps,

Where are our former lives?

6 cricket balls,

Where are our former desires?

12 dumbells,

Where are our former kingdoms?

6 sets of boxing gloves,

Where are our former hopes?

ta ta ta

ta ta ta tatta tatta taa taa TAM-TUUMB Ammutinamento di 500 echi per azzannarlo sminuzzarlo

Freedom, we missed the boat again.

39 pairs of mittens, 2806 mufflers, 1600 pairs

NHLANHLA

(overlapping)

Amathemba ayishumi-nanye.

of leather gloves,

600 hymn and prayer books,

Aphela amaphupho. Ekwakungeyethu yona yona impilo yashonaphi?

111 song books,

12 union jacks,

108 coloured handkerchiefs,

Awayengawethu wona wona amathemba.

1250 school primers,

Kwase kwasala amathemba amathathu.

Obabungobethu bona bona ubukhosi bashonaphi?

Nkululeko – wasishiya umkhumbi.

HAMILTON

one European myself. I am not sleeping well. I sleep very badly.

120 packets of ink powder,

I have killed many black men and not felt like this.

13 tuning forks and pipes

I get my head muddled when I think of it. Why I don’t know.

26 gramophones,

I am just telling you so that you will know how worried I am….

634 records,

Man declares red what he called green the day before

600 mouth organs,

and what in reality is black.

gloves, 30 sets of dominoes, 30 sets of draughts, 39 pairs of mittens, 1600 pairs of leather gloves,

hymn and prayer OM KABO600 books,

KABOOM 111 song books,

handkerchiefs, 1250 tenuta nell’alto cielo pallone sferico dorato che sorveglia i tiri’ The orchestra of the war of noise blows up under a note school primers, ta ta ta of silence (which) stays in the high (of the) sky, (a) golden ball 3000 slate pencils, that rises after the shots 1440 pen holders, odore di fieno fango sterco non sento più i miei piedi gelati ta ta ta 4320 pens,

(the) smell of hay, mud and dung; ta ta ta ta ta t120 odore di salnitro odore di marcio a packetstaofta ink ta ta ta t a

I can’t feel my frozen feet, (the) smell of saltpeter, ta ta ta powder, 13 tuning timpani flauti clarini dovunque forks and pipes basso alto uccelli cinguettare (the) smell (of) rotten kettledrums, ta ta ta 26 gramophones,

flutes, clarinets, everywhere low and high ta ta ta ta ta ta Traaaack…

634 records, ta ta ta

ta ta ta tatta tatta taa taa

KABOOM

It is very sad, but I may as well tell you that I killed

4320 pens,

6 sets of boxing

ta ta ta tat12taunion jacks, ta ta ta tatta tatta taa

POUMB-TOUMB! tatta 108 coloured taa l’Orchestra dei rumori di guerra gonfiarsi sotto una nota di silenzio taa taa

Ezazingezethu zona zona izifiso zashonaphi?

3000 slate pencils, 1440 pen holders,

The rebellion of 500 echoes sinks, crumbles and dissolves it sparpagliarlo (the space) ta ta ta all’infinito into the infinite.

Amaphupho ayasikhombisa.

12 dumbells,

2806 mufflers,

ogni 5 secondi cannoni da assedio sventrare spazio con un accordo every 5 seconds cannons gut the space with a chord

30 sets of dominoes, 30 sets of draughts,

trak trak ta ta ta

6 cricket balls,

(repeated by Mncedisi, Hamilton, Nhlanhla)

ta ta ta

ta ta ta

Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat Kaboom, Kaboom, Kaboom

2 guitars complete

(small box opens with 3 musicians + Bham inside)

ta ta ta

ta ta ta tatta tatta taa taa

ta ta ta tatta tatta taa taa

with cases and extra strings, 3 concertinas, 246

247

ta ta ta

KABOtaOttaaMtta

600 mouth organs, 2 guitars complete with cases and extra strings,

ta ta ta

3 concertinas,

a ta 1 coronet ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta

MNCEDISI

WHOOOO! Come then, comrades, it is as well to decide to change our ways.

We must shake off the heavy darkness in which we have plunged and leave it behind.

Let us waste no time in sterile litanies and nauseating mimicry.

Leave this Europe where they are never done talking of Men, yet they murder men wherever they find them.

Come comrades, this game has finally ended.

We must find something different.

KWANUKIMPI (“the smell of war”) IZWE(LI)FILE UVALO KWANUKIMPI

CHORUS

(repeated)

(“the earth trembles with the smell of war and death”) IZWE(LI)FILE UVALO KWANUKIMPI

IZWE(LI)FILE UVALO KWANUKIMPI

IZWE(LI)FILE UVALO KWANUKIMPI

IZWE(LI)FILE UVALO KWANUKIMPI

IZWE(LI)FILE UVALO KWANUKIMPI IZWE(LI)FILE UVALO KWANUKIMPI

IZWE(LI)FILE UVALO KWANUKIMPI

IZWE(LI)FILE UVALO KWANUKIMPI IZWE(LI)FILE UVALO KWANUKIMPI

248

19 . DE AT HL IS T & IN DE PE ND EN CE

MNCEDISI

A young boy took a long time to die.

He lay there like a child who has only just learned to talk, repeating the names of everything his eyes came across

mountain

tree

sky

bird

‌continue with list, echoed in other African languages

MNCEDISI

English / Swahili / Zulu:

Haversack / haversack / unxay’suka

Blanket / kikatili / ingubo Hungry / njaa / lambile Breast / titi / ibele

Sweet honey /

honey asali /

uju olumnandi

Forest / msitu / ihlathi

Biscuit

/

biskuti

/

ibhisikidi

Ear / sikio / indlebe Breast / titi / ibele Nephew / ndugu / umshana Blanket / kikatili / ingubo

259

20 . CO DA

HAMILTON

(overlapping)

These are the names of the dead: Geelbooi Dinokee Salif Beye Momar Diagne from Dakar William Ditshepo Saucepan Moake Ousmane Diagne Omar Diahatti Momar Diop from Kabrousse Whisky Mahlaba Papa Mar Diop from St Louis Samba Gueye from Pout Ibrahim who committed suicide Omar Kebe Momar Massa Paraffin Makilitshi Majuta Makola Gana Mbaye Abdou Ndiaye Massamba Sarr from Louga Transvaal Masilo Assane Seys from Ouakam Demba Sow Mamadou Sow Piccanin Mahlala Thousand Matupu Albert Mbata

Lights fade to black