23 Apr 2023

The opening of the riveting and amazing Pula! The Musical left theatre fanatics in amazement at Maitisong Theatre on Thursday.

The show packed with much loved folk musical numbers such as Mmamati, Role Lele, Zwandiwana, Ga ke Wela Wela le Dithota is worth watching.   

The ensemble piece is a cast of young, vibrant performers each bringing their own piece of Pula magic to the stage.

Their stunning performance gave the amazing feast with confusion of where to look as so much was happening on the stage in every corner of the little Maitisong Theatre.

Pula! The Musical captures the Setswana intangible cultural heritage with song and dance; from initiation, wedding, rain making, and ritual rite of passage, communication with ancestors and to some extent the ploughing season.

Telling the story of a young woman, Mmapula identified as the Rainmaker in her community, her physical and spiritual rite of passage takes her to consult tribes of her people for wisdom.

In this community, where life is lived in communion, the Rainmaker through traditional song and dance, unites all creation toward the goal of bringing rain to her desert land.

The result is an exhilarating celebration of all life, with a powerful heart-warming twist. Former Miss Botswana Palesa Molefe, plays Mmapula character and she was engaging  which made her perfectly for the role, displayed in her delivery of the much loved character with real heart and depth.

Her sense of spiritualism also guides Molefe into the Mmapula character and somehow guiding the audience to where she wants them to be.

Another amazing actress Lesedi Oitshepile, displayed an absolute performance with her witty adorable gestures engaging with her audience as she led the Zwandiwana song.

Oitshepile alongside her member casts gave a spectacular lift to the production as they wowed the crowd.

The end, which is the rainmaking ritual from the Kalanga Hosana spirituality, is when one experience the real skill that has been employed in creating Pula! The Musical and the talent of the entire  cast.

Kalima Mipata playing Mmapula’s husband with regal and command, makes a loving husband as he hopelessly supports his wife during her rite of passage to becoming a rainmaker for her people. Mipata, displays the right balance with a character that could easily be under or over played.

As a fan of the previous Pula! The Musical production, you have to applaud the creative team for almost doubling the length of the film and seamlessly enhancing the story to new emotional depths.

The crew set the bar high in the first few minutes of the show, and kept the interest of their audience with much anxiety of what the end brings. ENDS