Black History Month celebrated at The Market Theatre through a play by African-American playwright

The Meeting at The Market Theatre, Newtown Johannesburg

‘The Meeting’ defined as ‘a situation when two or more people meet, by chance or arrangement’- this is truly a meeting not to be missed by theatre goers around Johannesburg. Penned by American playwright, Jeff Stetson and directed by the Artistic Director at Market Theatre, James Ngcobo. The Meeting is a thought-provoking masterpiece which does not only celebrate the Black History Month, but is also affording humankind a reflection and retrospection of the self. Based on a fictional meeting between the two towering figures, Malcolm X (played by Brendon Daniels) , the Islamic Minister and a lawyer and Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr (played by Aubrey Poo), the civil rights activist and minister, in the African-American history of the 20^th Century, it fits well for The Market Theatre to play host of this historical production, for it has become an institutional mecca of  storytelling in Southern Africa.

Black History spreads across realms and cultures. It is the account that cannot be told by merely looking at the American history, for despite political rhetoric globally, United States is a nation of immigrants. That being said, in addition to celebrating great figures such as Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and Frederick Doughlass this month, unescapably Africa must find expression for Black History. There is no point in talking of Black History and not include daughter and sons of the African continent, for they contributed a lot to building the global communities, no surprise James Ngcobo joins the world in celebrating these historical significance.

The opening night of this play I was sitting next to James Ngcobo, who honestly confessed his nervousness, for it was for the first time in many years that he watched a play he directed from the auditorium gallery with audience. “The more you direct, the difficult it get to be part of the audience,” Ngcobo told me. Mr. Jeff Stetson, the playwright of The Meeting was also there, I took few glances of him as the play unfolded and he seemed to have enjoyed the play. Melodies punctuated the opening of this play. Lyrics “For all we know, we will never meet again. Before you go, make this moment sweet…” punctuated the opening scenes of the play.

Malcolm X (Brendon Daniels) and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Aubrey Poo)

Litha Bam, who plays a role of Malcolm’s body guard or personal assistant, Rashad, stands up, decked in black and white suit and seemingly praying. Malcolm X wakes up from what seemed to have been a terrible dream and reached out to the table for glass of water. We gathered that Malcolm was so close with Louis Armstrong, American trumpeter and soloist, that he had sung a song for him. In the very same scene, we see the considerate man in Malcolm, a good family man who said; “Kiss my little angels for me,” to his wife Betty Shabazz. Not only was he a courageous advocate for the rights of blacks but also a caring father and husband.

Later we get to be introduced to The Meeting of these two towering figures in the African-American history. This fictional meeting is fascinating and it captures reality of both men. When Dr. King enters the room, Malcolm jokingly says “Television makes you look heavier,” to him. The conversation is resplendent of wisdom and insight into the worlds of these great men. There exists a wonderful play of language and verse as they indulge each other. The host, Malcolm, offers the guest, Dr. King an apple, to which he denies and the host replies “You see an apple as a temptation, I see it as a nutrition.” The poetic sounding of the phrase is seemingly biblical; one cannot help but think of what happened in the Garden of Eden between Adam and Eve.

Malcolm X (Brendon Daniels) and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Aubrey Poo)

We are initially been exposed to the physical characters of both leaders and now real meeting fires up with witty debates. Apart from the dramatization of events and the dialogue, audience is invited to analyse for themselves, the interiority of characters and motives underlying the actions of the two key characters. In Malcolm X, we see a militant and radical leader who believes that violence might solve the problems his people were facing and on the other hand, Martin Luther King Jr. believed in the advancement of civil rights using non-violent civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs.

There is a vibrant clash of ideologies and egos in this meeting as we hear Malcolm saying “Those who want to pay for their freedom they really don’t need it.” His approach to freeing his people from mental slavery and physical exploitation was aggressive for he believed that you cannot ask for freedom, otherwise your application for it will be inexorably denied. Speaking of freedom, Soledad O’Brein once said: “I’ve learned that fear limits you and your vision. It serves as blinders to what may be just a few steps down the road for you. The journey is valuable, but believing in your talents, your abilities and your self-worth can empower you to walk down an even path.” There is no doubt that both men were fearless leader and that their journey was valuable.

While the chimney of their meeting is burning, Malcolm’s home in Chicago has been bombed that same morning and as D. King prepares to leave, he gives Malcolm a gift in a form of a beautiful black doll that his daughter asked him to give to Malcolm’s daughters. “We are the most beautiful creatures in the whole world, black people,” said Nina Simone. It is important not only to celebrate this Black History month by idolising politicians only but celebrate also women in the arts and entertainment sector who made their mark in emancipating black people. “And I mean it in every sense, both inside and outside,” Simone concluded.

Despite how confrontational and cogent his arguments, Malcolm is unable to shake Dr. King’s commitment and equanimity, even though he routed him in a spell of arm wrestling. They may have differed in their philosophies but their mutual respect to each other and their beliefs and willingness to die for what they stood for has brought hope and self-consciousness in the black communities. They are remarkable leaders of modern times and have put their lives on line in fighting same grave social problems. In this play, both Stetson and Ngcobo, reminded us; that intensely intimate meeting full of undisguised competitiveness, deep passion and potent reasoning is what the world need for a collective liberation of humankind. 

Khehla Chepape Makgato is a Johannesburg-based independent artist and arts writer, regularly contributing articles to ART AFRICA and The Journalist. He works at Assemblage Studios and is the founder of Samanthole Creative Projects & Workshop, a community-based art organisation focusing on arts and literacy youth programmes. Chepape is the ImpACT Award WINNER for Visual Arts 2016 from the Arts and Culture Trust of South Africa and The Mapungubwe Visual Artist of The Year 2016.