THE SEVENTH OATH REVIEW
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A Spiritual Journey Beyond Language: Review of Sétimo Juramento (The Seventh Oath)
Botho Arts Festival Boutique Edition
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Botho Arts Festival Boutique Edition is its ability to create a meeting point for different theatrical voices, cultures, and artistic languages. This year, the festival achieved something particularly significant by presenting a production all the way from Maputo, Mozambique — Sétimo Juramento (The Seventh Oath).
The inclusion of this production signals an important cultural exchange between South Africa and Mozambique. It is also a testament to the growing relationship between the Botho Arts Festival and the organizers of the International Winter Theatre Festival (FITI) in Maputo. One can only hope that this collaboration continues to grow into a more formal partnership where productions from both countries travel annually between these festivals. Such exchanges enrich audiences, artists, and the theatre ecosystem across the region.
An Inviting and Ritualistic Stage
The preset of the stage immediately invites the audience into a ritualistic space. Candles glow softly around the stage, sand is spread across the floor, and a washing basin filled with water sits among other symbolic objects and a table. This carefully constructed environment prepares the audience for a journey that is not merely narrative but deeply spiritual.
From the very beginning, the production signals that it is entering a world where theatre meets ritual, memory, and ancestral presence.
The Power of Theatre Beyond Language
Perhaps the most striking achievement of The Seventh Oath is its ability to transcend language. The play is performed mostly in Portuguese, yet language never becomes a barrier to understanding.
Through physical expression, movement, music, and emotional intensity, the audience is drawn into the spiritual world of the play. Even those unfamiliar with Portuguese are able to follow the emotional and symbolic journey unfolding on stage.
When English appears — particularly during the moment when the son begs not to be punished — it arrives with powerful dramatic precision, deepening the emotional resonance of the scene.
The production reminds us that theatre, at its core, is a universal language.
A Journey Into the Unknown
Sétimo Juramento takes the audience into a trance-like journey through the unknown. It explores identity, spirituality, social injustices, and the emotional complexities of human existence. The poetic nature of the text — written by acclaimed Mozambican writer Paulina Chiziane — adds depth and philosophical weight to the production.
At the center of this journey is Paulo Jamine, who delivers an outstanding performance. He proves himself to be an exceptionally brave performer, unafraid of taking risks on stage. One particularly powerful moment occurs when hot candle wax drops onto his bare chest — a striking visual that intensifies the ritualistic atmosphere of the production. Later, another daring moment unfolds when he eats what appears to be meat on stage, further pushing the boundaries of physical storytelling.
Jamine carries the emotional and psychological intensity of the play with remarkable control and presence.
Equally powerful is Francisca Mirine, whose performance is rooted in spiritual presence rather than dialogue. Though she speaks very little, her presence is deeply felt throughout the entire performance. When she begins to sing, it is clear that she has already entered a profound spiritual space. As audience members, we have no choice but to travel with her on this journey.
Together, the two performers complement each other beautifully, creating a powerful theatrical partnership that sustains the intensity of the piece from beginning to end.
Movement, Music and Breath
The choreography within the production is strikingly beautiful and fits the thematic world of the play perfectly. Every movement feels intentional and deeply connected to the spiritual journey unfolding on stage.
The musical choices are equally effective, always arriving at the right moment to enhance the emotional atmosphere of the performance.
One of the most important lessons this production reminds us of is the power of breathing in performance. The actors’ control of breath becomes part of the storytelling, shaping rhythm, tension, and emotional release.
Throughout the performance, shadows are cast across the stage — perhaps unintentionally — but they enhance the visual language of the production beautifully, adding another layer of mystery and depth to the theatrical experience.
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A Festival Highlight
By programming The Seventh Oath, the Botho Arts Festival Boutique Edition demonstrated a strong curatorial vision. The production introduces audiences to different theatrical traditions, languages, and performance styles from across the African continent.
It challenges audiences to experience theatre not only through dialogue but through presence, ritual, movement, and spiritual energy.
For many audience members, this production will remain one of the standout highlights of the festival.
And for this reviewer, Sétimo Juramento (The Seventh Oath) was undoubtedly one of the most memorable productions of the entire festival — a bold, spiritual, and deeply moving theatrical experience that reminds us why theatre remains one of the most powerful art forms in the world.
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