BONGANI LINDA & PETER NGWENYA LIVE ON

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A bold intergenerational line-up celebrates the lives, work, and community legacy of Bongani Linda and Peter Ngwenya

The stage is set for a powerful celebration of South African theatre as the Bongani Linda & Peter Ngwenya Soweto Theatre Festival officially unveils its highly anticipated programme line-up. 

Taking place from 23–25 April 2026 at Uncle Tom’s Hall, the festival stands as a moving tribute to the enduring legacies of Bongani Linda and Peter Ngwenya—two cultural icons whose work shaped community-driven theatre in South Africa.

More than a traditional festival, this gathering is a living expression of memory, performance, and dialogue, bringing together generations of artists to reflect, reinterpret, and carry forward the work of these legends.

A Festival That Begins with the Process

In a rare and intentional move, the festival extends beyond the stage through a pre-festival programme, inviting audiences and community members into the rehearsal process:

  • 20 April 2026 (Monday): Open Rehearsal – Carrot Sisters, directed by Julian Seleke Mokoto

  • 22 April 2026 (Wednesday): Open Rehearsal – Walls & Pillows, directed by Mxolisi Masilela The Great

These open sessions reflect the festival’s commitment to access, transparency, and shared learning, reinforcing the idea that theatre is not only about performance, but about process and participation.

Main Festival Productions

Audiences can expect a compelling and diverse line-up of four productions that speak to both legacy and contemporary realities:

  • Carrot Sisters by Bongani Linda
    Directed by Julian Seleke Mokoto
    Featuring Nomalungelo Madywabe, Sibongile Genu, Zodwa Nkosi & Achuma Mjacu

  • Walls & Pillows by Mxolisi Masilela The Great
    Featuring Mathews Rantsoma & Asanda Mvumi

  • Yawa LeMbewu by Ntsikelelo Ngcanga
    Featuring Phiwokuhle Mazibuko, Nokwanda Sikotoyi, Malehlonolo Taolana & Gago Phetoe

  • The Other Gender by Mashupe Phala
    Featuring Karabo Prince Mashilane, Charity Sehlapelo & Bafedile Masasa

Programme Highlights

Thursday, 23 April 2026 | 17h00 – Official Opening
The festival will open with reflections from key voices, honouring the lives and contributions of Bongani Linda and Peter Ngwenya, accompanied by curated performance excerpts.

Friday, 24 April 2026 | From 16h00

  • 16h00 – The Other Gender

  • 17h10 – Memory Lane Conversation with Julian Seleke Mokoto, reflecting on working with the legends

  • 18h00 – Carrot Sisters

  • Post-show – Audience Engagement & Discussion with cast and director

Saturday, 25 April 2026 | From 13h00

  • 13h00 – Remembering Peter Ngwenya: Conversations & Monologues
    (An open platform for practitioners to share monologues and reflections inspired by Ngwenya’s work)

  • 15h00 – Yawa LeMbewu

  • 17h00 – Walls & Pillows

  • 18h15 – Closing Ceremony & Vote of Thanks, including a forward-looking vision for the festival

A Living Archive: The Community as Co-Creators

At the heart of the festival lies a powerful invitation: the public is not just an audience, but part of the legacy.

The Bongani Linda & Peter Ngwenya Soweto Theatre Festival continues to call on practitioners, collaborators, and community members to share their memories, tributes, and reflections. These contributions will be carefully consolidated and creatively presented as part of the festival experience—ensuring that the legacy of these icons is shaped by those they impacted.

As community builders, both Bongani Linda and Peter Ngwenya understood that theatre lives beyond the stage—it lives in people, in memory, and in shared experience.

The public is encouraged to continue submitting tributes, sign the form, and actively engage with the festival organisers, becoming part of this growing cultural archive.

Submit your memories, photos, and participation interest here:
https://forms.gle/uN3nqUPsY8Rubrp86

Legacy Lives On

As the lights prepare to rise at Uncle Tom’s Hall, one thing is clear—this is not just a festival. It is a continuation of a legacy, a meeting point between past and present, and a bold step toward the future of South African theatre.

Because in remembering these legends, we do more than honour them—
we ensure that their work, their spirit, and their impact truly live on.

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