Kalushi is crucial proof that you can tell an important South African story with a 100% South African cast and crew, writes Victor Kgomoeswana.
There is a lesson in Kalushi, the new film about Solomon Mahlangu.
The lesson is not about making movies; just as this is not a movie review.
To make sure that I was not distracted by the merits and demerits of the script, screenplay, acting, directing or any of its cinematic features, I am writing this before watching it. A movie critic can make or break a movie, although they can hardly swing a boom or arrange props to save their life, let alone make a better one.
The lesson is that Africans can and should tell their own stories, their way and with their own cast. Directorial debutante Mandla Dube just did.
The film pays tribute to the freedom stalwart from Mamelodi, who was hanged on April 6, 1979.
It might as well be about his co-
accused, Mondy Motloung from Duduza, Nigel, or Kalushi’s brother; that cuts no ice.
When he went down to the gallows clutching desperately to the fighting spirit summed up in the immortal line, “my blood will nourish the tree that will bear the fruits of freedom”, 22-year old Mahlangu was not trying to be a hero.
He became one by dying for a cause that would live instead of living for a dying ideal, to paraphrase another icon who had been assassinated about two years earlier, Steve Biko.
Many others had come before him, perhaps as those who would follow, including the 19-year-old Andrew Sibusiso Zondo on September 9, 1986.
Going down in a manner similar to Mahlangu, Zondo, is reported to have defiantly cried “Amandla!” as he was being hanged.
More unsung heroes, however, were being executed by extra-judicial means every other day by members of the security branch or its allied agencies.
Two things have hindered our appreciation of such contributors to our freedom as Mahlangu and Zondo: our obsession with heroes and our inability or unwillingness to tell our own story. The first one is not a peculiarly South African problem. Everywhere, people follow the headliners.
That is why to date, there are many among us who believe that Nelson Mandela “gave” us freedom, instead of crediting him with having been a great leader.
We focus so much on the star of the movie that we overlook those who sacrificed lots to make them; for example, Gaur Radebe in sensitising Madiba to the realities of the professional firm in which he was trying in futility to serve articles.
If you know of Nelson Mandela, but have not heard of Gaur Radebe, you are neither alone nor guilty; just as you might know the Royal Bafokeng Nation, without a clue as to who August Mokgatle was.
The second factor is more restricted to South Africa and most African countries.
Just as our heritage is better housed in museums in London, Paris and other European cities, the story of our liberation struggle is better captured by those who fought us in defence of apartheid, in the Caprivi Strip or Cuito Cuanavale, or by those riot policemen atop of those hideous hippos who shot at protesting children in townships and villages.
They have a better recollection and record of what happened, with pictures and video footage to back their story.
We have nothing.
Hollywood has imposed its actors to tell our stories, like in Sarafina (Whoopi Goldberg), Cry Freedom (Denzel Washington), Bopha (Danny Glover) and Long Walk to Freedom (Idris Elba) - because we were not bold enough to cast our own.
Scared that our movies would not impress foreign markets instead of pressing for local success first, as Nollywood and Bollywood demonstrated, we rolled over.
Hollywood movies make it in the US first, before becoming international hits.
Kalushi, therefore, is crucial proof that you can tell an important South African story with a 100% South African cast and crew, including a novice director.
It is our duty to support this growing trend of South African pride and consciousness; which is long overdue.
Off to the movies I go!
* Kgomoeswana is author of
Africa Is Open For Business, a media commentator and public speaker on African business affairs and a weekly columnist for African Independent - Twitter handle: @VictorAfrica
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.