Dancer and actor Siphenathi Mayekiso, who has co-written a play about albinism, has called for acceptance of people living with albinism.
Mayekiso made the call as the world celebrates International Albinism Awareness Day today. The 31-year-old dancer from Philippi township in Cape Town has written a physical theatre play called Imbilini…my friend! that opened on Friday at Baxter Theatre in Cape Town.
He wrote the play with his bosom friend and actor Bulelani Mabutyana.
Mayekiso told Sowetan that Imbilini is a personal story of someone who has albinism and who experienced prejudice and alienation while growing up. He said the show explores themes such as friendship, brotherhood, alcohol abuse, trust and empathy.
“It is about the deep and profound friendship of two young men who grapple with issues of poverty, alcoholism, society’s beliefs about albinism and the harshness of urban life. It is our true story as friends (Mbulelo and I).
“The story also touches on alcohol abuse which is a personal experience. At some point I was abusing alcohol because I wanted to belong. I was filling up a void. I decided to go to rehab early this year and it was only then that I understood myself.
“As we mark this day, I am dedicating a message to those who live with the condition. I want them to remember that they are also human beings and their lives matter just like others. They should not to live their lives based on others.”
Mayekiso said the idea of the show started while he was researching the killing of people with albinism in SA. The results was a show called Bloodbath which premiered in Germany and also featured in the Kucheza Festival, a dance festival, last year.
“It started when we joined the Baxter Theatre writing residency programme. I was inspired by the challenges I faced when growing up and in life. Firstly, I am a twin and I am the only one with the condition. When I was growing up, some kids could not play with me and I was treated differently. At school, I had to deal with teachers who were not trained in how to deal with a child who had the condition.”
Director of the show Mdu Kweyama said the theme of the show was deeper than just awareness. Kweyama said: “I am grateful that the show happens right as we mark International Albinism Awareness Day. It was not planned but luckily the dates fell on a very important day.
“I would like to see everyone coming to see it because it’s a story about human beings. The play speaks about friendship and what it means to have a friend who has the condition.”
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