Returning Home, Re-writing Self
Thembelani Bhengu interviews Thobile Maphanga
Thobile Maphanga is a Durban-based dance practitioner, creative collaborator and emerging writer whose current preoccupation is with Black female narratives and how Black women are writing themselves into history in the now. In her research she explores where and how Black women use their voices and where these voices can be found.
In an email conversation with Thobile Maphanga, we had a chat about few things including her latest work Sihamba Sizibhala showing as part of the JOMBA! Durban Digital Edge programme on the festival’s YouTube channel for the remainder of the festival.
Thobile Maphanga is really grateful that JOMBA! offered her a small grant to create her short dance film as the climate for performers, over the last year and a half has been really difficult. Further, she says that it is a really good thing that festivals like JOMBA! are still acknowledging that it is not always easy, especially for emerging artists, artist who are starting out — to forge their career, its not easy or affordable especially for people who are still hustling. She says that she is grateful to be part of the 23rd JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience’s second digital iteration in 2021.
When asked about her choreographic process, Maphanga speaks about how she would go on about creating a new work, offering that when she is creating a new dance it begins with an idea that grows within her, she might be thinking about the lights or having conversation about the lights and depending on where she is and her understanding the idea her process of choreographing unfolds by unpacking the idea and translating her thoughts into movements.
I asked her about her experiences working both live and digitally and whether there were significant differences. Her commentary here is that there is a difference between having a live audience and not having a live audience and also creating work for film and for live audiences. She says that there is a certain level of anxiety and fear that comes from performing in front of live audience, but there is a great deal of excitement and energy exchange that happens in a live performance amongst the performers if there is more than one person performing. She also says that if you perform in front of a live audience you are aware that there are people sitting/standing on front of you watching with feeling and reacting to your piece. In film, you do not get all that feeling.
I asked Thobile if there was anything else she wanted to share and she offered this: “my origins are here, I love this place, am deeply passionate about this place, I’m deeply connected to this place, so in the permanency, I will always return home…”.
Sihamba Sizibhala is her second dance film, and her first choreographic debut on the JOMBA! platforms.
