Viewpoints

Theater Company Celebrates Mandela Day

On Saturday, July 18th the National Black Theater in Harlem, New York performed a two-hour play chronicling Nelson Mandela’s life in honor of the city’s first ever Nelson Mandela Day.

Nelson Mandela Day was created to pay tribute to the iconic South African leader, who fought against apartheid and encouraged people across the world to focus on community service in response to his call to “act to change the world for the better.”

The play showcased Mandela’s joyous life in South Africa before he was taken to jail and imprisoned for 27 years for plotting to overthrow the Apartheid government. The production featured traditional African dance, with actors and actresses wearing bright, colorful and vibrant South African clothing.

The actor who played Nelson Mandela, Lloyd Goodman was hesitant about taking on the monumental role of Mandela at first, but the play’s director John Ruiz was very persistent.

“At first as an actor, you’re nervous, you’re doubtful, can you do this part? But then you break down the script and do a lot of research, and once I began to do that it began to come to me,” Goodman said, “Theater is life and is a teaching mechanism that helps the community to thrive.”

Earlier in the week Goodman was hospitalized with an infection. “I didn’t think I would be here. A lot of people prayed for me,” he said. “It just shows you from Mandela’s example that if you sacrifice and you believe in a cause you can move mountains, and he was just a wonderful man.”

People from throughout the metropolitan area filled the East Harlem Repertory Theater. Former New York City Mayor David Dinkins, who was the first African-American mayor of the city, was an honored guest. Mayor Dinkins broke ground by bringing Nelson Mandela to New York City less than five months after his release from prison.

The play showed Mandela’s inner dilemma about either listening to his wife or taking illegal action against the government for his country’s people. The play also assesses Mandela’s entire life by showing in depth his stay in prison.

Serene Smith from Fort Greene, Brooklyn, who attended the performance said, “My favorite part was hearing about the struggle he went through alone to free his country.”

Her daughter, Trinitee Smith added, “My favorite part of the show was when Nelson Mandela went through a struggle in a prison and all the hard times he had.”

Winnie Mandela was played by Kineta Kunutu from Johannesburg, South Africa. She said it was an honor to play that role. “I was overjoyed because I get to bring an authentic piece of my home to a place I’ve moved to, and now I get to share that with people from my perspective as a South African,” said Kunutu. “[He is] an example of the strength that is required and the support that is required and that we can achieve the things that we want despite what society might say.”

For Kineta, being a part of the play was a way to honor and give back on Mandela Day. “I think I will celebrate Mandela Day in the years to come by paying it forward and doing selfless acts not just on Mandela Day, but every day for other people.”

Diane S. Williams, Public Employee Press of DC 37, New York City’s Largest Public Employee Union, who also attended the performance at the National Black Theater, said, “Nelson Mandela set a high mark for people who have any sense of fairness in life.”

James R. Garrett was the breakout star of the play. His performance as Joseph Kwezi provoked a strong reaction from the audience. While preparing for the role, Garrett said he researched a lot on Mandela. “One of the things I really got to learn about him was when he came out, his lack of bitterness, his ability to forgive and to move on is something really special.”