TUT’s Dr Pashkevitch-Ngobeni takes to the stage in Ingoma-busuku/Nightsong
by Gerrit Bester
Dr Rostislava Pashkevitch-Ngobeni, Head of the Department of Performing Arts at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Faculty of Arts and Design, steps from the world of performing arts education onto the stage of the South African State Theatre (SAST) in Ingoma-busuku/Nightsong: A Journey of Music, Longing and Discovery.
Portraying Mrs Smith, a retired concert pianist firmly rooted in the Western classical tradition, she becomes part of a compelling musical conversation about identity, heritage and the power of discovering the stories behind the sound.
Currently showing, Ingoma-busuku/Nightsong explores these ideas through the musical journey of Jabulani (Jabu), Mrs Smith’s piano student. While she represents a tradition of formal musical training, discipline and artistic excellence, Jabu begins to discover his connection to isicathamiya (a traditional South African a cappella singing and dance style created by Zulu migrant workers) and his ancestral musical heritage, bringing their different musical worlds into conversation.
Mrs Smith is therefore more than a piano teacher. Her character reflects the complex relationship between Western classical traditions and Indigenous African musical expression. Her perspective on isicathamiya invites audiences to consider how musical tastes and artistic values are shaped by history, social position and cultural assumptions.
Through her interactions with Jabu and his mother, Nomasonto, Mrs Smith also becomes part of a broader dramatic exploration of cultural respect and the recognition of African musical heritage.
At the heart of her character are provocative questions: Who decides what is considered great music? Can one musical tradition be regarded as superior to another? And what happens when the boundaries between different musical worlds begin to dissolve?
Through Mrs Smith, Ingoma-busuku/Nightsong encourages audiences to move beyond familiar divisions between classical and Indigenous music and to reflect on the importance of listening, understanding and acknowledging the cultural stories carried through music.
For Dr Pashkevitch-Ngobeni, herself a concert pianist, composer and performing arts educator, the role creates a meaningful meeting point between her own musical expertise and the production’s exploration of South Africa’s diverse musical identities. Her portrayal contributes to a story in which music becomes more than a discipline or an art form. It becomes a space for dialogue, discovery and the possibility of transformation.
Ultimately, Mrs Smith reminds audiences that music has the power to connect people across cultural boundaries, but genuine connection requires more than technical mastery. It requires openness, respect and a willingness to hear the stories behind the sound.
Ingoma-busuku/Nightsong celebrates the richness of South African musical heritage while asking audiences to listen not only to the notes, but also to the histories, memories and identities that give them meaning.
The production runs until 1 November.
For more information/bookings go to: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1602215533
