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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 April 2025
In this scene zenzile, in her hostel room, speaks as herself to Nkulunkulu. She also speaks the parts of the pastor, musa and members of the congregation. In effect she tells two parallel stories, voicing all the characters in them. When she speaks as herself, zenzile shifts her body to a different angle and is picked up by a sidelight, which helps differentiate her from the pastor in the church settings. Throughout this scene, the transitions between the two parallel stories and characters are demarcated by a change in lighting combined with a subtle change of the actor's body positioning.
zenzile: I woke up in the hospital seven months later. Yah, for seven months, Nkulunkulu, I’d slept without dreaming. Angiqambi amanga. And only in the seventh month did I open my eyes and find the strength to ask myself where or who I was. Back then my body was still being held together by plaster.
My family members kept on visiting me, right until the end of the year, right up until I left that hospital. Later I heard that many people in KwaMashu and Ipharadesi had been celebrating the death of Impundulu. [Beat.] There were big parties. [She shakes her head while folding the green dress neatly and depositing it back in the laundry basket.] I feel very sorry that they didn't believe those who had warned them that it's impossible to kill me.
You know, Nkulunkulu, Pastor Mazibuko used to visit my room at the hostel every weekend to pray for me after my stroke, and when he saw those miracles you were working on me he said [She speaks in voice of pastor.]: ‘It's time, Sis Zenzile, for you to be born again at the church … It's time for our congregation to lay their hands on you and pray.’
When I told this to my neighbour Ma Thwala, wooooh weeee, she was very excited for me. She already attended this church and said that I must go with her on Sunday. But I laughed. How could I put foot in God's temple looking like a person who sells things down there by the taxi rank at Warwick Junction? Ma Thwala gave me a set of smart clothes and a headscarf.
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