Students make full-length Xhosa movie
by Philani Nombembe
GUTS AND GLORY: Siviwe (Mzukisi Ntantiso), far left, chats to his mentor after a stick fight; and, right, takes some advice before his debut boxing match
A Group of students has made the country’s first full-length Xhosa feature film on a shoe string budget.
The film, Intonga, is the story of Siviwe, a young Xhosa stick fighter from a rural village , who becomes a champion amateur boxer when he relocates to the big city with his mother.
Intonga, due to be released in cinemas soon, was shot at Mdantsane in East London in July by students from Cape Peninsula University of Technology. It features local boxing stars and trainers.
The student filmmakers worked on the project with help from local production company Swayani.
“I t is a simple, beautiful story with a lot of life’s lessons to be learnt. It is an African story,” said Johan Janse van Rensburg, a director at Swayani.
this article first appeared on the sunday times online
December 1st, 2008 at 7:08 am
Philani, thank you for the interest you show in this project. It’s just a pity you did not mail me this atricle before you published it… You have the facts exactly the wrong way round. Swayani films produced the film, supported by students. As the article read at the moment, you make it sound like a student film, which is not what we want the public to think before they go and watch the film, it is a full professional production. The role the students played where as crew on the the set of the film. Everything else was done by Swayani. That includes the research, script, pre-production, casting, planning, funding, directing, editing and marketing. You also missed the opportunity to point out that on your photographs you have World Champion Zolani Tete and one of our local top actors ZOLILE SODLOYI (Zoro)and that the original score for the film will be composed by Cedric Samson who also wrote the scores or DRUM and the Madiba concert.
Please contact Bongo to get the REAL story.
Cheers JJ
January 18th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Hi,
I co-own a recording label in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. We are thrilled with this kind of development in the arts field about cultural stories told by young artists.
We would like to supply, or be part of, the musical soundtrack to this movie. We have a track tiltled “Amafanankosi” which will definitely suit this genre.
Feel free to visit www.backyardrecords.co.za to view our profile. Call me at 083 515 4914 for further details.
Regards,
Marley
February 13th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
HEY GUYS I JUST LIKE WHAT YOU DOING.NIQHUBEKISA ULWIMI LWESXHOSA PHAMBILI. EYONA NTO INTLE YILE YOKUBA KUKHO ULUTSHA OLUKHOYO KULE PROJECT