Iqhiya Emnyama - The Black Cloth

By: Cindy Mkaza-Siboto

Inspired by the aftermath of the Marikana tragedy, Iqhiya Emnyama - The Black Cloth explores the deep anguish, loss and desperation of the families of the miners by focusing on the mourning experiences of the 'Marikana widows'.

For black women, the deeply personal experience of loss often becomes a public one as their dress code marks them as mourners. By drawing attention to the relationship that develops between the mourner and the iqhiya emnyama (black cloth), the production attempts to memorialise the men who were killed and to grieve with their families.

Performed by: Cindy Mkaza-Siboto, Buhlebezwe Siwani, Khanyisile Mbongwa, Peggy Tunyiswa-Mongoato and Somila Angela Toyi; music by: Ncebakazi Mnukwana; mentored by: Mamela Nyamza; costume: Shiba Sopotela.