1

Mapula –
Written & Directed by Sir T-Phahlane
 Scene 1 Moakgi

Tlhokgi 1. Ke a bolela ngwana’ Mohlala

1. Ke a bolela ngwana’ maina mantši 2. Morudi nke Letebele, maoto nke Mosotho

2. Mangwe a retwa ke ditšhwene thabeng. 3. Ke yena mošemane o mosesenyana wa

boMaleage Modipane
3. Ke nna sefogohlele, fogohlele mogatša’
kgalabolepu 4. Ke seora mollo wa magala-mohwelere ka
lešokeng la badiši
4. Se se ilego sa ja motho sa mo fetša sa re
taataa. 5. Ke makgahlametša go metša, ke kgope ye e
kilego ya nyala
5. Ke sepetše kudu ka kgalalela ka tshela
dinoka 6. Ke ile ka kgantšhetša go metša gohlahuna
go sa tla
6. Ka tšama ke tsena le magorong a banna.
7. Kgwadi tša boModipane
7. Go bolela Monti ’a Mmakgopane
8. Nkabe e sale botala, esale kgale, maloba
8. Marapo a kile a hlaba baloi
9. Gona kua seleteng Matšiane, Kgobokwane
Pula! (Ha ene)
10. Nkabe ke re bulelang Madikoti tša Mogala,
Nala (Gae ate) naga’ thaba Moletši
This is the rain maker. Pula! (Ha ene)
My daughter of the rainbow to birth Nala (Gae ate)
nourishment, poverty shall be the way of the
past. The wealth of the Balebedu 1. [Here I speak, I, the child of Mohlala

2. Morudi is like a Ndebele, legs like a Mosotho

1. [I am speaking, I adorner of multiple
names 3. Slender boy of Modipane’s Maleage

2. Some are yelled by baboons on 4. I busk at the red bushwillow fire at the hunter’s
mountains bush

3. I am the Sefogohlele (the fondler), fondle 5. Swift to swallow, a bachelor that once marriage
Kgalabolepu’s husband 85

4. The one that ate a person to the last 6. I once prematurely swallowed before I could
crumbs chew

5. I travelled a lot, become holy, and ford 7. Youthfulness of the Modipane

rivers
8. If only it was bygone days
6. And entered many manly entrances
9. At the Matšiane region in Kgobokwane 10. I
7. It is Monti of Mmakgopane speaking could have said: free the dimpled daughter of
Mogale
8. Bones that once pierced witches.]
11. Of the mountainous land of Moletši.]

2
Mapula –
Written & Directed by Sir T-Phahlane
 Moradiomntle

Tlhokgi What is wrong?

Let us rejoice for the coming of the rain. Rain Mmapula

dance, lets dance for the rain has come!
There is a man following me…
Pula! (Ha ene)
Everywhere I go he is always following just
Nala (Gae ate) like a shadow. And he does not even hide.

Look over there, there he is just standing

there.
Scene 2
Can you see him? Or am I the only one who
After the dance!
can see him?
Tlhogi
Moradiomntle
This is the best day of my life. Allow
Settle down
tranquillity to wash away long awaited years
of Endurance. It is today that poverty Mmapula
everporate and in return rain of wealth shall
Please tell me if you can see him? Or am I
fall from the sky.
going mad
Moradi o montle, mogatsa ka. Isn’t it a
Moradiomntle
beautiful day indeed?
Yes, I can see him.
Moradiomntle
You are not going mad
How can I not see the sunshine on your face
radiating through the walls of this yard. That Let me explain, his presence in your life
today when your energy roars, is felt among
the clouds. You deserve to be happy. Lefellong

Tlhogi Ke nako!

I tell you Moradiomontle, that hunger shall Mmapula

never be felt among these walls. Every chief What does he mean, when he says its time?
shall bow to me with their wealth gratitude.
The kraal shall be full joy than tears. From Time for what?
today you will never cry again. All woman of Tlhokgi
the village shall praise your womb. You will be
called goddess of the rain. It is time to serve your purpose.

PULA! Moradiomntle haven’t you told her yet?

Moradiomntle

SCENE 3 I was about to tell her.

Mmapula Mmapula

Mma- Tell me!

Mma- Tlhogi
3
Mapula –
Written & Directed by Sir T-Phahlane
Give you mother a chance speak and stop Listen, our bloodline has been chosen by our
interrupting child! ancestors that our first-born child should be a
sacrifice. We have to give birth to boys so that
Mmapula
they can be sacrificed for the purpose of the
I shall be still; I am all ears. rain and if we bare girls, we need to groom
them to be the once to continue the legacy.
Moradiomntle Your 1st son has to be sacrificed for the
Mmapula Lerothodi lami purpose of the rain.

The man that you see is the guard from the Mmapula
royal house of Queen Modjadji. He is sent to What, how? Until when?
guard the sacrament of the royal highness.
Moradiomntle
Mmapula
Until you come of age where you cannot bear
I don’t understand (ga ke ukwishishi) kids anymore, you last child shall be saved so
Moradiomntle that he can continue the legacy. You father is
the last child of his mother same as you to
Listen very carefully. me.
You are the sacrament of the royal family. Mmapula
Your purpose is to create a divine human relic
that must connect the spiritual realm of both That can’t be true!
worlds. You are telling me that in order to make it rain
(Mmapula nodes to show that she is confused) I have to…

You have to bear a royal child from the No!

prince… How can a prince do that to his wife or a
Mmapula child? Or …

Are telling me that the prince wishes to marry Moradiomntle

me? Listen, you will not be that kind of a wife. You
I am going to become a princes and soon a soul purpose is not to serve the woman duties
Queen? but be a bearer of a sacrificial seed. You wont
share any relationship with the prince. There
I will have servants, am I the next queen wont be emotional attachment.
Modjadji?
Mmapula
Moradiomntle
What if I don’t want to be a sacramental
Sort off but not really? wife.?
Mmapula Tlhogi
What do you mean? You don’t have a choice. This how things were
Moradiomntle meant to be and they will continue that way.

(looking at the father seeking an escape but Mmapula

the father emphasised that she needed to
continue)
4
Mapula –
Written & Directed by Sir T-Phahlane
But this is my body, I have said on how it Tlhogi
should be…
Mapula! …
Tlhogi
Moradiomntle
Don’t you dear talk to me like that. It doesn’t
Please rra! Reconsider
mean that ever since you come from initiation
you can talk to me however you like. You still Tlhogi
my daughter, show some respect and that is
not you body. You are just a host of what What are doing? Moradiomntle
needs to become. It is time!
Mmapula Mapula
No What is going on?
I am not your daughter. I am just sacrifice Tlhogi
(Tlhogi almost slapped her) It is time.
Dear to touch the Queens vessel and see what It’s time for the seed implant.
it will become of you.
Mapula
(She left)
I beg of you father not to do this!

I am sorry!
Tlhogi
For now, I will show more respect and you are
(Talking to Moradiomntle) the best father ever, please father, just don’t
How could you stand there and watch her do this
talking to me like that? Father I am your only daughter, sunshine of
Is this what you are being taught at the the rainbow.
initiation school? Father! Rra! Monte Mmakgopane ke ya o
Moradiomntle kgopela

Che bo rre!

She is just… just don’t understand Tlhogi

But I hope she will get to understand, It is too late!

Tlhogi What needs to be done, has to be done! This

is how things should be.
I have waited for long time for this. I wont let
emotions cloud the way of our being. We Mapula
have done this before so many times and we Mma bolela le rra!
should not let this take away our purpose.
Mma please! (Her mother stood there remote
Lefolle less and powerless as she sees her daughter
Ke nako!!! X3 being taken away)

(appeared others blowing a horn- )

5
Mapula –
Written & Directed by Sir T-Phahlane
SCENE 4 am pregnant as we speak with the prince’s
child.
{Lefellong took 5 bamboos and placed them in
order) Tebogo

Tebogo – (arrives from the city) How is that possible? I thought you loved
me…
Mapula!! (Calling)
Mapula
Mapula
Allow me to finish and do not interrupt
What are you doing here?
please!
Tebogo
I should be the happiest woman in the village
My love, what do you mean? but yet the saddest of them all.

I told 7 months ago that I am going to work in I don’t only carry the royal blood growing in
Phokeng, deep in the mines so that so that I me but the curse that keeps on killing me.
can give your father cows and ask for your
I despise the purpose that was giving to me by
hand in mirage. No I have made it. I think I
our ancestors
have more than enough.
How does a child that brings joy to the nation
And who is this? Looking at us. It’s like he is a
bring pangs of pain to his only mother.
ghost during the day! Rural witchcraft is
dangerous. MokgobasKloof is dangerous. I hate what my family stands for. I hate what I
stand for.
So my love, I think I should send bomalome
this weekend. What do you say? Hear me Tebogo

You don’t look excited! I am not pregnant of a child but a goat that is
meant to be sacrificed at birth for sake of the
You are gaining weight. What are they feeding
rain.
you?
And I have no choice but to comply
Mapula
Your dream for us together remains a dream
Listen Tebogo
that shall never be reality
Ever since you left, a lot has changed.
For your own safety, leave now
When I came back from initiation school six
And for your happiness find yourself a wife
months ago, I was forced to be pregnant?
not a ritual.
Tebogo
For my life will never be normal.
What? You were forced by who? How ..
Tebogo
What do you mean?
Look
Mapula
Let’s leave, come with me.
Telletja -Listen
You don’t have to go through this. Let’s go to
Do you see that man standing there. He has Gauteng where culture ceases to exist.
been sent by the queen to look after me.
Legally I am not allowed to talk with anyone. I
6
Mapula –
Written & Directed by Sir T-Phahlane
Come with me to a place where life does not are traditions that cultivate crimes against
depend on the rain. Where we are all the humanity.
same.
I will come for you. You deserve better.
Come with me Mapula lehakwe la Pelo mi.
(and he left)
Lefellong
Tlhogi
Kenako ya hore o Tsamaye
Seiphore mosha
Ke Nako
Otladikgapa osa di gopela.
Mapula
Never set foot next in my yard again.
Please leave before they kill you?
And you (at Lefellong)
Tebogo
I thought your presence is to guard my
Don’t worry I will handle this one daughter.

(Act like as if he wanted to beat him but he Moradiomntle

could not move and the Tlhogi father and
No one is allowed to talk with sacred guard
mother appeared from the door)
Tlhogi
Tlhokgi
I know that
What the hell are doing here?
And how do you allow Mapula to talk to that
What you think you are doing?
boy?
Tebogo

Forgive me father, I just wanted to see

Moradiomntle
Mapula.
Rra! Our daughter is Isolated from the world.
And I wanted to ask for hand in mirage.
For six months she has been imprisoned
I have all the cows you might need. among these walls.

Tlhokgi Tlhogi

If you value your life, you would leave She has you to talk to?
instantly. I don’t need your pity cows.
Moradiomntle
You, go back to the house, you are forbidden
Yes! we have spoken.
to talk to anyone beyond these walls.
And she has grown attached to child growing
(Mapula ran into the house)
inside her.
Tebogo
Tlhogi
I will come for you Mapula, you belong with
That is your fault!
me
Moradiomntle
With or without your fathers blessing, I shall
come for you and will raise that child as mine. The unfortunate thing is that I also have
No innocent child deserves to be killed. These grown fond of it. What is now killing here
7
Mapula –
Written & Directed by Sir T-Phahlane
inside is giving up this baby. She reminded me Ragadi
of the pain that I had to go through when I
(he left)
had to give up my baby.
Moradiomntle
I hate to see her going through that same pain
that I had to pass. Father please reconsider Ragadi
Tlhogi Moakgi
It’s too late now What rubbish are you conspiring?
Don’t you think I know the pain of giving up You want my nephew to neglect our
the kids. Those were also my kids that we had traditions.
to give away.
Insulting the Queen and the ancestors
Moradiomntle
Moradiomntle
It’s never too late! And I know how you felt.
Ragadi, with all due respect
I have seen the pain in your eyes when we
had to give away our children. I know that Its not easy.
deep down you feel her pain, that is why you Do you know the pain of seeing woman
are avoiding her. carrying and breastfeeding their kids and you
Let’s take what the young man had said. Let’s never had a chance to even hold yours in your
leave this behind arms.

Go to a place where culture ceases to exist. And even worse to see your only child going
Start afresh. A new life. through the same hardships as you.

I beg of you. Our child is in pain. And I am in Do you know how does it feel to have a
pain cursed body?

Lets go my husband. Lets leave. We have been Moakgi

through pain enough Your body is a blessing

Moradiomntle
Tlhogi For who Ragadi? Blessing for who
What about wealth were promised. We cant Why must we sacrifice our happiness for
give up now? other peoples bodies to be fat.
Moradiomntle An innocent unborn child has already be
I have you and you have me, we have got sentenced to death before he is even born.
each other and that is more than enough.

Moakgi Moakgi
Wahlanya? Wa tsenwa Why fight in a battle to win, if it has already
I have you, you have me. What is this been won? This is how things are meant to
madness? be. Mosadi o tswara thipa ka bohaleng!

Tlhogi
8
Mapula –
Written & Directed by Sir T-Phahlane
Hero’s are not meant o leave long but are anyone. After this child she will be moved to
meant to save us all. the mountains.

They have purpose to fulfil by using their I have entertained this conversation too much
physical bodies but will leave for ever as the and as far as I am concerned, this
spiritual beings. conversation never existed.

Moradiomntle Moradiomntle

It is time that culture and some traditions How do I have to cope in a place where there
change is no hope?

Moagi Tell me what is that?, that I have to do, if I

can’t undo the bitterness by adding a
Mahana hojwetsa o Bonwa ka digaba
sweetener in my tea.
Some battle’s are never meant for you to
I look at others with their smiles while I wait
fight. Sometimes you need to know the right
for a day that they can see my mine.
time to quit.
They pretend to lament my pain, while from
(She left)
my strain they continue to gain.
Moradiomntle
Sometimes I am going insane because my life
Please Ragadi has never been the same but just a slave for
the purpose of the rain. There is nothing that I
Talk to Tlhogi or talk to the royal highness that am gaining in this life than shame.
we shall keep the baby and move away from
here and they will never see us again. They are promising me a better life just as
long I butter their lives.
I beg of you!
How can I hold the sharpness of this knife that
Your highness and Tlhogi will listen to you. cuts so deep just to fulfil their personal needs.
Moagi Maybe they are right.
How could I do such a thing? It is time I protect my tears. It is time for me
Stop being so weak. If we don’t do what our and my daughter to search for a better life.
ancestors wants us to do our family will be Life here is lifeless. There is no rain that will
cursed wash away my pain.

Moradiomntle

But we are cursed already. Scene 6

Moagi {Lefellong started to set up the bamboo to

indicate that now it’s after 8 Months.
Don’t you dear dent a blessing with your
words! I would have you tung cut out. After than he tried to announce that it is time
and he got bump on the head by Tebogo.
Stop being so weak and putting your ideas in
this child. I told Tlhogi that this child should Moradiomontle, Mapula and Tebogo tried to
have to be placed in isolation at the sacred escape but they were stopped by Tlhogi}
caves. She should not be socializing with

9
Mapula –
Written & Directed by Sir T-Phahlane
Tlhogi Tebogo

Where do you think you are going to? You can be as much devasted as you want, we
are leaving
Moradiomntle
Tlhogi
My husband, please let us leave.
I told you that, you should not set your foot
I beg of you
here. You are very stubborn child.
Tlhogi
Tebogo
What are you trying to do? I trusted you. You
Let us pass or
supposes to support your husband and now
you are stabbing me at the back. Tlhogi

We have talk about this and I thought I was (Entered other guardians)
clear. Are you my wife or my enermy?
Or what?
I am very disappointed.
Take him away. Make sure that you feed him
Moradiomntle to the lions, and his bones to the hyenas.

Tlhogi please. Father of my child, king of my (leffelong woke up with a painful head)
soul
Leffelong
Tlhogi
Ke nako!
That wont work on me again. Your sweet
(After he said that, water broke from Mapula
words just run out of taste.
and was quickly rushed behind the bamboo
A snake that will soon meet its fate. Kraal, to give birth) {A spiritual dance was
performed until the child was born}
Mapula
[Moakgi came carrying an infant and gave to the
Father… father, who acknowledged that the infant is a baby
boy]
Tlhogi
Mapula came running and in pain and tried to take
I am not your father. her child but failed and the child was handed to the
I lost my daughter the day she came out of ritual guardians who then disappeared in the bush,
leaving Mapula and her mother in tears.
initiation. You don’t belong to me anymore, I
disown you.

Immediately after this child is born, they

should take you to the caves where you
belong. The End

Moradiomntle Witten and Directed by Sir-T

Phahlane
Father, I know that you are angry…

Tlhogi

I am not angry, I am disappointed.

Matter of fact, I am devastated!

10
Mapula –
Written & Directed by Sir T-Phahlane