The Long and Winding Road, Travelled by Ben Fihla

The history of the people of South Africa is the history of everyone living in this country. The history has had phases over centuries. A time before colonialism, a time of repression, and the time of the NOW. The time of freedom, peace and democracy in our land. Whilst many would isolate Nelson Mandela as the champion of freedom, peace, unity and democracy, he was not man-alone. Amongst the captains, generals, lieutenants and soldiers of Oneness was Nkosinathi Ban Fihla, who many affectionately call Oom Ben. The current sitting mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.

As part of Legacy Projects and confirming the Eastern Cape as a Province of Legends, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has commissioned The Opera House to devise a performance that will trace the history of the people of South Africa. Within that history to locate people like Dawid Stuurman, Chief Maqoma (first inmates in Robben Island),Vuyisile Mini (first man to hung), Nelson Mandela, Robert Sobukhwe, Steve Biko, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Ben Fihla and others.

The production is called : The Long and Winding Road, Travelled by Ben Fihla. The production will open at Opera House on 11 December 2014, go to further refinement and return with a full run in March 2015.

This will be the feast of song and dance. A music piece that embodies our spirit of Social Cohesion. No matter how bad our past was, it is our past. No matter how good the present is, we have to share it amongst all of us. Ours as a collective is the hope for the better future. Makuyiwe!