PRESS: The story of BLING! hits Cape Town

NJ Moses Consultation

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Following a triumphant, sold-out debut at Wiener Festwochen 2024 (Vienna), and an acclaimed season at Afrovibes Festival 2025 (Amsterdam) award-winning South African actor, writer, and researcher Buhle Ngaba brings BLING! back home to African audiences. Her message for the local season, shared by her central character, is clear: "I want to sell out."

Photo Supplied.

Ngaba’s critical and commercial success overseas deserves to be repeated in the country where it was created, and her South African audience is set for a sell-out season.

It really is that deep: the story of South Africa told in diamonds

BLING! is directed by Ilana Dlangalala-Cilliers. It draws on the story of the Cullinan diamond, while the broader narrative dances and dazzles its way through South Africa’s journey towards democracy, intertwining history, culture and the pursuit of justice. Despite ongoing calls from the South African public for its return, the Cullinan Diamond is still held in British possession.

Drawing on the story of the Cullinan diamond, this production's broader narrative dances and dazzles its way through South Africa’s journey towards democracy, intertwining history, culture and the pursuit of justice by those whose fortunes have been forged by the industry.

Despite ongoing calls from the South African public for its return, the Cullinan Diamond is still held in British possession. In an era during which many African nations are advocating for the reparation of their cultural artefacts, this production personifies the historical gem as the charismatic, plucky, and eccentric Phatsima Khullinan – a diamond with a dream, and mission to rectify historical injustices and restore cultural heritage.

Set in a court of law, Phatsima’s tale traces the sharp edges of history: she is a naïve character probing within the present and past, providing opportunities to imagine alternative histories and futures beyond what we have accepted as our reality.

The significance of a South African season

Like our artefacts, South Africa’s artistic gems deserve a return to home soil for appreciation by local audiences. BLING! is in discussions to be featured at various European festivals, primarily targeting commercial audiences, but remains committed to bringing the production home to South Africa: ensuring accessibility and raising awareness about our rich mineral history while fostering audience engagement.

With theatre runs planned for Cape Town and Johannesburg, the production and its related events will spark conversations at home about the issues cleverly raised by its main character. To this end, a youth engagement programme will create opportunities for learners to engage at various levels with the topics and events explored in the production, enabling a meaningful first experience of theatre for these young audience members.

The word on the street about BLING!

BLING! cleverly plays with the question of reparations for stolen and looted goods from formerly colonized countries…. framed by the trial of Phatsoma… returning to their homeland only to discover they are neither welcome nor wanted. Their former status has changed, as the country itself has changed.” – Lily Climenhaga (Lost Dramaturgin), Resistance Theatre Reviews

“The metaphor of BLING! is much more than a parable of oppression by the colonial powers. Ngaba tells of functions and systems that are always inherited, that never stop” – Kurier newspaper

“Buhle Ngaba's solo BLING! not only tells the hilarious story of an escape but cleverly interweaves it with questions of oppression by colonial powers, restitution, exploitation of miners, violence and political legacy.” – Editor Culture & Media, Vienna

Beyond the BLING! Who is Buhle Ngaba?

Buhle Ngaba is a multi-award winning South African writer, researcher, speaker, actor and director. Her interests include developing new thought processes around the role of storytelling and creativity in unearthing and amplifying African women’s voices from the archive to inspire new narratives and push the boundaries of performance.

She is a recipient of the prestigious Brett Goldin bursary, the Barney Simon Trust Residency, and a Pro Helvetia Swiss Arts Council studio residency. She was nominated for a Fleur Du Cap Theatre Award for Best Leading Actress, has won two South African Kanna Theatre Awards including Best Upcoming Artist, and was most recently awarded Best Actress at 2025 Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees.

Notes for editors and members of the media

BLING!’s Cape Town season runs from 15 to 20 May at the Homecoming Centre. BLING’s Johannesburg season runs from 28 to 31 May at Market Theatre.

For more information about the production, please visit buhlengaba.com 

Follow Phatsima at @southafricasdiamond on Instagram

For more information about BLING! and to buy tickets, visit buhlengaba.com/portfolio/bling/.

BLING! is produced by Maru Factory in association with NJ Moses Consultation and NAC.