! 2!

!CONTENTS

PG 3…… Introduction

5……. background 6…………... synopsis 7………………….Cast 8-12………Cast continued

! 3!

Introduction

Ndaba ka Ngwane in association with Emamba Entertainment and Sho Leyo Productions

present UHLANGA The Mark. This South African feature film was shot in various locations

around KwaZulu-Natal including Dududu; KwaDumisa and KwaCele on the South Coast

of the province as well as Durban, KwaSanti, Pinetown and Pietermaritzburg. Some

scenes were shot in Johannesburg.

The production team is headed by Ndaba ka Ngwane as writer; director and producer

of the film. Ndaba ka Ngwane is an award winning author and playwright. His literary

works include his award winning Zulu novel “Mhlaba Sengiyakwazi”, which literally means

“I’m Talking From Experience”. Ndaba has staged various theatre productions including

Rain; After Tears; The Red Red Rose and Ronnie’s Underwear. His film credits include a

short film Sindisiwe, which he wrote, produced and directed in 2007. He also featured in

a local series When We Were Black, which aired on SABC 1 in 2007 and had a re-run 2010.

Ndaba also works as a radio presenter for a community radio station based in

Pietermaritzburg called Umgungundlovu 107.6 fm. He hosts “The Madhouse”, a youth

oriented show on Fridays between 8 and 10pm. In the recent past he was contracted by

the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts and Culture as an independent professional

mentor for aspirant writers; directors; producers and actors , as well as a Coordinator and

judge in Umgungundlovu District Film Auditions, which were a great success.

Ndaba is also a Finance graduate from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) with

Accounting and Auditing majors. He had a successful 14-year extensive senior

management experience in Finance as a Financial Manager and Chief Financial Officer

in the private and public sectors, respectively before moving onto the equally exciting

and fulfilling career as a theatre and film producer

! 4!

Khulekani Zondi

(Director of Photography; Editor and Music Supervision)

Khulekani Zondi is the Director of Photography in the film. As Director of

Photography he is responsible for selecting all camera equipment for the

production and liaising with the technical director. He also decides what

lights and related camera equipment are needed and procures these.

The Director of Photography is ultimately in charge of the photographic

quality of the show and heads up the two production units which were

involved in the project.

Khulekani started his career filming and documenting rural life and African

music, including Maskandi music. He is a Music graduate from the

University of KwaZulu-Natal. He is a music producer and a musician in his

own right. He has opened stages for the likes of Maroon 5; One Republic;

Eddy Grant and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. He is also the Founder of

Emamba Music and Entertainment.

! 5!

Background

UHLANGA

In Zulu mythology, Uhlanga is the marsh from which humanity was born.

There also various other meanings including:-

- Root; stem or ancestry

- A mark that one makes with a razor or any sharp object on one’s

face or body for cultural or ethnic reasons.

- The marks are synonymous with certain clans within the Zulu tribe

(Zondi; Nzimande; Zuma and others)

- The mark is made on a child’s face as a symbol of that particular

clan, to incorporate the child into the clan and as an introduction

to the clan’s ancestors.

- Uhlanga also means a razor cut that one makes and smears a

special blend of traditional medicine (“umuthi”) for healing

purposes. This is usually done by or on the advice of a traditional

healer.

- There is also a belief that families of witches make the mark on their

children’s bums with a super-powerful blend of “umuthi” to

empower them to carry on the tradition of witchcraft.

- UHLANGA LOMHLABATHI (Salt of the Earth) refers to His Majesty the

Zulu King, Zwelithini ka Dinizulu.

! 6!

Synopsis

The film follows three young rural teenagers through their daily struggles of

poverty; abuse; prejudice; their trials which ultimately put them on the sharp and

ruthless edges of their young lives; their triumphs as they keep their heads up in

the face of death and destruction.

Khaba Mkhize’s life is turned upside down at the tender age of nine when he

watches helplessly as his father is doused with gasoline and burned to death.

Khaba; his mother and two younger sisters move to another village to seek

refuge, but a generational curse seems to follow them wherever they go. They

have witnessed some villagers being incarcerated in the tribal court for weeks on

end and beaten, starved, and tortured in order to extract a confession. They live

in fear and unsure of waking up in one piece.

Thuli Mhlongo is the envy of all the village girls and their mothers alike. She is

beautiful, smart and focused. She is every boy’s dream girl and every mother’s

dream future daughter-in-law. In everybody’s eyes Thuli is…perfect. Her struggles;

pain and despair cannot be seen with the naked eye. They are much deeper

than any eye can reach. Her biggest wish is to learn how to play chess as she

believes this will lead to restoration of who she really is, an innocent seventeen-

year old girl full of hopes and dreams. She believes mastering this so-called

game of geniuses will allow her to reclaim what was violently taken away from

he. Her innocence; her humanity and womanhood.

Sixteen year old Prudence Ngwenya only knows one word, MONEY. She knows

it’s the only ticket to a better life. “The end justifies the means” has been her

motto throughout her young life. She knows there’s more to life than the four

walls of her mother’s mud house.

! 7!

!

KHEHLA&NGWANE!Young&Khaba&Mkhize!!

Sbo&Da&Poet!Khaba&Mkhize!!

JOHANNES&MKHIZE&Khaba’s'father&!

NELLY&NGWANE&Young'Khaba’s'mother&!

SINDY&NTSHABA&Thanda&!

NOSIHLE&MGOBHOZI&Senzeni&!

! 8!

THEMBEKA&MKHIZE&'Maka'Mthembeni&!

BAKHANYISILE&CELE&'Older'Khaba’s'mother&!

THULI&KHUMALO&'Thuli'Mhlongo&!

MTHOKOZISI&NZIMANDE&Njomane&&!

NTSIKI&JACOBS&Mangcobo,Thuli’s'mother&!

NDUDUZO&NCWANE&Mvelo&!

! 9!

NONKULULEKO&ZAMA&Miss'Zulu&!

GUGU&DLAMINI&“INDLOVU”&Sis'Makhosi&!

QHAMKILE&MHLONGO&Prudence’s'mother&!

NOMFUNDO&DUBAZANA&Prudence&&!

NDABA&KA&NGWANE&&Sydney&Khoza&&!

NDUMISO&HLONGWANE&Mbongeni'Guma&!

! 10!

NOMPILO&CELE&'Sindy&!

FALAKHE&MTOLO&Mr'Mzobe,'School'Principal&!

STHOKOZILE&NGWENYA&Mbali&!

KHOLWANE&MVELASE&Main'Bully&!

NKANYISO&MATHUNJWA&Bully'3&!

THEMBA&MAGOSO&Bully'2&!

! 11!

PHUMZILE&KUNENE&'Primrose&!

PHILANI&DUBE&'Goodman&!

BRIGHT&DLUNGWANE&Smanga&!

NTUTHUKO&MBAMBO&Bully'4&!

PHILLIP&MCHUNU&Mbuyazi&!

LINDA&SIBIYA&&Mandla&T&!

! 12!

CONTACT DETAILS

Ndaba ka Ngwane

Fax: 086 218 6033

Email: ndaba@uhlanga.com

Web: www.uhlanga.com

© 2012 Ndaba ka Ngwane Pictures

APHIWE CELE

ALONDWE NGWANE

MAMNCANE CELE

PHILILE DUBE

VUMANI KHUMALO

BONGUMUSA XUBA

SAKHAMUZI “KITI” SHANGE

THOKOZANI ZULU

NHLANHLA CELE

SIZWE CELE

NICOLE NGIBA

THOBEKA NGCOBO

KHULEKANI S. NDLELA

VULLY A. SHANGE

AYANDA JALI

JULIE MBAMBO

ZWELI MAGOJO

MPUME MBUTHO

ISIZINDA HIGH PUPILS

MARGOT HIGH PUPILS

REONA NGIBA

ANATHI GOBENI

WANDILE NGCOBO

WANDILE MASONDO

MDUDUZI MAPHUMULO

STHOKOZILE NYAWOSE

KHWEZI MDABE

PRECIOUS DUBE

SINDISWA SOKHULU

SIBUSISO DLAMINI

MBUSO NZAMA

NTOMBIFUTHI MBAMBO

SLINDILE SITHOLE

LUNGILE ZULU

THULISILE MSOMI

BONGA KHANYILE

KHETHA ZULU

LINDO NZAMA

PHUMLA CELE

SAYITSHENI CELE

LASHI HLONGWA

SPECIAL MENTION NANA KHUZWAYO

DUDU ROSE

MR & MRS BONGA CELE

CELE FAMILY (VUKANI STORE)

KWASANTI SECONDARY (KSS)

KSS TEACHERS

KSS GOVERNING BODY

MR DLAMINI

MR KHUMALO

MR MTOLO

KSS PUPILS

CEDARS FARM

CEDARS FARM WORKERS

ETHOPIAN CHRISTIAN CHURCH

“AMATOPIYA” (kwaDUMISA)

D.T. VIDEO PRODUCTIONS

OTHER CAST

MAIN PRODUCTION TEAM

Writer, Producer & Director NDABA KA NGWANE

Director of Photography; Editor & Music Supervision KHULEKANI ZONDI Graphics LUNGA SHEZI

Colorist WILLIAM KALMER Sound ANDREW SUTHERLAND

Musicians : Khulekani Zondi; Msweli Nxele; Nonhle Mhlongo “Skye Wanda”; Philani Dube; Tresor Riziky

Dancers : Sesenza Nje Drama; Ikhono Elibuciko

Poets : Zama Msibi “Umgulukudu”; Phumzile Zondo; Zonke Le Poet; Thuli Khumalo; Sbo Da Poet