{"product_id":"house-of-truth-bloke-and-his-american-bantu-two-plays-9781776148875","title":"House of Truth \u0026 Bloke and His American Bantu: Two Plays","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eSiphiwo Mahala\u003c\/i\u003e delves into the lives of iconic figures from South Africa's tumultuous past in this remarkable collection of plays. The collection opens with \u003ci\u003eThe House of Truth\u003c\/i\u003e, which explores the complexity of Can Themba, a fearless journalist, playwright and poet living under an oppressive apartheid regime. The one-man play weaves together elements of Themba's life and career, recreating the excitement and pathos of the DRUM era South Africa's first magazine for a black audience, and his resident neighborhood, Sophiatown in Johannesburg, before it was destroyed by apartheid legislation. Themba is brought back to life as an ordinary person with human flaws and attributes both tragic and inspirational. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn the second play, Bloke and His American Bantu. Mahala brings to life the extraordinary lives of Bloke Modisane, a South African writer exiled in London, and Langston Hughes, the renowned American poet. This two-hander play celebrates their remarkable camaraderie and intellectual exchange. Through a reimagined correspondence, the play deftly explores how a simple friendship blossomed into a catalyst for international solidarity and cultural exchange across continents, from Africa to the UK to America. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAs a whole, the plays explore the intersections of identity, creativity and resistance. With wit, poise, and unflinching honesty, they bring to life the triumphs and struggles of these remarkable men who left an indelible mark on their worlds, and celebrate the human spirit's capacity to persevere, inspire and uplift.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Siphiwo Mahala\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Wits University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 02\/01\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 128\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.35lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.27d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781776148875","brand":"Wits University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45155979100297,"sku":"9781776148875","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0636\/9240\/6921\/files\/img_39a43d7c-e207-4ab5-a121-2de038abbf1d.jpg?v=1768293628","url":"https:\/\/sonsanddaughtersbooks.com\/products\/house-of-truth-bloke-and-his-american-bantu-two-plays-9781776148875","provider":"Sons and Daughters Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}