The Hungry Earth

                                                                 ( My commonts on `The Hungry Earth`)

            ‘Hungry Earth’ is  a multifaceted play. For that  reason it is not determine precisely what it is and how to approach it. All black South Africans had been personally affected discriminatory practice of the apartheid system. Maponya’s play shows the hallmarks of the black consciousness movement in a number of ways. The hungry earth under went numerous metamorphoses before being presented in the form in which it would eventually be published in 1980.

            Hungry Earth emphasis on a non naturalistic performance style. This play mainly focuses on social, economic, cultural effects of South Africans labour system in 1970’s . Black people were given cheap labour power for various industries . The Hungry Earth explores several issues  using episodic structure. Episodic structure is very useful to present the problem faced by black people. They faces several  problem in mines, Train, Plantation etc., The play justify the industrial exploitation. Prologue itself gave  some picture about the society existed in 1970’s. Gumboot dance was used to express black man’s feelings to others, they were not allowed to speak to one another.     

            Racial discrimination is the main theme in this play. Ordinary black south African people were faced  several problem in their  work place. They were tortured by white people. The play ‘Hungry Earth’ moves  through six episode. Ie, the hostal, the plantation , the train, the mine and two episode of compound.

            Four characters place a prominent role  in this play. Their dialogues represents colonial, exploitation, nationalism in Africa and anti- colonial struggle. Most powerful  lines in this  play is ;

                  Mother Afrika wake up

                  And arm yourself

                  Wipe the tears of your brave

                  Mother Afrika wake up

                   Lest umlungu rapes you

                   Lest umlungu rapes you

                        These lines represents black people thirst to become liberate their country in the hands of white. In the  second  episode, the plantation, 13 years old children were working in a plantation. A visitor came and asked the details of time of their work ( 5am to 3pm)  and the wages they got ( 50c). Through the questioning of a visitor we  got an idea about exploitation in labour. Actually visitor is writer  in this play, his main  intention is to explore the pathetic condition of black people existed in South Africa.

            In the third episode , the train, black people were arrested for petty cases. White  man were spectatory and black are only victims. Sethotho a character in the play, commented the situation existed in his country while he was talking to Beshwane

            Sethotho : “Hey , my father lived in the city of Gold and he told me there are so many crimes  against the law of the white man  of which  black people might unwittingly be guilty”

            At the end of this episode Usiviko described the incident happended in Train. “Most of black people were requested to produce passes and permits. Those who failed to produce  spent two weeks in jail and were deported to their respective homes on their release. This is the in human and unjust procedure to endorse the unjust laws that make another a stranger in the land of his birth and rob him of his freedom to move wherever he wants. Is freedom not the law of nature? Then what?”

            No blackmen lived in South Africa can say the answer of this question.

            Fourth episode, the mine , lot of  black men died in mine at Carleton ville. The title of this play came from the words of Matchoko in fourth scene.

                   “I looked back into the tunnel

                    Where my brothers were being

                    Eaten by this hungry earth”

                        This play focuses the non – violence movement against the white people dominance. Usviko’s words proves this.

            “We are not violent people. And this is a peaceful demonstration. Come everybody..”

            Five and six episode described the Gumboot dance of black people. Tourist were coming to see  Gumboot dance. All were wanted to see and enjoy Gumboot dance. They were not anxious  about the sufferings of black people. At  the end of this play  a women, named  Chirago appeared and explored her sufferings.

            The Hungry Earth used  Zulu in some of its  songs and dialogue as an affirmation  of black south African’s  cultural heritage. This tactic must have  had a powerful  resonance at a time when the country’s  two official languages were English and Africans, and zulu was banned in educational contexts. As a part  of culture  the play  also incorporates  a ‘traditional Gumboot dance’,  it was the only way of communication between  black workers who were not allowed  to speak to one another.