WITH race relations still a major issue confronting Bermudians, it is perhaps appropriate the local African community has chosen this month to stage Sizwe Bansi is Dead - a classic of the South African stage. <@$p>The play is a biting satire of the oppressive apartheid regime in 1970s South Africa. Its theme - the injustices of racism and oppression - are both timeless and, in the case of Bermuda, timely.“The presentation represents a revival of African theatre in Bermuda,” says Charles Vanderpuye, one of the men behind the production. “The African community has been growing quite rapidly in the last few years and we believe this is one of the many ways in which we can contribute to the cultural life of Bermuda.”

Written by white South African playwright Athol Fugard, Sizwe Bansi has won numerous awards and critical acclaim - when it first opened in New York in 1981 the Times>critic hailed it as “triumphant”. Thirty years on the play is still preformed around the world including now, for the first time, Bermuda.

“We realised that the African community here is growing to sizeable numbers and felt we needed to present something of our culture to Bermuda. We got together to plan something and we decided on this play.”

Mr. Vanderpuye explained that the plot tells the story of a man who must assume a new identity because a wrong stamp in his passport denies him access to his family and job. According to Mr. Vanderpuye, the story is particularly relevant to a Bermudian audience.

“Race relations appear to be problematic in Bermuda and this play is one example of how the arts can be used to respond to oppression of any sort. Another reason to watch this play is its entertaining nature,” he said.” It is a play which uses humour to deal with a serious issue.”

Rotimi Martins and Human Rights Commissioner Ayo Johnson are producing the play under the direction of Niyi Coker Jr., a professor of African Literature at the University of Missouri at St. Louis.

“The African Community currently has about 100 members on our mailing list but we believe we have about 200 Africans in Bermuda at present. In any case we are here in enough numbers to really make a positive impact to Bermudian society,.” said Mr. Vanderpuye - a surveyor by trade who hails from Ghana in western Africa.

He explained that one of the play’s aims is to raise awarness and interest in African culture. “Africa is a huge continent. People tend to group all countries in to one, but that’s not the case at all. Africa is a very diverse continent—we hope eventually Bermudians might try to go to Africa on vacation, because not many do at the moment,” he said.

“We have Africans here from all over. There are people from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa - even Morocco. It’s very diverse, like Africa itself.”

While he concedes that the African population here does have some difficulty organising itself, Mr. Vanderpuye believes they are united in a common experience.

“Most (Africans) love this country, even though it’s very different from where they come from. In Ghana, for instance, if you see a white person you assume he is tourist. Here they aren’t tourists, but white Bermudians. But there are some similarities - the climate, for example.

Although this is the first major African play in Bermuda in recent memory, Mr. Vanderpuye hopes it will be the first of many to come.

“The situation in South Africa has thankfully changed, but there are many other parts of the world where on group of people considers itself superior to another.

“This is a play to make you think, but which will also entertain you.”

It is to be hoped, no doubt, that when the curtain rises at City Hall next week that the healing power of art will have its way once more.

Athol Fugard’s Sizwe Banzi is Dead runs from July 25 - 28 at City Hall Theatre at 8pm with a Matinee show on July 28 at 1pm. Tickets are available at Rock Island Coffee, Bermuda Bookstore, Music Box, Caesars Pharmacy anU>www.boxofice.bm for $25 or $30 at the door.