Elephants Come Home

Elephants Come Home AKA Ouma Olifant / Makhulu Indlovu explores how elephants heal the wounds of the past and re-establish their bonds to humans, to their heritage and to their environment. The story is told from the point of view of a family of elephants. The family is lost without their matriarch. Her bones have not been laid to rest and they cannot hear the voice of their ancestors. Only through telling the painful story of the past can the elephants and humans resolve the conflict, build a new relationship, and establish the connections they need to thrive. This is a powerful metaphor for our current economic crisis and encourages young people to draw on their own heritage to find solutions to modern issues.

The show made it’s debut in May 2023 and was performed for more than 1 000 primary school learners as part of the Franschhoek Literary for Reading Program. In June 2023 is was also performed at Jungle’s African Folktales Festival at the Masque Theatre. The show will soon be making it’s way to the KKNK festival in Oudsthoorn. More information here.

The show is 40 minutes in duration and told using English, Afrikaans, and isiXhosa, with live African music and use of physical theatre and an elephant mask. It is most suitable for Grades 4-7. A post-show workshop is also available.

directed by:

Heather Gielink

currently starring:

Noxolo Magadla, Zizipho Gcasamba, Marvin Safoor, Siyawandisa Badi

funded by:

  • National Lotteries Commission
  • HCI Foundation
  • MAID Foundation
  • KKNK Festival