So long Aldo, so long

Staff Writer | Wednesday December 1, 2010 00:00

A former coordinator of the now famous Annual Maitisong Festival, Aldo has since 2006 been the Head Of Department of drama at Maitisong, teaching and coordinating drama and performing studies at the school rated among the top five in Africa. 

However, before he goes, there is one last bow by the highly talented artist for lovers of theatre and musical performances in Gaborone.

Aldo has managed to squeeze in two more controversial acts on the verge of his leaving: THE MOIST CAKE - (Our version of The Vagina Monologues) that will feature the talents of Tumie Ramsden, Tshepo Ntshole and Ayanda Khala.

The show opens on Monday, December 6 at Botswana Craft and includes a light meal. And the final and perhaps most fitting end to this chapter of Aldo's work in Gabs, is that he is directing the first half of the President's Concert on December 10. Entitled LIGHT, this production promises to be an intense mix of visual and verbal imagery. Aldo will be missed not only by colleagues and his students, but also by the Gaborone arts and theatre community and the audiences that have come to enjoy his unique theatre works. 'My first visit to Gabs was in 2001. I was invited to perform at the Maitisong Festival and I instantly fell in love with Gaborone and Botswana.

My performance was incredibly well received.

From then, I was invited back every year and when my predecessor resigned back in 2005, I was approached to apply for the job.

Thus began the love-affair that lasted five years!' says Aldo with a shy smile!

During his time at Maruapula, Aldo's creativity has exploded into the community. With hit production following hit production, such as Mbongeni Ngema's SARAFINA - selling a record amount of tickets in over 14 sold out performances - Love and Death on Kgale Hill (a love story set in the majestic Kgale Hills); Kgosi, the Moon & the Baboon (a tender look at an AIDS orphan) which toured to a theatre in Durban to rave reviews; and his innocent, yet profound Say It Isn't So which toured to New York, Boston and Connecticut.

Aldo also launched the startling Junk't Fashion Show at Marupaula, which encouraged the idea of making fashion out of waste products and recyclable materials.

Their most recent instalment featured models being lowered (by a 50 tone JCB), into a shallow pond - which was the runway.

The Junk't Fashion show series was an enormous success with many organisations in Gaborone copying the idea.

Aldo was invited by many local artists to assist sharpen their acts too.

'I remember watching people like Puna and Nono performing at Millennium for P100 and I thought these people need to be performing all over the world! So I put together a concept and a brand entitled Fine Women of Jazz, Botswana - which also featured the talents of Kia and Nnunu.

The show was an instant hit with the women running on with his idea and to this day, their shows attract a large audience wherever they perform.  'But the most dazzling performer I have met here in Gaborone, without a doubt, is Shanti Lo.

'I think he has true star qualities. He rose to the challenge of performing at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, South Africa, when I designed his show, Shanti Lo in Concert - and I have secured him a performance at next year's Bush Fire Festival in Swaziland.

'I am convinced that once he goes to Swaziland, international doors will open for him like never before!' proudly proclaims Aldo., adding, 'It gives me great pleasure to watch people like Kia going from nothing, to performing at corporate events and I know she will do so for a very long time; I feed off that kind of success!'

Aldo says he has been approached by many more artistes, but his time here is limited. He has resigned from Maruapula as from next year.

However, Aldo says he will be travelling the world, starting with Mexico.  'But  'I'll be back in a year to open a restaurant-live performance venue somewhere in Gabs.

I love it here and Gabs seems to love me too,' he concludes.