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June 1, 2014

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Mandela opera closes over lack of funds

AN opera telling the life story of the late South African icon Nelson Mandela showed only three performances before it closed down for lack of funds, its producer said on Monday.

“Madiba: The African Opera” premiered at the State Theater in Pretoria but was forced to close three days later when it ran out of money to pay performers.

“This is due to non-payment from Lotto,” said producer Unathi Mtirara, who is also Mandela’s grand-nephew.

“We are still waiting for them to pay, we couldn’t continue pending that deal.”

The opera, which tells the early life of the anti-apartheid icon who died last year, was supposed to move to Mandela’s childhood village and final resting place Qunu from Pretoria.

It was then expected to tour South Africa before heading overseas.

Mandela, who was South Africa’s first black president, died on December 5 at the age of 95 after a lengthy illness.

The National Lottery is a source of funding for many art programmes and charities, but sometimes struggles to cover some of the applicants.




 

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