National Arts Festival

Mqambi weNyembezi Vuka

Isiba Arts Collective

Theatre / St Andrew's Hall

Mqambi weNyembezi Vuka is a poignant exploration of the profound impact of absent fathers on the lives of young men. Through a series of interconnected vignettes, the production delves into the challenges faced by individuals navigating the transition from boyhood to manhood without the guidance and support of a paternal figure.

The play examines themes of identity, belonging, and the search for meaning in the absence of a traditional father-son relationship. Through powerful storytelling and compelling performances, Mqambi weNyembezi Vuka offers a thought-provoking reflection on the enduring influence of family dynamics and the universal human longing for connection.

Production Credits

Writer & Director

Lukho Noyila

Performers

Amahle Nzama

Mbalentle Wowo

Mbonge Ngomani

Yondisa Mhlaluka

Lakheni Ntsodo

Nokulunga Masia

Nomfundo Botha

Lighting Designer

Buntu Tyali

Stage Manager

Yonela Macibela

About the Artists

DIRECTOR

Lukho Noyila is a dynamic theatre maker, choreographer, director, and teacher based in Cape Town, with a focus on innovative performance, youth facilitation, and cultural storytelling. As Founder and Artistic Director of Isiba Arts Collective, Noyila drives performing arts projects that blend choreography, dramaturgy, and voice to amplify marginalised narratives.

Noyila's early career includes performing with Magnet Theatre's Culture Gangs from 2016–2020, facilitated by Zukisani Nongongo and continued to Assitej South Africa's Take a Child to Theatre – and Facilitated Istimelo (train), through physical theatre. In 2025, He co-directed The 10 Children Project (facilitated by Faye Kabali-Kagwa) through Assitej South Africa.

Noyila is currently a student at the University of Cape Town's Centre for Theatre & Dance Performance Studies, doing his BA Honours in Theatre, he excelled in theatre making and choreography, including Summer Sweet Juice and That Thing Called Intuition (2024). He served as Assistant Director for Land of Khinyinyi Reimagined (2024, course convener: Senior Lecturer Maxwell Xolani Rani) and contributed to final-year graduate exams with Fragmented Hearts in Chaos (course convener: Associate Professor Jacki Job) and the Final Year Theatre Maker Festival: Mqambi weNyembezi Vuka (course convener: Mandla Mbothwe). In 2025, Noyila participated in African Gumbo with “Unxano” Thirst (choreographed by Maxwell Xolani Rani, dramaturgy and voice by Lukho Noyila).

In arts administration, Noyila is Stage Manager for College of Magic's Children’s Magic Family Show and Ikasi Magic Show working with artistic director: Chad Findlay. For the Young Professional Series 2025, they administrated Mqambi weNyembezi Vuka Re-imagined (choreographed and written by Lukho Noyila) and the BabaYaya Young Choreographers Residency's Parad-ox (choreographed and performed by Lukho Noyila).

Noyila's production Mqambi weNyembezi Vuka, written and directed for the National Arts Festival Fringe 2025, earned the Standard Bank Bronze Ovation Award. He premiered his second show, called Ityala in 2025.