Khoes is a powerful and emotionally driven stage production that tells the story of a young Khoi-San girl whose life is shaped by oppression, sacrifice, and a longing for freedom. Denied the opportunity to attend school, Khoes is forced to remain on the farm to assist her mother with the daily hardships of survival. While she dreams of a different life in the city, a life of possibility and dignity, her reality remains rooted in poverty and systemic marginalisation.

In a devastating act of desperation, her mother sells Khoes to the Botswana Chief, Mokoena, in exchange for the community’s right to remain on their ancestral land. This transaction is driven by the looming threat of forced removal, as the Chief seeks to displace the Khoi-San people from the farm and claim ownership of their territory. Through Khoes’ personal journey, the production exposes deep social injustices, including child exploitation, forced displacement, gender oppression, and the ongoing struggle of indigenous communities for land and identity.

The play offers a poignant reflection on the cost of survival, the erosion of cultural rights, and the resilience of a young girl caught between tradition, power, and her dreams of freedom. Khoes is both a heartbreaking and necessary narrative that gives voice to the silenced and confronts audiences with the harsh realities faced by marginalised communities, while also celebrating the enduring spirit of resistance and hope.

Production Credits