By: Nomvula Ndlovu

The Most United Knowledgeable Artists (MUKA) Projects will be jetting off to Denmark, Germany this Friday to showcase their artwork.

MUKA Projects is a Johannesburg based community outreach theatre group that hosts workshops to train the youth to become great artist.

Their performances  include gospel music, Zulu traditional dance, isicathamiya, stage plays and gumboots dance.

As part of their campaign in “under threat” township high schools around South Africa. The group showcased it talent at Phezulu High School in Hammersdale this Wednesday.

The school is known for violence and having a low matric pass rate.

Phezulu’s hall was full to capacity as matriculants from neighbouring schools, Ukusa High, Isibukosezwe and Uxolophambili, gathered for the event.

The opening was graced by an epic Isicathamiya performance and gospel choir by MUKA. It was then time for the highly anticipated  “Wrong Turn”.

The drama was about a group of restless grade 12 learners that abscond from school on Fridays to host house parties.

The individuals in the group came from different family backgrounds but compromised their true identify to fit in.

When under the influence of drugs and alcohol, they had unprotected sex amongst each other, fights broke out, they got in trouble with the police and their one shot of having a bright future was destroyed.

“The moral of the play was simply to educate the youth about how reckless behaviour can destroy a persons life and encouraging them to focus on their studies,” said script writer and director Nhlanhla Phakathi.

Uxolophambili High School student Minenhle Mthembu said the play was educative and entertaining.

“As teenagers we always do things to please our friends and we end up neglecting our morals,” added Mthembu.

Phezulu High School principal Obed Sibisi said, “This play by MUKA was a great play because it was about reality and it related to our students. We also wish them well on their trip to Denmark.”

Phakathi said Wrong Turn was a play mainly for the students and not for exhibition in Denmark.

“In Germany we will stage Wild Fire, a HIV/AIDS drama. I specifically wrote wrong turn for our high school tours because I felt that they would relate to it better than Wild Fire,” said Phakathi.

MUKA Projects will be in Denmark for the next three months showcasing South African talent.