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Mandela opera cancelled after three performances
According to the producer of "Madiba: The African Opera" there are no funds because the Lotto did not pay out the promised amount.
Kutlwano Masote, Unathi Mtirara and Sibusiso Njeza from Madiba the African Opera.
Kutlwano Masote, Unathi Mtirara and Sibusiso Njeza from Madiba the African Opera.

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 Monday.

Madiba: The African Opera premiered on Friday at the State Theatre 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 grandnephew. "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 be moved to Mandela's childhood village and final resting place Qunu from Pretoria. It was then expected to tour South Africa before heading overseas.

South Africa's first democratically elected president died on December 5 at the age of 95 after a lengthy illness. Several books and movies about his life have been produced locally and abroad, including the The Long Walk to Freedom featuring Idris Alba.

The State Theatre confirmed the cancellation of performances but refused to give details on the private production. The National Lottery is a source of funding for many art programmes and charities, but sometimes struggles to cover some of the applicants. – Sapa-AFP