Musicals have helped keep the legacy of great artists alive long after they left this world – this is what motivated Sello Maake ka-Ncube to spend the past year working on Africa’s Own Madonna: the Lebo Mathosa Musical. Auditions for the stage musical started a few days ago, but ka-Ncube admitted that he has yet to find the right talent to make the ambitious show happen.

“It was inspired by Mamma Mia and We Will Rock You and how their music is kept alive by turning them into musicals,” ka-Ncube told Timeslive. He added that the person who steps into the shoes of the music legend will have be able to sing, dance, act and be “drop-dead gorgeous”.

The renowned thespian, best known for his role as Daniel Nyathi in the soapie Scandal, co-wrote the musical with Sibongile Ngubane and will also be directing it. Africa’s Own Madonna will tell the story of Mathosa, who rose to fame in the early Nineties as part of the kwaito group Boom Shaka, later embarking on a successful solo career. She was tragically killed in 2006 when her driver lost control of the car they were travelling in.

Following the death of singer Brenda Fassie in 2004, she told the Mail & Guardian: “You can’t deny death, you can’t fear it. I’m sure God has a better place for us, if you’re a believer.” Whether this deeper side of her will be reflected in the play remains to be seen, but with her larger-than-life persona and stage presence there is certainly a lot to work with. Ka-Ncube already had to tweak the script to align his ambitious vision with local talent.

By James Francis