'I would have married Madiba'
2005-01-31 12:24
Gail Smith
Johannesburg - The late jazz legend, Dolly Rathebe, speaks candidly about her relationship with Nelson Mandela in a documentary to hit the big screen this week.
A new documentary on Sophiatown, to be screened in cinemas from Friday, makes some startling revelations about some of South Africa's musical and political icons.
Directed by Pascal Lamche, Sophiatown, a documentary made in the jazz idiom, includes an interview with African jazz icon Dolly Rathebe, who died in September last year.
Other musicians who feature in the documentary are the Manhattan Brothers, Hugh Masekela, Dorothy Masuka, Abigail Kubeka, Tete Mbambisa, the African Ink Spots, Stompie Manana and Pat Matshikiza.
In the film, Rathebe speaks candidly about her life as a gangster's moll in Sophiatown and alludes to a relationship she claims she had with former president Nelson Mandela in the early '90s.
Mandela featured in the film
Mandela, who is featured in the film, speaks glowingly of Rathebe and of other musicians of the era.
But it is Rathebe's hinting of a relationship with Mandela which is probably the most startling aspect of the film. Rathebe reflects on her meeting with Mandela after his release from prison.
Mandela, Rathebe says, greeted her by saying: "Dolly! Can you still sing the blues?"
In the film, Rathebe also reveals that Mandela surprised her by buying her a car. She says she was deeply moved by the gesture.
"One day I got a phone call from Madiba's office to say that the president had just bought me a car. I was crying. It was unbelievable."
Rathebe then unexpectedly reflects on what life would've been like had she become Mandela's wife: "I don't think I would've fitted inside, being a president's wife. There's no secrecy and no privacy.
"You're in the bathroom, and there's someone. I don't know what happens in the bedroom. Are there security guards in the bedroom, too?"
'I would have married him'
Rathebe then lapses into a moment of deep reflection and poignantly says: "If he would've asked me to marry him, I would've done so."
In the film, she also sings a version of Ntyilo Ntyilo, saying that it was Madiba's favourite song.
Lamche's documentary provides other startling revelations by musicians of that era. It is a startling film that provides a fresh perspective on an era that has been done to death.
Lamche's interviews with musicians are framed against moving live performances of some of the greatest musicians to emerge from South Africa.
- City Press