Brothers in arms? Lucian Msamati (Kayode), Pamela Nomvete (Mama), Ashley Zhangazha (Kunle). Picture by Alastair Muir
Play: Belong
Theatre: Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Upstairs
Playwright: Bola Agbaje
Review by Joy Francis
Belong, Bola Agbaje’s latest play, is a far cry from her Olivier Award winning debut Gone Too Far! set on a Peckham estate. Pigeonholed as an urban youth playwright, Belong shows Agbaje in grown up mode with flashes of satire in a tale of political misdirection and identity crises.
Nigerian-born Kayode’s dream of being a Black British MP is scuppered when he accuses a black opponent – of being racist. Forlorn and dejected, with the debacle trending on Twitter, Kayode, played by Lucian Msamati, takes to his sofa for days, much to the frustration of his wife Rita (Noma Dumezweni).
Kayode is convinced that he lost because he was Nigerian. Rita reminds him that he alienated his voters who thought he was a “coconut”. He claims she never listens to him. It doesn’t help when their friend Fola, a hilarious Jocelyn Jee Esien, flies in from Nigeria, all designer hair, nails and heels. Fola represents old world Nigeria, where a woman’s place is to look hot, keep house, support her man and bear children.
Fola gives a hard sell of Nigeria as the place for them both to start again. Rita is unimpressed and has no love for her country of origin. Kayode listens and decides to “take a break” in Nigeria and see his mother. Rita wonders if he wants a break from the marriage.
Kayode’s break turns into a severe culture clash. His religious, wealthy and strong willed mother Mama, impressively played by Pamela Nomvete, welcomes him like a returning hero. In his absence she took in a former street boy Kunle (a persuasive Ashley Zhangazha) to groom for political success.
Kunle treats Kayode as an English man with no understanding of Nigeria. Mama tries to make them brothers. Kayode finds himself pitted against Kunle, the Nigerian criminal justice system and corrupt officials. When he realises how far the unscrupulous Chief Olowolaye (Richard Pepple) will go to gain power, with Kunle as his puppet, Kayode decides to stand against him in the local elections with devastating results.
Running at 90 minutes with no interval, the time flies by, fuelled by sharp, pithy, laugh out loud dialogue that often rings true and makes you think – hard. The question of where you “belong”, despite your ancestry or citizenship, is driven home with great candidness.
This co-production between the Royal Court and Tiata Fahodzi shines under the direction of Indhu Rubasingham, of Ruined, Fabulation and Women, Power & Politics fame. An actors’ director, Rubasingham’s pacing and intimate style brings out confident, rounded and impressive performances.
Msamati, as usual, is faultless. His Kayode is a bundle of self absorbed political aspirations resting on a tortured soul. Esien’s Fola provides the comic relief, which at times seems at risk of going off the edge only to be reined in with great deftness. Dumezweni’s Rita is infused with passionate restraint and painful longing for the children she never had for her husband’s career.
Then there is Pamela Nomvete. Her performance steers just the right side of ferocious matriarchy and naive political optimism. Her emotional weight, misguided vision and sheer stage presence is unforgettable.
If you want to be moved by politics, in the wake of one of the lowest turnouts for a local election on 5 May, then take a seat and cast your winning vote.
Belong is on until 26 May before transferring to CLF Art Café at the Bussey Building from 31 May to 23 June as part of Royal Court’s Theatre Local.
Website: www.royalcourttheatre.com