MOTSIELOA GRIFFITHS

The African Pioneer

by

[Walter M. B. Nhlapho]

From the Cape to the Limpopo few Africans have not heard of The Pitch Black Follies, the celebrated all-African vaudeville company. In fact, this would be equally true of our neighbors in the Rhodesias and the Protectorates. Yet, how many know the story of initiative and courage, not to mention hard work, on the part of its manager and producer, Mr. Griffiths Motsieloa, which went to the building up of this talented group.

Mr. Giffiths Motsieloa was trained at Lovedale College and from there entered the teaching profession. Even at that early stage of his life, it was evident that he was predestined for the theatre. Every minute of his spare time was devoted to organizing concerts and imbuing others with an enthusiasm for his art. During the school’s long holidays young Motsieloa toured the country giving recitals. Then in 1925, he decided that it was necessary to get further experience in his chosen career. Giving up his post, he sailed to England where he studied elocution and dramatic art at Trinity College, London, and the John Duxbury School of Elocution.

A year later, he returned to Africa. The theatre now became for him a full time job. He once more toured the country organising shows, and teaching elocution. In 1935, in the course of his tours, he met Mr. Jonathan Kopie Masoleng, who has since died, and the Dark Town Strutters. It was from this troupe that he later founded, in 1936, the De Pitch Black Follies. In those days there were four permanent members in the company and their first show was given in Johannesburg, at the Darragh Hall. Today, the Follies has eight professional members which are augmented by talented amateurs when shows are given in the big towns. Mr. Motsieloa is continually searching for new talent and has not lost his early enthusiasm for helping others to develop any latent gifts they might possess.

In an interview with a representative of The Bantu World, Mr. Griffiths Motsieloa said that after the war he hoped to take his company on a tour of West Africa, and perhaps, overseas, to America. In the meantime, the De Pitch Follies and their orchestra, “The Blackbirds”, has raised the creditable sum of over £40, 000 for the war effort.

From: [Walter M. B. Nhlapho], The Bantu World, September 30, 1944.