'GUMBOOTS'
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Introduction

The Show

The Cast

What Gumboots means to us

Tour Dates and Links

Reviews

View our Archived Guestbook

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Discussion Group

It started in the Thabisong Youth Centre in Soweto, South Africa when Vincent, Thami, Sipho, Nicholas and Thulunda were 11 years old. Mrs Makhudu wanted to pass on South African traditions and cultures to the younger generation and, at the same time, keep them off the streets and drugs. For these lads, it worked. At the Youth Centre they learnt Gumboot Dancing and became the Rishile Poets. They then became the Rishile Gumboot Dancers of Soweto and started singing in shopping centres and malls.

When they were discovered by Zenzi Mbuli and Tale Motsepe, their adventures really began. Tours to Belgium, Amsterdam, Hong Kong and Australia meant they were on their way to stardom.

The show 'Gumboots' was created using much of their early material and hence, arrived in the UK for a tour which lasted a year. They are currently taking Canada and the USA by storm.