MUSANGWE

“The Fight Club”

(62’ 25”)

 

VISION

AUDIO

TIME CODE

Game arcade

NAT SOUND – VIDEO ARCADE

VOICER: Sometimes modern life distorts the reality of physical action.

Modern man is looking for a super hero.

A super hero in a world of flashing LCD’s.

Where action and survival of the fittest is just a push button away.

 

But this action is virtual.

These fighters, two-dimensional figures on a screen.

Do real heroes still exist?

 

00:00

00:12

 

00:20

 

 

 

 

00:42

Plastic bag blowing

 

TITLE: “Musangwe – The Fight Club”

 

Fight club scenes

 

MUSIC

 

 

 

 

01:04

Woman washing at river

 

SUPER: Venda / South Africa

 

 

 

 

 

Boys playing cards

 

Old men

 

MUSIC

 

 

 

VOICER:

For centuries life along the Lundevhe river, has remained the same.

The pattern of African living, undisturbed.

 

The players have changed.

Grown old.

 

The role models have changed.

 

01:37

 

 

 

 

01:44

 

 

 

02:00

 

Women dancing

 

 

Sign on tree

TRADITIONAL MUSIC

But every year there is a calling.

Back to an ancient tradition.

 

The road-signs are clear for those who know where to look.

 

 

And a new champion might take the long road following the calling.  To arrive here at Tshifudi.

 

02:20

 

 

 

02:50

 

 

 

03:00

 

Man with cattle

 

 

 

Fighting scenes

 

CATTLE BELLS

VOICER:

Venda is a place filled with unusual sounds.

The ringing of cattle bells is ever present.

 

In boxing, a bell sounds the start of a round.

Here bells ring all the time.

And there are no rounds.

Just a patch of dust.

 

Victory or surrender.

 

Loser or champion.

 

03:08

 

 

 

 

03:30

 

 

 

 

03:50

 

03:57

 

New Year celebrations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Men talking

SUPER: 2 weeks earlier

 

NAT SOUND - CELEBRATIONS

VOICER:

It’s the 3rd day of the year.

New year celebrations started 3 days late.

It doesn’t seem to worry anybody.

Time stands still for the people of Tshaulu.

New year celebrations got postponed.

What happened here over the past two weeks was more important than the New Year.

 

NAT SOUND – MEN TALKING

 

VOICER:

At the end of each year, Venda men leave their jobs in the big cities and return to their rural villages.

At this time, one topic is on everyone’s lips:

Musangwe.

 

It’s an age-old tradition where men and boys will display their fighting skills at the Tshifudi cattle dip.

 

Speculation is rife on who will be this year’s champion.  

 

04:03

 

04:08

 

 

 

 

 

 

04:46

 

 

 

 

04:51

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cattle dip scenes

 

 

 

 

Elements of cattle dip

 

 

 

 

 

Women washing at river

 

 

 

People arriving

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Women with washing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two groups

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Young boys

 

NAT SOUND – CATTLE

VOICER:

The fighting ground of Tshifudi has many faces.

It can look like an active cattle dip.

 

Or be desolate and still.

NAT SOUND – MUSIC & FIGHTING

Guarding the memories of ancient fights.

MUSIC

A memorial ground.

 

A river flows at the fighting ground.

It’s a gathering place for all members of the community.

 

The experienced fighters will be arriving later.

Young boys and spectators arrive at Tshifudi.

 

They will be the ones to start the calling: Likwa, clap your hands, likwa. Clap your hands, likwa

NAT SOUND – CLAPPING

The women will finish the washing and return home.

The ancestral rituals have been performed.

The people are coming.

MUSIC

NAT SOUND

The river geographically divides the fighting groups.

North of the river the fighters of the Gaba & Tshaulu regions form the challenging group.

To the South of the river the defenders combine to oppose the North.

MUSIC

The Tshifudi cattle dip lies South of the river and the Northern groups are seen as the aggressors.

 

The boys start fighting at a young age.

They are called Mambibi.    

The playing Mambibi are stopped when the fighting gets out of hand.

 

From Mambibi the next level is Rovhasize or Breaksize.

 

The young fighters stop fights on their own, by lifting their hands.

 

05:36

 

05:43

 

 

 

 

 

06:12

 

06:33

 

06:40

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

07:20

 

 

 

 

 

07:50

 

 

 

 

 

 

08:22

 

 

 

08:37

 

 

 

 

08:59

 

Champion fighters

 

 

 

MUSIC

Then there are the experienced fighters.

They’re in a class of their own.

They’re the ones everyone’s come to see.

These fighters are called Champions.

 

Anxious crowds, dust and heat, bid them welcome.

 

 

09:20

 

Poison Ndevana next to ring

 

 

 

SUPER:

Poison Ndevana / Retired Fighter

 

 

 

 

Boys at fighting ground

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agitated

spectators

 

 

 

 

 

Women washing

 

Old man with cattle

 

 

Frans talking

 

 

 

 

 

“Old” visuals

 

 

SUPER:

Frans Malala / Retired Fighter

 

 

 

Man carried away

 

Frans’s fists

 

 

 

 

Frans Interview

 

 

 

 

 

Donkey

 

 

MUSIC & NAT SOUND

Poison Ndevana is a local school teacher and one of the main organizers of Musangwe.

He was a popular, undisputed champion for many years.

 

POISON NDEVANA:

“My father took me to the graveside where my ancestors are buried. He was performing some rituals there, trying to dedicate me that  one day I will become a champion on the fighting ground”

 

MUSIC

 

POISON NDEVANA:

“If I’m taken to the forefathers, it means the whole power of my clan is upon me.”

 

MUSIC
VOICER:

Experienced fighters can sense the spiritual forces at play.

Emotions rollercoaster.

The fighting spirit has no boundaries – often spilling over to the spectators.

NAT SOUND - WATER

The Games at the cattle dip are weaved into the fiber of Venda life.

NAT SOUND – CATTLE BELLS

The old men have moved on to a more placid existence. Most of them remember the fist-playing of their youth.

None of them remember it more vividly than Frans.

NAT SOUND – FRANS TALKING

His strength was unparalleled in the Musangwe fighting.

MUSIC

One punch could kill a man.

And it did.

MUSIC – SINGING

FRANS MALALA:

I still remember. His name was Belingwe.

 

They said: He killed him!

 

They shook him and saw he was dead.

 

VOICER:

It was hard to believe that a man could kill another man with one punch.

The Magistrate asked Frans to kill a donkey with one punch.

 

FRANS MALALA:

They told me to hit the donkey because I’m very strong. I hit the donkey and it fell.

 

They left me alone. They could see that I was very strong.

 

 

 

 

10:08

 

 

 

 

10:20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10:42

 

 

 

 

 

11:00

 

 

 

 

 

11:24

 

 

 

 

 

11:50

 

 

 

 

 

12:07

 

 

12:28

 

 

12:45

 

 

 

13:01

 

 

 

 

 

13:11

 

 

 

13:28

 

 

 

 

 

Cattle dip

 

 

 

Fighters, alternated with shots of cattle jumping into dip

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old fighters

 

 

 

 

 

Spectators attacking one another

 

Fighting – speed up and slow down effects

 

Mbila players

 

 

 

Hand signals

 

 

 

 

 

SUPER:

Poison Ndevana / Retired Fighter

 

“Old” footage – bulls and shadows of herd boys

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fighting scenes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Putting on shoes

 

 

Wrapping hands with bandages

 

 

Fighter doing push-ups

 

 

 

 

Fighter stomping opponent

 

 

Spectators sucking ice

 

 

Savimbi performing

 

 

 

VOICER:

The dip is transformed on fighting days.

The masses of cattle and herders get replaced with Fight Club spectators.

And the champion fighters:

JC

Zulu

Abraham

Savimbi

Diesel

No-Hurry

Themba

Kota

Pound 

Brown

Killer

 

The old fighters still help to raise higher spirits.

The organisers anticipate the excitement.

The two groups, fueled by the heat, captured by the excitement, make crowd control as physical as the most violent fight.

NAT SOUND – SPECTATORS FIGHTING

The violent playground is established and the anger that ignites is contagious.

MUSIC AND NAT SOUND

 

MBILA PLAYING

The music of mbila players is an integral part of the games.

It has a soothing effect on the crowd.

 

Fighters communicate with their hands.

It’s a show of temperament.

A fist challenges.

An open hand, rejects a challenge.

An agreement, results in a fight.

 

POISON NDEVANA:

When it started long ago, it started with the bulls fighting one another.

MUSIC

The fight of the bulls spilled over to the herd boys.

 

And then the herd boys find it necessary that it is good that after the cattle come to drink the water, then when they rest under the shade of trees they themselves start to fight one another in the ring side. That’s how this type of traditional fights started.

 

VOICER:

It has evolved into a two week long event.

Traditional cattle-dipping days have turned into fighting days.

NAT SOUND - FIGHTING

The fighting is unrefined, violent, merciless.

The restless crowd gets totally involved.

Men and boys have come to see real men fight.

MUSIC

Preparations are simple:

Protection against the scorching red sand.

NAT SOUND

And protection against the blood of an opponent.

 

Winning the support of the crowd is vital.

Fighters do whatever they can to impress spectators.

NAT SOUND

There are few rules that can be broken.

But beating a man when he’s down, is one of them.

NAT SOUND – ANGRY CROWD

 

Dismay and emotion fill the arena.

Cooling tempers and keeping cool is all part of the action.

 

Some fighters are specialist crowd pleasers.

Like Savimbi with his comical oriental style.

 

 

 

13:40

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15:12

 

15:29

 

 

 

 

16:05

 

 

 

16:37

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17:22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18:14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19:33

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20:13

 

 

 

20:40

 

 

 

Diesel warming up

 

 

 

SUPER:

“Diesel” / Musangwe Fighter

 

JC warming up

 

 

 

Prison visuals

 

 

 

 

 

JC fighting

 

 

Diesel interview

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diesel and JC fight

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diesel knocks JC out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fight is stopped

 

Diesel at river

 

Boys swimming

 

Angry crowd

 

 

 

No-Hurry performing

 

 

 

 

No-Hurry fighting

 

Poison with megaphone

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zulu accepting challenge

 

 

 

Poison displaying cup

 

 

 

 

 

People going home

 

 

 

 

Man walking at sunset

 

 

 

 

A young man arrives.

DIESEL:

In the ring they call me Diesel.

 

It’s because the first time I went that side I was wearing the Diesel tackies.

 

VOICER:

JC is one of the most popular fighters.

But he has a shady past.

Littered with bad choices.

 

He’s fresh out of prison, where he did time for yet another violent crime.

The time he spent behind bars didn’t help his preparations much.

 

But he’s renowned for his speed.

And still a dangerous opponent.

 

DIESEL:

I can say that he is faster then me. But he do not have power.

 

VOICER:

Diesel is known for his staying power and thorough preparation.

 

DIESEL:

My main weapon, I just train I just prepare myself physically and mentally before the fight.

 

NAT SOUND – FIGHT

 

DIESEL:

I wanted to knock that guy. But it’s not easy to knock someone. You have to relax and make your mental there. I wanted to knock him.

 

NAT SOUND - FIGHT

VOICER:

Diesel’s supporters are confident.

 

JC’s brother and supporters panic.

It disrupts the fighter more than the punch down.

NAT SOUND - FIGHT

Concerned about JC after the knock down, the experienced organizers decide to stop the fight.

Diesel withdraws to the river, victorious.

 

NAT SOUND – BOYS IN RIVER

 

Northern supporters are not happy.

JC is from the North.

His defeat has a riveting effect on the crowd.

 

As if on cue, No-Hurry enters the ring to lift the spirits.

NAT SOUND - SHOUTING

He’s another hero from the North.

And a great entertainer.

NAT SOUND – FIGHTING

 

Poison acts as publicity agent for the fights.

For those who didn’t hear it on the local radio.

NAT SOUND – POISON TALKING

The fighter, Abraham, challenges a whole list of fighters in his letter.

Warning of defeat at his hands.

The reigning champion, Zulu, accepts his challenge.

And the crowd is captivated.

 

This year, for the first time, there’s a special cup at stake.

It will go to the champion.

Every time the cup is produced, the competitive spirit soars.

MUSIC

The Tshifudi fight club changes its face once more.

As the people return to their villages.

By all means available.

 

One man will return.

To win the cup.

To be a hero.

 

21:11

 

 

 

21:24

 

 

 

21:36

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22:20

 

 

 

 

 

22:38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23:01

 

 

 

 

 

23:43

 

 

 

 

 

 

24:16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25:03

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25:53

 

 

 

 

 

26:19

 

 

People reading newspaper at river

 

 

 

Women doing washing

 

 

 

Dogs licking

 

Buying and drinking maize drink

 

Boxing scout on phone

 

 

 

SUPER:

“Themba” / Musangwe Fighter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fighter bleeding

 

NAT SOUND - RIVER

With Poison’s publicity of Abraham’s letter, the day holds the promise of big fights and big crowds.

Early morning.

The day is already heating up.

The river is more then just a dividing line between the two fighting groups.

On days like this, when the casualties will be high, it’s a resting place.

Where fighters will nurse their wounds.

 

“Mabundu” - a maize drink – provides energy for the long day in the sun.

 

Professional boxers have come to see for themselves.

But, this is no boxing playground.

 

THEMBA:

We use different style of fighting. We call it “mojogo”. You use your fists like this, you see. It’s not the same as boxing. And we don’t use the gloves. We use the bandage.

 

You must understand that the fist is too strong. Stronger than the glove, you see.

 

It’s difficult. I mean, it’s difficult to say it’s easy.

You see a lot of the guys there bleeding.

You see the fist is too strong, ja.

 

 

26:46

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27:34

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28:21

 

 

 

 

 

28:43

 

 

28:50

 

Fighting scenes

 

 

 

 

 

Themba and brothers

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fighting scenes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Strobe effect” fighting

 

 

 

 

VOICER:

But everyone knows there are sometimes more than fists behind the punches.

MUSIC

Most people around here are keenly aware of spiritual forces that sometimes determine the outcome.

Today Themba and his two younger brothers Pound and Brown are sensing it too.

They’re not having a good day. 

It’s as if they’re fighting against higher powers.

 

At times fighters seem to be controlled by an unseen force.

Fighting styles become unnatural.

Violent and explicit.

Uncontrollable, unpredictable.

 

The heat helps to bring something sinister to the fighting.

It infects the crowd.

And they infect the fighters.

 

Is there an unseen spiritual world at work behind the fighting?

Held in disregard by Western culture.

A world that gives insight to some.

And blinds others.

 

 

29:17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30:20

 

 

 

 

 

31:14

 

 

 

 

31:37

 

Mr Luruli’s surgery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPER:

“JC”/ Musangwe Fighter

 

 

 

Mr Luruli at work

 

 

 

 

SUPER:

Mr Luruli / Traditional Healer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poison consulting Mr Luruli

 

 

 

 

 

 

Slo-mo fight

 

SUPER:

“Killer” / Musangwe Fighter

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shadows of fighters

 

Fighters – strobing effect

 

 

 

 

Poison interview

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diesel interview

 

 

 

River

 

Big crowd

 

Abraham

 

Zulu

 

 

JC looking for water

 

 

 

 

Confronting Abraham

 

Zulu getting advice

 

 

 

Zulu & Abraham fight

 

 

 

 

 

Abraham falls

 

 

Fighters circling

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fight ends as spectators protest

 

 

Beating unruly crowd back

 

Cattle next to fighting ring

No-Hurry performing

 

Savimbi fighting

 

Supporter imitating

 

 

 

 

Consulting traditional healers or nyangas, is part of Venda tradition

These “Spirit Doctors” are in contact with the spirits of the ancestors.

MUSIC

The afflictions they treat can be physical, or spiritual.

The nyanga’s powers are legendary. It is believed they can coax spiritual forces to influence the outcomes of events.

NAT SOUND – GIRL SCREAMING

The strong medicine they use is called muti.

 

JC:

Everybody uses muti. It just depends how strong your muti is.

 

VOICER:

Mr Luruli is one of Venda’s most respected nyangas.

The community believes he has a special gift, and fears his powers.

 

Mr LURULI:

I can rub muti on you. Then you fight better. Your opponent will be powerless.

 

The muti has to be mixed first. The best muti is snake muti.

MUSIC

If you can find the Mamba snake, no-one will defeat you.

 

VOICER:

Fighters often consult the nyangas and use their muti against opponents.

NAT SOUND – POISON TREATMENT

 

POISON:

There are different types of muti that you can use. It depends on the nyanga that you consulted. Other nyangas may give you the muti that make your opponent to become weak when you fight with him.

MUSIC

KILLER:

Muti is working. But I don’t believe in muti. I believe in training. Even if you use muti, if you don’t train the muti doesn’t work very well.

POISON:

There is another muti known as “cheswiswi”. This one, when you are fighting with that person, the person becomes invisible in front of you.

MUSIC

POISON:
Sometimes you can see two shadows in front of you. And you cannot make out quite clear who is the real person who is the third person.

 

And there are counter muti. Like salt, just mere table salt. If you go there with it, it’s countering the muti. If you don’t have salt, you can go around and urinate on your hands, smear that urine on your face, then the man becomes very clear in front of you. That’s how to counter the muti.

 

DIESEL:

Mentally you just tell yourself that you fear no-one except God, you see.

 

VOICER:

Tshifudi is filled to capacity. It’s time for the fight everyone’s been waiting for:

Abraham, the challenging Goliath from the South.

Against Zulu, the reigning champion from the North.

 

JC’s defeat in the big fight with Diesel forces him to look for another role to play.

The ex-prisoner’s road back has proved to be difficult.

He ends up helping Zulu.

And confronts Abraham for not bandaging his hands properly - a blood risk.

Talk is cheap. Advisors are many.

But facing this giant in the ring is the lot of one single brave man.

 

Zulu starts with a good punch.

As last year’s champion, he has to be convincingly defeated to forfeit his title.

 

Despite Abraham’s weight advantage and  height, the fight is almost an even match.

 

NAT SOUND – BEATING ABRAHAM TO THE GROUND

 

The two fighters circle each other in the blistering heat.

Looking for a weakness in their opponent’s defense.

Neither of them flinching

Neither backing down.

 

The crowd gets impatient. And starts protesting.

And the fight ends in shambles.

 

Beating the crowd back becomes a bigger issue.

 

But it’s as if a red flag has been waved in front of a herd of bulls.

NAT SOUND – NO-HURRY SHOUTING

 

Savimbi, the jester from the South, enters the ring. And immediately calms emotions.

His supporters imitate his unique style.

His almost always at the receiving end.

But the people love him.

NAT SOUND

MUSIC

 

 

32:12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

33:02

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

33:37

 

 

34:18

 

 

34:52

 

 

 

35:00

 

 

 

 

35:25

 

 

 

 

 

 

35:53

 

 

 

 

 

36:05

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

36:50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

37:12

 

 

 

37:27

 

 

 

 

 

 

37:46

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

38:52

 

 

 

39:20

 

 

 

 

 

39:46

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

40:32

 

 

 

 

 

 

41:02

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kota challenging

 

 

Hitting spectator

 

Crowd control

 

Diesel and supporters

 

 

Fighting

 

People leaving

 

 

Soundbyte – spectator

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kota challenges Diesel.

Diesel’s refusal to fight triggers the crowd all over again.

Hungry for a fight, Kota vents his frustration on a spectator.

Older fighters, leaders in the community, help to control the chaos.

Diesel is now out of the running for the cup.

But for his supporters, he’s still a hero.

 

The fights are exhilarating.

People are reluctant for the day to end.

They leave in a fighting mood.

They want more.

 

SPECTATOR:

But there is a problem. We were supposed to see a fight between Poison Ndevana and Abraham Mvumunkula. They’ve now postponed that fight to be next week or on Saturday.

 

 

 

41:38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

42:27

 

 

 

 

42:55

 

River

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPER:

“Diesel” / Musangwe Fighter

 

 

 

 

 

SUPER:

“Zulu” / Musangwe Fighter

 

SUPER:

Mr Tshiviela / Musangwe Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

SUPER:

Poison Ndevana / Retired Fighter

 

 

 

 

 

Women washing clothes

 

 

 

 

 

SUPER:

Ntsiruweni Mbedzi / Mambibi Fighter

 

SUPER:

Vhamusanda / Chief of Tshaulu

 

 

 

Fighting – guy falling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunset shots

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boys discussing fighters and role models

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cattle

Man walking in sunset

MUSIC

The women will finish early at the river.

MUSIC

As the men leave for the Tshifudi fighting ground, they continue with their household chores at home.

Women are not allowed at the fights.

 

DIESEL:

If there is blood on my clothes, and I come back from the Games, I will give her the clothes and she will do the work. That’s just how it works. No problem.

 

NAT SOUND – WASHING

 

ZULU:

When there’s blood on my clothes, I’ll be forced to explain that I had been fighting.

 

Mr TSHIVIELA:

Wives are somehow you see. They are very much afraid. They don’t want to see somebody bleeding. But we ignore them, and push our sons to go and play with other boys outside there. We just ignore our wives and I take my sons and we go, off we go.

 

POISON:
If you are beaten up there and you are a married person, your dignity is going to be reduced a bit. Because the woman will say: When you talk to me you talk like a man, but when you are among the other men you become a woman there – I’ve seen you been beaten up.

 

Mr TSHIVIELA:

She’ll be worried about seeing the blood on the shirt. But after all, if she hears that her son had won, she becomes very much happy.

 

NTSIRUWENI:

I would not like my mother to come.

If they punch me, she may faint.

 

VHAMUSANDA:

I don’t know why women are not allowed. Women are very scared. That’s why they don’t go. Those people are hitting each other!

MUSIC

VHAMUSANDA:

The wife will say: You were punched! That will show disrespect.

 

MUSIC

CATTLE BELLS

 

VOICER:

When the Musangwe fighting is over, life will go on as usual.

With one exception: There will be a new champion. A new local hero in the area.

 

The temptations for Venda youth are many.

They need role models.

Neighborhood heroes they can look up to.

 

BOYS CHATTING:

“I don’t think Abraham can beat Poison.”

“He’s not experienced enough.”

“When Abraham fought Zulu, it was a 50/50 fight.”

“Some fighters have many fights. Others fight only once.”

“JC doesn’t deserve to win.”

“He was in prison – just like last year.”

“JC is a trouble maker.”

“He doesn’t realize he’s a role model for young kids.”

 

NAT SOUND – CATTLE BELLS

MUSIC

 

 

 

43:19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

43:52

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

44:09

 

 

 

44:30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

44:54

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

45:19

 

 

 

 

45:28

 

 

 

45:40

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

46:42

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

47:22

47:28

47:33

 

47:40

 

47:49

47:53

48:02

48:12

 

 

 

 

 

 

River

Early morning – houses

 

 

 

 

Savimbi preparing

 

 

 

Savimbi knocked down, consoled

 

 

Fighting – slo-mo / speed-up

 

Storm clouds

 

 

Fighting / Shouting

 

 

 

Crowd pointing

 

 

 

 

Culprit punched

 

 

 

 

Poison addresses crowd

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPER:

“Killer” / Musangwe Fighter

 

 

 

 

Someone quips Poison

 

 

NAT SOUND – FROG

VOICER:

Today is the final day of fighting.

There has to be a winner.

 

NAT SOUND – CROWDS

Once again it’s Savimbi that draws attention.

NAT SOUND – SAVIMBI SHOUTING

He’s no athlete. But he’s the common man’s hero.

NAT SOUND – CHEERING

MUSIC

The young fighters have the crowds on their feet.

MUSIC

The people want a champion.

The atmosphere is loaded.

And it’s not only among the fighters that the storm clouds are gathering.

The fighting grows in intensity.

NAT SOUND – FIGHTING

Everyone’s looking for a role model.

 

Then things go dreadfully wrong.

A spectator has attacked a rival with a rock.

The culprit is hunted down.

It was the young man in the orange T-shirt.

He apologises profusely.

But the organizers have had it with the undisciplined spectators.

He’s punished on the spot.

NAT SOUND - SIREN

Confusion reigns.

Is this the end of this year’s games? 

NAT SOUND – POISON

Poison Ndevana – respected champion of many years – angrily reminds Venda men why they are here.

NAT SOUND – POISON

It’s about respect for their age old tradition. And respect each other.

 

KILLER:

There is no-one who can kill Poison. I respect that guy. I respect that guy. Even though I am still young. I respect that guy. Just because that guy he knows what he’s doing on the side of boxing.

 

NAT SOUND – POISON

VOICER:

Anyone who shows disrespect to a champion is challenged to prove his mettle in the ring.

 

POISON:
I’m not a past champion. I’m still a champion even today.

 

 

 

 

 

48:40

 

 

 

 

 

49:14

 

 

 

 

 

 

50:00

 

 

 

 

 

51:00

 

 

 

 

51:30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

52:25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

52:50

 

 

Cup displayed

 

Rain starts falling

 

 

 

 

Young boys fighting

 

 

 

 

Crowd

 

Fights

 

 

 

 

JC fighting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JC Interview

 

 

 

 

Themba fighting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Themba knocking opponent

 

 

 

 

 

Themba challenging

 

 

 

 

 

Themba knocked on ground

 

Hand signals

 

Traffic jam

VOICER:

The cup flashes in the sun.

Then the heavens open.

MUSIC

 

The heat is broken. And the tense atmosphere with it.

NAT SOUND – RAIN FALLING

A revival is taking place at Tshifudi. And it’s the young boys who are calling the men back for more.

NAT SOUND – “Likwa!”

They want their tradition to continue.

And once again the crowd is inspired.

MUSIC

The fighting ground of Tshifudi.

It’s a place where new heroes are born.

NAT SOUND - FIGHTING

And old ones, honoured.

 

It’s a place where personal obstacles can be overcome.

With his streetfighting style, JC the ex-convict thrashes a much bigger opponent.

NAT SOUND – CHEERING

To many he’s an icon.

But he realizes that he’s not the best role model for his young supporters.

And he’s determined to sort his life out.

 

JC:

I realize that I’m losing my balance. I was drinking a lot. I used to fall down very early.

I’m going to stop drinking and start training.

 

VOICER:

Some obstacles are physical.

 

THEMBA:

I was not a fighter then. I was a coward. The guys at school used to hit me. But one day my father saw me fighting with another guy and I was running away. And he said: “Go back and fight with him.”

MUSIC
NAT SOUND – FIGHT

So I go back and fight and I win the fight. Since then I was a brave man.

 

VOICER:

Everyone’s looking for a role model.

The brave young man is a rising star of the Games.

Brave enough to challenge two opponents at once.

A champion in the making who fights fiercely.

Whose spirit cannot be broken.

But who will be crowned this year?

MUSIC

Every year there is a calling.

Every year there is a response.

A calling that causes a traffic jam. A traffic jam in the middle of nowhere.

 

 

53:07

 

 

 

53:26

 

 

 

 

 

 

54:20

 

 

54:40

 

 

 

 

55:13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

55:56

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

56:26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

57:00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

57:53

Fighting ground on final day

 

 

 

Zulu cutaways

 

Guy with Bob Marley T-shirt

Organisers with cup

 

 

Zulu with cup

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zulu sparring with older fighters

 

River

Women washing at river

 

Boys catching ants

 

 

 

Baby with chair

 

 

Tshiviela with family

 

 

Plastic bag falling at fighting ground

 

 

There is no final fight on the final day. No final round.

Untill the very end no-one is quite certain who will be crowned champion.

Elders decide who fought worthily.

Someone who showed the necessary respect.

And deserves the title of “Champion.”

Because everyone’s looking for a role model.

 

They’ve made their choice.

NAT SOUND – “There’s the champion!”

VOICER:

Zulu. He was undefeated. And a worthy role model.

ZULU:

I have one wife and one child.

 

VOICER:

A humble champion.

 

ZULU:

I never told her I’m a champion.

 

MUSIC

 

VOICER:

In Venda, fighting is a part of life.

NAT SOUND – FIGHTING AND CHEERING

Today these boys are catching warrior ants.

In a couple of years, they’ll be warriors in the Tshifudi fighting ring.

Mr TSHIVIELA:

“Even the little ones will also follow our tracks.”

MUSIC

Mr TSHIVIELA:

“If I’m not mistaken. And it will never never die.”

MUSIC

CREDITS

 

 

58:30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

59:39

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

01:00:19

 

 

01:00:30

 

 

 

01:00:46

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credits

 

Producer / Cameraman

Rian Horn

 

Narrator

Greg Melvill-Smith

 

Music

Pitchie Rommelaere

 

Telecine Colourist

Wiggie Ellenberger

 

Narration Sound

Trevor Pienaar

 

Translation

Tshibubudze Fulufhelo

Mushidzhi Avhapfani Irene

 

Production Company

Odd Looking Tree

© 2024 Journeyman Pictures
Journeyman Pictures Ltd. 4-6 High Street, Thames Ditton, Surrey, KT7 0RY, United Kingdom
Email: info@journeyman.tv

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