We Speak Eleven – The Musical celebrates South Africa’s linguistic and cultural diversity through music, storytelling, and live performance. This stage production brings together performers from all communities to showcase a shared national heritage, creating an immersive experience that is equal parts entertainment, education, and cultural celebration.

As an independent, non-profit cultural initiative, the musical is carefully designed to reflect the vision and values of We Speak Eleven, with no commercial or political influence.


Communities & Artists


Sponsors & Government

What Is We Speak Eleven The Musical?

We Speak Eleven – The Musical is a large-scale touring musical production celebrating South Africa’s people, languages, history, and cultural diversity.

The production is built around 30 specially written songs, forming the foundation of the live theatrical experience.

The Music at the Heart of the Production

The musical draws from two original albums:

South Africa in My Heart
A collection of 13 songs reflecting South Africa’s journey since 1994.
These songs explore:

  • The transition to democracy

  • The achievements of the nation through innovation and resilience

  • The beauty of South Africa’s countryside

  • The everyday people who keep the country moving forward

The Rhythms of the Rainbow Nation
A collection of 17 traditional tracks representing the cultures and nationalities that make up South Africa today.
These songs celebrate heritage, rhythm, language, and identity across communities.

Together, the two albums form a unified musical narrative — past, present, and future.

A Dual Touring Production

The musical will be performed by two dedicated theatre teams:

  • The South African Touring Production
    This production will travel throughout South Africa, bringing the show to cities, towns, and rural communities.

  • The International Touring Production
    This production will tour internationally, showcasing South Africa as a cultural and tourism destination.
    It will highlight the diversity of South Africa’s people while promoting the We Speak Eleven Festival, planned for 2027, allowing international audiences time to plan their visit to South Africa.

Bringing the Show to the People

While this is a theatre production, we recognise that not everyone has access to traditional theatres.

To address this, We Speak Eleven – The Musical will include a mobile stage, allowing the production to travel across the country and reach:

  • Urban centres

  • Small towns

  • Rural and remote communities

This approach ensures that the experience is accessible, inclusive, and truly national.

Incorporating All Eleven Official Languages

All eleven official South African languages are incorporated into the production.

We understand that not all audiences — locally or internationally — will understand every language.
When traditional songs are performed, a translated version of the song is included as a verse, allowing audiences to understand the meaning and message behind the music.

This ensures cultural authenticity while remaining inclusive and accessible.

A Production Designed to Unite

We Speak Eleven – The Musical is:

  • Non-political

  • Non-commercial

  • Non-profit in purpose

The aim is to unite people through shared history, culture, and storytelling.
We believe that when people truly listen to one another’s stories, languages, and traditions, understanding follows — and unity grows.

Connection to the We Speak Eleven Festival (2027)

The musical is directly connected to the We Speak Eleven Festival, planned for 2027.

At the festival:

  • 15 nations will each host their own cultural village

  • Each village will showcase its music, food, customs, and traditions

  • The festival will serve as a living celebration of cultural exchange and participation

The musical acts as both a cultural foundation and a national and international invitation to the festival.

Job Creation and Local Impact

The project will create:

  • Permanent employment within the production and organisation

  • Temporary employment in the towns and communities visited during tours

This includes opportunities for performers, technicians, logistics teams, cultural contributors, and local support services.

More Than a Musical

• A National Touring Production

Reaching cities, towns, and remote communities.

• A Cultural Participation Platform

Opening the stage to local traditions and voices.

• A Global Cultural Ambassador

Promoting South Africa internationally and driving cultural tourism.

Bringing the Show to the People

A National Touring Model

We Speak Eleven – The Musical is designed for the people of South Africa — not only for major cities and established theatre audiences.

Where available and appropriate, performances will be staged in:

  • Theatres

  • Community halls

  • Cultural centres and public venues

However, limiting the production to formal venues alone would prevent the project from achieving its core purpose: sharing culture, fostering unity, and reaching communities where access to the arts is limited.

Access for Remote and Underserved Areas

In addition to city-based performances, the production will operate a mobile stage, purpose-built to travel across South Africa.

This mobile stage will allow the show to reach:

  • Remote rural areas

  • Underserved communities

  • Towns and regions without access to formal theatre infrastructure

Our goal is for every community, regardless of size or location, to experience the music, languages, and cultural diversity that define South Africa.

Community Engagement at Every Stop

Community participation is central to the touring model.

At each location, the production will:

  • Engage directly with local communities

  • Invite local performers to present an opening performance

These opening acts are not expected to be professional or commercially established artists.
We are seeking authentic, lived cultural expression — traditional songs, dances, stories, and practices that represent the true heritage of each community.

This ensures that the stage reflects the voices of the people it visits.

Local Employment and Economic Participation

While the production will travel with its core creative and technical team, local employment opportunities will be created at every stop.

Wherever possible, we will:

  • Employ local crew and support staff

  • Source services locally

  • Create short-term and event-based jobs, even if only for a day or two

This approach ensures that the project leaves a tangible benefit in the communities it visits, beyond the performance itself.

Supporting Local Economies

Each performance stop will be publicly advertised in advance, allowing audiences from surrounding towns and regions to plan their attendance.

As a result, host communities are expected to benefit from increased local economic activity, including:

  • Accommodation bookings (guesthouses, hotels, lodges)

  • Restaurants, cafés, and informal food vendors

  • Local shops and transport services

By bringing audiences into towns and rural areas that do not regularly host large-scale cultural events, We Speak Eleven – The Musical contributes to:

  • Local tourism stimulation

  • Small business support

  • Broader community visibility and pride

This ensures that the project delivers both cultural and economic value, leaving a positive footprint in every location it visits.

Connected to the We Speak Eleven Festival

While the musical plays an important role in building awareness and anticipation for the We Speak Eleven Festival planned for 2027, it is not limited to a single year or event. The production is designed to continue touring nationally and internationally beyond the festival, evolving over time while remaining rooted in the same values of unity, language, and cultural expression.

The local and international productions each have their own objectives and target audiences, but together they form part of a larger, ongoing vision to:

  • Celebrate South Africa’s cultural diversity

  • Promote social cohesion through shared artistic experience

  • Position South African culture on both national and global stages

By introducing audiences to the spirit, stories, and voices of the country, the musical offers a meaningful entry point into the broader We Speak Eleven movement.

The journey created by the production culminates in the festival experience, while continuing long after as a living, touring expression of South Africa’s cultural identity.

Why this matters

South Africa’s story changed the world with a song.

At a time when many expected conflict and division after the 1994 elections, South Africa chose a different path. Instead of war, we sang. We showed the world that change could be met with dignity, courage, and unity.

Since then, our story has continued — through the beauty of our landscapes, the strength of our people, and the innovations that have come from this country. We are a nation that continues to strive, adapt, and contribute, often without recognising our own progress.

This story deserves to be told — and retold.

At home, we are still learning how to live together. While we celebrate heritage and culture, we often do so separately, within our own communities. True understanding cannot happen without shared space, shared stories, and shared experiences.

We Speak Eleven was born from a simple belief:
We cannot truly learn from one another if we do not speak, listen, and spend time together.

By bringing people together through music, language, and storytelling, the musical creates spaces where cultures meet, voices are heard, and differences become strengths rather than divisions.

This is where real nation-building begins — not through slogans or politics, but through human connection.

Partnerships, Endorsements & Institutional Support

 We Speak Eleven – The Musical is designed as a collaborative national initiative. Its scope, reach, and long-term impact rely on partnerships with institutions that share a commitment to cultural inclusion, social cohesion, and nation-building.

We welcome engagement and support from a wide range of partners, including:

Government and Public Institutions

  • National, provincial, and local government departments

  • Arts, culture, and heritage bodies

  • Tourism and destination marketing organisations

  • Education and language development institutions

Institutional endorsement provides credibility, access, and alignment with existing cultural and social development objectives, while ensuring the project remains inclusive and accessible.

Cultural and Community Partners

  • Cultural organisations and heritage councils

  • Traditional leadership structures and community forums

  • Local arts groups and cultural practitioners

These partnerships ensure the production remains grounded in authentic cultural expression and responsive to the communities it engages with.

Corporate and Private Sector Partners

  • Corporate sponsors aligned with social responsibility and nation-building

  • Companies supporting education, youth development, and cultural preservation

  • Logistics, infrastructure, and technology partners

Private sector participation helps enable scale, mobility, and sustainability, while offering partners meaningful association with a nationally unifying cultural initiative.

Media and Broadcast Partners

  • Television and digital broadcasters

  • Radio and community media platforms

  • Documentary and live-event production partners

Broadcast and media partnerships allow the production to reach audiences beyond live performances and preserve the work as a cultural record.

A Shared Commitment

All partnerships are approached with care to ensure the production remains:

  • Non-political

  • Non-commercial in intent

  • Focused on cultural respect and social cohesion

Support for We Speak Eleven – The Musical is not merely sponsorship — it is participation in a long-term cultural legacy that reflects the voices, languages, and shared future of South Africa.

Governance & Values

 We Speak Eleven – The Musical is founded on principles of integrity, inclusivity, and respect. Strong governance and clearly defined values guide every aspect of the project, from creative decisions to community engagement and partnerships.

Our Values

The production is built on the following core values:

  • Cultural Respect
    All cultures, languages, and traditions are treated with dignity and authenticity. Representation is approached with care, consultation, and sensitivity.

  • Inclusivity
    The project actively creates space for all eleven official languages and the diverse communities that speak them, both on stage and off.

  • Unity Through Understanding
    The aim is not to erase differences, but to create understanding by sharing stories, music, and lived experience.

  • Accessibility
    By touring nationally and using both traditional venues and mobile staging, the production seeks to reach audiences who are often excluded from major cultural events.

  • Commitment to inclusive performance practices, including the integration of South African Sign Language where possible

  • Non-Political and Non-Partisan
    The musical does not promote political parties, ideologies, or agendas. Its focus is social cohesion, cultural exchange, and nation-building.

Governance Approach

The project operates with a structured governance framework to ensure transparency, accountability, and ethical practice.

  • Clear separation between creative leadership, operational management, and financial oversight

  • Responsible stewardship of funds and resources

  • Compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards

  • Ethical partnerships aligned with the values of the project

Where appropriate, advisory input may be sought from cultural practitioners, language specialists, and community leaders to ensure informed and respectful representation.

Accountability and Trust

As a project that engages with communities, institutions, and the public, trust is essential. Governance structures are designed to:

  • Protect the integrity of the production

  • Safeguard cultural representation

  • Ensure responsible use of support and resources

These principles provide a stable foundation for long-term sustainability and meaningful collaboration.

How to Partner / Get Involved

We Speak Eleven – The Musical is built on collaboration. Participation is welcomed from institutions, organisations, and individuals who share a commitment to cultural inclusion, social cohesion, and nation-building.

There are multiple ways to engage with and support the production.

Institutional and Government Partnerships

We invite engagement from national, provincial, and local government departments, as well as public cultural and heritage institutions.

Partnership opportunities may include:

  • Endorsement and institutional alignment

  • Access to venues, facilities, or community spaces

  • Support for regional and rural outreach

  • Collaboration on cultural, language, and social cohesion objectives

These partnerships help ensure the production remains accessible, credible, and nationally representative.

Corporate and Private Sector Support

Private sector partners are invited to support the project in ways aligned with their social responsibility, cultural investment, or nation-building objectives.

Opportunities may include:

  • Production and touring support

  • Logistics, infrastructure, and technical assistance

  • Media, broadcast, and documentation partnerships

All corporate involvement is approached carefully to ensure alignment with the values and non-political nature of the production.

Cultural and Community Participation

Community involvement is central to the touring model.

At selected stops, local artists, choirs, and cultural groups may be invited to:

  • Perform opening acts

  • Share traditional music or storytelling

  • Participate in community engagement activities

Participation is not limited to professional performers. Authentic, local voices are encouraged.

Artists and Creative Contributors

Musicians, performers, technicians, and creatives who align with the vision of the project may express interest in contributing to future productions or touring teams.

Opportunities vary by region and phase of the project.

Media and Broadcast Collaboration

Media partners interested in documenting, broadcasting, or amplifying the production are invited to engage, including:

  • Television and digital broadcasters

  • Radio and community media

  • Documentary and live-event production teams

Starting the Conversation

Partnerships and participation begin with a conversation. Interested parties are encouraged to make contact to explore alignment, availability, and appropriate forms of involvement.

Contact & Next Steps

We Speak Eleven – The Musical is entering a planning and partnership phase. Engagement with interested institutions, organisations, and collaborators is welcomed at this stage.

Get in Touch

For enquiries related to:

  • Partnerships and institutional support

  • Endorsements and alignment opportunities

  • Touring, venues, and regional engagement

  • Community participation and cultural collaboration

  • Media, broadcast, and documentation

Please contact us through the official channels below.

Please use our contact page

Next Steps

Following initial contact:

  • Conversations will focus on alignment, timing, and scope

  • Potential partnerships will be explored on a case-by-case basis

  • Further information can be provided where appropriate

As planning progresses, additional details regarding touring schedules, participation opportunities, and announcements will be shared through official channels.

Looking Ahead

We Speak Eleven – The Musical is not a single event, but part of a longer journey — one that brings people together through language, music, and shared experience.

We look forward to connecting with those who believe in the power of culture to build understanding and unity.