Pieter Dirk Uys
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Pieter-Dirk Uys is a South African satirist, particularly well known for his character Evita Bezuidenhout, a white Afrikaner socialite and self-proclaimed political activist, inspired by Australian comedian Barry Humphries' character Dame Edna Everage. Born of Afrikaner and Jewish parentage, Uys began his dramatic career as a serious playwright, switching to one-man satirical revues at the height of the Apartheid era.
For many years, Uys lampooned the Apartheid regime and its leaders, as well as the sometimes hypocritical attitudes of white liberals. One of his characters, a kugel (wealthy Jewish woman) once said: "I'm leaving South Africa because I hate Apartheid, and I can't stand the blacks." The quote was later erroneously attributed to Uys himself. Evita Bezuidenhout, named in honour of the Argentinian political figure and former First Lady, Eva (or Evita) Perón, was South Africa's "Ambassadress to Bapetikosweti", a fictitious Bantustan or black homeland located outside her home in the affluent, formerly whites-only suburbs of Johannesburg.
Following South Africa's first non-racial elections in 1994, Uys starred in a TV series called Funigalore, which saw Evita interviewing Nelson Mandela and other prominent politicians of the day. Uys/Evita has also performed in such theatrical hits as You ANC Nothing Yet, although he and his character are currently better known for their tireless work in the frontline of HIV/AIDS activism and education.
External links
- Evita and Co in Z.A (http://www.evita.co.za)