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Enjoy a symphony of world music with some of the most accomplished South African jazz and fusion musicians namely, Steve Newman, Ashish Joshi, Godfrey Mgcina, Greg Georgiades, Lu Dlamini, Zamo Mbutho and Sipho Nxumalo who make up Jika Nelanga. They will appear at three different venues this week.
This is a group of artists who came together for a common goal of spreading environmental awareness; hence the group name “Jika Nelanga”. The name is derived from the Zulu name for the sunflower which directly translates to: “turn with the sun”.
The group has naturally blossomed to a full band through naturalness of the members who landed in the same garden of musicality after a chance meeting between Lu Dlamini and Steve Newman. They met in November 2010 and have since composed a full album that will be available at the various performances.
A music workshop will take place on September 8 at 12 midday at the BAT Centre, 45 Maritime Place in Durban’s Small Craft Harbour. This comes as bonus to the busy Celebrate Durban calendar that annually gives a promise to commemorate the South African Heritage month with cross-cultural activity. In keeping with the BAT Centre’s ethos of supporting art development, the workshop will be free. More information from Xolani Sithole on 031 332 0451/2079 or 078 089 1040.
A performance will take place at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal at 17h30 on September 9, (Doors opens at 17h00). Tickets R50 (R20 pensioners and students) at the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music (CJPM), Level 2, Shepstone. A cash bar will be available. More information on 031 260 3385 or email Zamat1@ukzn.ac.za
There are two further performances – September 10 at LinSy Paradise Guest House at Umhlanga and on September 11 at the Sipho Gumede Hall, BAT Centre, Durban (45 Maritime Place, Small Craft Harbour). Performance times 17h00 and tickets R80 at the door.
This tour has been made possible by the collaboration of Jika Nelanga, the BAT Centre, LinSy Paradise Guest House and the Ethekwini Municipality’s Parks & Recreation Department.