(Nonhlanhla
Wanda & Sharon Katz. Pic by Chris Newhard)
In 1993, Sharon Katz and Nonhlanhla Wanda
formed a 500-voice multiracial youth choir in Durban and backed it with their
10-piece band for a performance in City Hall to help promote a peaceful transition
to a non-racial democracy. The group then did a pre-election performance tour
across South Africa by train – The Peace Train – and a post-election tour in
America.
Now a documentary film is being made about
those historic times and what has happened in the lives of the participants and
the country since the first democratic elections.
All the original participants, their
families and supporters of the project are invited to The Peace Train Reunion
Concert Party at Stable Theatre on February 9. The film crew will also
be there to conduct interviews for the film.
Originally from Port Elizabeth, Nelson
Mandela Bay, Sharon Katz used to sneak out to townships as a teenager during
the apartheid era. There she met the fiery young actor, John Kani, and their
friendship changed the course of Sharon’s life forever. After completing her studies
at the University of Cape Town and spending a year in a rural area of Lesotho,
Sharon went to America to get her Master’s degree in Music Therapy. Learning
from Dr. Martin Luther King’s civil rights movement, Sharon returned to Durban
with the goal of using music to help change South Africa.
When Sharon met singer and teacher
Nonhlanhla Wanda from Chesterville in 1992, they began a musical partnership
and enduring sisterhood that resulted in The Peace Train’s ride through South
Africa, its tour to America, and many humanitarian projects including the
building of a school in KwaNgcolosi, not far from Abambo Primary School where
Nonhlanhla was teaching when they first met.
Many distinguished musicians joined The
Peace Train including Brian Thusi, Jerry Kunene, George and Debbie Mari, Lall
Jagunandan, Dan Chiorboli, Mazwakhe Gumede, Barney Bophela and Ladysmith Black
Mambazo.
The Peace Train Reunion Concert Party takes
place at Stable Theatre on February 9 from
13h00 to 16h00. Entry is free and all are welcome. For more information and to
RSVP for The Peace Train Reunion Concert Party, contact Publicity Matters on tel/fax
031 201 1638 or email: illa@pubmat.co.za
Posts
