(Among
the performers will be gifted young poet, Botlhale Boikanyo, winner of last year’s
SA’s Got Talent competition)
Siyagiya
2013 Durban International Music and Cultural Carnival ,which will take place at Westridge Stadium December 16 (public
holiday), will now be given as a free concert in tribute to the late Former
President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela who led South Africans to embrace
reconciliation and peace in one of the humankind’s most extraordinary examples
of forgiveness that carried its message across the world.
Presented by Mbongeni Ngema’s Committed
Artists Foundation, the production is billed as ‘A Musical Journey Where
Legends Live On’. This hot-property jazz extravaganza features a dazzling
line-up of big-name luminaries, along with the cream of KZN’s new generation
stars, who are set to wow the crowds at Westridge Stadium from 17h00 till late.
Originally conceived as a tribute to South
African jazz greats, Siyagiya’s Jazz
Extravaganza will be produced and directed by Mbongeni Ngema, one of South
Africa’s famed champions of the struggle against Apartheid, along the lines of
a fully-fledged stage musical.
Siyagiya will carry the trademark production values that have made Ngema
block-busters such as Sarafina
international hits, proclaiming its creator’s unique capacity for thrilling
mass audiences.
Razzmatazz
- A Wave of New Talent forms the first component of
this big-stage outdoor entertainment event. It stars a super-hot roster of
proudly KZN young artists such as the swiftly-rising Afro pop songstress,
Bingelela; three-man hip-hop group, Naughty Boys; ghetto-street-soul house
music pioneers, Cocktail; maskandi hybrid wonder-boy, David ‘Qadasi’ Jenkins;
Durban’s much-loved award-winning group, Afrosoul; along with ground-breaking
musical mover-and-shaker, Zakes Bantwini; and heart-soothing vocalist, Naima
Kay, whose debut CD has catapulted her into the front-line of live entertainers
in recent months.
As a grand-scale lead-in to Siyagiya’s big-stage evening
entertainment, the show’s producers are proud to present South Africa’s
trendsetting Afro Soul diva, Lira, who is currently celebrating the first
decade of her phenomenal career which has seen her clocking up multiple awards
and multi-platinum sales across five studio albums and two live DVDs.
Starting at 20h00, Siyagiya’s mainstage Jazz Extravaganza stars a powerhouse of
top-liners. Sharing the limelight with performing arts icon Mbongeni Ngema are
internationally acclaimed jazz legend Hugh Masekela; revered world-music
super-star, Salif Keita; livewire jazz exponents Velephi Khumalo, Themba
Mkhize, Bongani Nkwanyana and Bheki Khoza; Metro FM Award-winner Mbuso Khoza;
Durban’s much-loved girl group, Heels Over Head; acclaimed indigenous musician
Sazi Dlamini; and world music figurehead, Madala Kunene; as well as the gifted
young poet, Botlhale Boikanyo, winner of last year’s SA’s Got Talent
competition.
Accompanying these stars are 14 back-up
singers and 16 dancers, with a virtuoso 15-piece live band. Facilities include
a food court, a beer garden and cash bars. Invited guests will have access to
free parking within the parameter of the venue and a private VIP area, while
secure parking will be available close-by for others who will be able use a
shuttle service to the venue. For more information, log onto www.committedartists.co.za/siyagiya
Committed Artists Foundation receives
generous funding from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) and
it is this support which makes the production of Siyagiya 2013 possible. Partnered by The Mercury newspaper, Inanda
Fm and Sounds Good, a brand of SABC 1, Siyagiya’s
presenters are pleased to announce they are also building a partnership with SA
Breweries, who will be represented at the event by one of their leading brands,
Hansa Pilsner.
Tickets are free to Siyagiya, but must be obtained in advance at Computicket or
branches of Shoprite Checkers (two tickets per person).