(Sbusio
Mkhize, leader of Bahube)
An exciting Maskandi music extravaganza
will be held at Durban’s Stable Theatre on February 15 from 11h00 to 16h00 in
celebration of original South African music and indigenous artists.
“One of the best beloved and most widely
practiced of South Africa’s popular musical genres, Maskanda plays a core
cultural role in our society, in KwaZulu-Natal particularly”, says Stable
Theatre Manager, Thanduxolo Zulu. “With the support of our sponsors, we at
Stable Theatre are honoured to have this opportunity of showcasing some of the
great wealth of Maskandi artists who live in our region.”
The Maskanda genre is memorably described
on Ethekwini Online as "The music played by the man on the move, the
modern minstrel, today’s troubadour …. Maskanda has for years been the music of
the man walking the long miles to court a bride, or to meet with his Chief; a
means of transport. It is the music of the man who sings of his real life
experiences, his daily joys and sorrows, his observations of the world. It’s
the music of the man who’s got the Zulu blues."
Nowadays, of course, Maskanda has ceased to
be the exclusive cultural domain of male performers only. Following the
legendary career of the late great Busi Mhlongo particularly, women are also
making maskanda music.
Stable Theatre’s Maskandi Festival on February
15 will be spearheaded by popular maskandi groups Osenzeni and Vumile Mngoma. A
powerhouse line-up number of other Maskandi groups will also appear on the bill
as supporting acts. These include Bahube, Izintombi Zodumo, Amalanda Amhlophe,
Izimbali Zempondo, Amagusheshe and Istorm.
Tickets for Stable Theatre’s five-hour
Maskandi extravaganza at just R50 can be obtained at Stable Theatre on the day
of the festival. For enquiries about this and other projects happening at
Stable Theatre, log onto www.stabletheatre.co.za.
Alternatively call 031 309 2513, or e-mail stabletheatre@telkomsa.net.
With
easy access off the N3 Warwick Triangle flyover, Stable Theatre is situated at
115 Johannes Nkosi Street (formerly Alice Street), and is supported by the KZN
Department of Arts and Culture, Ethekwini Municipality, the National Lottery
Distribution Trust Fund, the National Arts Council and the KZN Performing Arts
Trust.
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