(Jerry Pooe at Wushwini)
The Wushwini Arts Culture and Heritage Centre, spearheaded
by its founder, Jerry Pooe, will host a five-day arts festival titled Botho Heritage
Festival ‘umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu’. This exciting cultural
initiative runs from September 16 to 20 at Wushwini, overlooking the scenic
Inanda Dam in KwaZulu-Natal’s famed Valley of 1000 Hills.
“This second annual festival is given in salute of South
Africa’s 21 Years of Democracy and 60 years of freedom charter while
celebrating our freedom as South Africans,” says Pooe. “We also celebrate who
we are. Without our heritage, our culture, our roots, our history, we are a
lost nation. ‘Botho’ is a Sotho word meaning ‘ubuntu’. Non practice of ubuntu,
which is what defines us as Africans, leaves us soulless humans. It is thus we
stage "Botho" by beating the drums to revive ubuntu bethu.”
Botho Heritage Festival features a vibrant programme of acts
by a strong line-up of groups, artists and companies from KwaZulu-Natal,
Gauteng, Swaziland, USA, Congo, Free State, Western Cape, Burundi and Zimbabwe showcasing
quality dance, music, theatre, storytelling, craft, exhibitions and praise
poetry.
“We are sincerely grateful to EThekwini Municipality and KZN
Department of Arts and Culture for supporting the festival, not forgetting all
the participants who believe in the vision of this festival and all Wushwini
and Eager Artists staff for the hard work in ensuring the success of this
festival,” adds Pooe.
Drumming to Unite Africa, the festival’s opening event, is directed by Bongumusa and
Musawenkosi Shabalala. This will be held on September 16 from 19h00 to 2h00.
The audience will drum, calling for peace while celebrating 21 years of
democracy. They will be greeted by a spectacular pageant of images and movement
from Zulu dancers, Shembe movement practitioners and Isicathamiya artists,
promising a colourful event that will linger in the memories of all who
experience it.
Drumming will be followed by Athol Furgard's The Island, Directed
by Peter Mitchell.
The Festival opens at 10h00 on September 16 with the
hour-long story-telling session named Zimnandi Embawuleni directed by Bheki
Mqadi. Along with other performances, other daytime attractions, include Woza Albert directed by Peter Mitchell
at 12 noon.
From September 17 to 20 daily from 10h00 to 21h00 there will be a feast
of theatre, music concert, storytelling, praise poetry and the launch of
heritage exhibition.
Sibongile
Khumalo will perform on
September 19 at 20h00 and Madala Kunene will performa on September
20 at 17h00.
The Botho Heritage International Festival 2015 concludes on September
20 with a six-hour programme of dance, isicathamiya and maskandi starting at 12
noon. Titled Celebrating Diverse Cultures Through Dance and Song, this
enables the audience members to share and embrace a wide spectrum of cultures
through performances of Bhaca Dance, Zulu Dance, Indian Dance, Portuguese
Dance, Umshado Dance, Isigekle and Gumboot Dance.
Tickets
R25 per show and R100 a day pass. The Sbongile Khumalo and Madala Kunene's
concerts tickets will be R50. Tickets will be available at the gate or booked
in advance on 083 472 9795 and 060 528 2369.
For more information or directions to Wushwini Arts Culture
and Heritage Centre, visit http://www.wushwiniarts.co.za
Posts
