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Sunday, September 25, 2016

BOTHO HERITAGE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL 2016



(Jerry Pooe, director & founder of Wushwini)

Wushwini Arts Culture and Heritage Centre, spearheaded by its founder, Jerry Pooe, will host a five-days. arts festival titled Botho Heritage International Festival ‘umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu’. This exciting cultural initiative runs from September 27 to October 1 at Wushwini, overlooking the scenic Inanda Dam in KwaZulu-Natal’s famed Valley of 1000 Hills.

“We warmly welcome you all to our BHIF,” says Wushwini director and founder, Jerry Pooe. “This 3rd annual festival is given in salute of South Africa’s 22 Years of Democracy and 61 years of freedom charter while celebrating our freedom as South Africans. 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’. Nonpractice 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, USA, Free State, Eastern Cape and Botswana, showcasing quality dance, music, theatre, storytelling, craft, exhibitions and praise poetry.

“We are sincerely grateful to EThekwini Municipality, Music House KZN, Ink Tourism 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. We invite you to participate and to enjoy the rare experience in our Kingdom,” Pooe adds.

The festival will open on September 27 at 19h00 with a site specific; progressing to Cetshwayo the musical directed by Jerry Pooe and Bheki Mqadi at 20h00. On September 28 and 29 at 10h00 there are children shows catering to primary schools and high schools. Sunshine Babies and Tshala by Giselle Turner, Yini I’respect by Musa Hlatshwayo of Mhayise Productions, Amongst Men by Aphiwe Namba. On September 29 there is Return of Shaka by Lungisa Khumalo, Emkhathini by Bongani Dlamini and many more. On September 30 there will be a fashion show by Siyasanga Tundzi, Mam Gcina Mhlophe with storytelling, Mbuso Khoza, Lu Dlamini and many more

The Botho Heritage International Festival 2016 concludes on October 1 with a six-hour programme of dance, music, and a live concert with Ringo Madlingozi and Hlengiwe Mhlaba starting at 17h00. This concert is titled Celebrating Diverse Cultures Through Dance & Song which enables audience members to share and embrace a wide spectrum of cultures through performances by Ringo Madingozi, Ngcolosi Home Boys, Ngcolosi Voices, Buhle Bensizwa and others.

Botho Heritage International Festival tickets are R50 per show and R100 a day pass, R250 for the whole festival. The Ringo Madlingozi and Hlengiwe Mhlaba concert tickets will be R100.

Tickets booked through Computicket and the gate, and can also be booked in advance on 083 472 9795 and 078 1147 442.

For more information visit www.wushwiniartscentre.co.za