(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
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