UKZN’s African
Music and Dance (AMD) discipline will host the highly anticipated 11th Annual
African Cultural Calabash & African Cuisine at the Centre for Jazz and
Popular Music on the Howard College Campus on October 14.
The event is hosted
by third year African Music Outreach: Community Development students under the
theme Soul of Africa in One Voice.
AMD student, Philani Thabethe said: “We chose the theme simply because we feel
that it encompasses the spirit and unity of Africa. The concert itself
showcases a variety of African music and dances from across the continent and
pays homage to Africa and its soul and diversity.
“The Calabash
itself is an institution. We’ve seen regular concert-goers and newcomers to the
event. They’ve always described it as an amazing, learning experience. The
concert makes us appreciate what Africa has, and is a celebration of our
cultures and heritage,” he added.
The evening’s guest
speaker is storyteller, Lungisani Mavundla from Ukhozi FM, who is known for
creating a platform for grooming and developing upcoming and young poets.
Headlining the
concert is Maskandi Bahubhe from uMzinto Jolvet, who joined the music industry
as a recording artist in 2011, releasing three albums Kuyasinda (2011), Mpundula
(2014) and Iquantum (2015). Bahube is
reputed to be one of the best dancers/singers/storytellers in the maskandi genre.
He is a three-time award nominee for Capital KZN, SATMA, Amantshontsho
KaMaskandi and Maz Maskandi for Best Maskandi, new-comer.
Other acts for the
night include Ubukhipha from Hluhluwe performing isigekle dance. They are the
winners of the Sakhisizwe awards for best attire in 2013 and as best performers
in 2015. B’Scent-Shantu Musik Hausa-Fulani music and dance from Northern
Nigeria featuring the unique Shantu calabash. B’Scent recently performed at the
Loveworld music festival (2014).
Legon Palmwine Band
will perform Palmwine guitar music, an intricate Ghanaian guitar finger picking
style that accompanies Akan storytelling. Nyuswa Home Boys isicathamiya vocal
singers, are four- time national isicathamiya champions at the Durban
Playhouse, SATMA awardee for best isicathamiya (2009) and winners of Isolezwe’s
isicathamiya competition. The group is led by Thando Nu Luthuli who also
teaches isicathamiya in the UKZN African Music and Dance program. Nyuswa Home
Boys have performed in Brazil, USA, and China. Izanusi Zosiba, Zulu poets
Sabelo Mvelase and Brian Gwamanda will also add their flavour of poetry.
‘We’ve put in a lot
of our time, effort and dedication to the concert. And we hope that everyone
comes to see and enjoy themselves, to learn about Africa and to display pride
in where they come from. We have so much to offer as South Africans but also as
Africans. This concert brings us all together to share and celebrate our
diversity,’ said Thulisiwe Mdakane, AMD student.
Dr Patricia Opondo,
lecturer for the module added that “hosting the African Cultural Calabash
provides an important learning experience for our final year students as they
learn how to curate a folk-life festival event and handle all the
responsibilities involved in organising an event of this magnitude. It also
provides a great platform for artists from various genres of music/dance and
from different parts of Africa to converge and share their cultural heritage.”
The 11th Annual
African Cultural Calabash & African Cuisine takes place at the Centre for
Jazz and Popular Music on the Howard College Campus on October 14 at 19h30. Refreshments
will be served after the concert, featuring popular African cuisine and
enticing African dishes. Tickets R70 (R35 students) can be purchased from Thuli
Zama on Zamat1@ukzn.ac.za or
Philani Thabethe on philanithabethe991@gmail.com
This project is supported by an ANT Funding
Grant from Pro Helvetia Johannesburg financed by the Swiss Agency for
Development and Cooperation (SDC). Additionally funding is from the National
Arts Council of South Africa, Concerts SA and SAMRO Foundation
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