The African Music and Dance 3rd year students
under the directorship of Dr Patricia Opondo, will host the 12th Annual African
Cultural Calabash and African Cuisine which is one of the biggest concerts
within the University of KwaZulu-Natal Howard College (School of Arts). The
concert will be held on October 6, 2017, at Howard College Theatre at 19h30.
“The theme for this year is Rootless Africa, Remembrance Of Who We Were.
Due to the fact that in South Africa, we have had multiple incidents of women
abuse and human trafficking, which have painted an ugly picture about Africans;
with this theme we are hoping to bring back love, unity and a sense of Ubuntu.
The concert celebrates cultural diversity in both music and culture,” says
Michelle Mchunu one of the Calabash Organising Team.
The concert features artists from various
cultural backgrounds. The headliners are Ithwasa Lekhansela a Maskandi artist
from Umbumbulu who has worked with Maskandi giants, Bahubhe and Phuzekhemisi.
His other achievements include being nominated for SATMA awards as the best newcomer and AMASAVA awards as the song of the year. Also featured at this event
is a young group from the south coast, Emzini Arts Youth Production. They
integrate music, dance and theatre, and have performed in various venues such
as The Durban Playhouse and Ushaka Marine World. Burundi Drummers - a
percussion ensemble originally from Burundi in Central-East Africa, established
themselves in Durban in 2009. The group has performed at the International
Convention Centre and for the Royal Zulu family in Kwa-Nongoma.
Also appearing will be the UKZN African
Music and Dance Ensemble a group of first and second year African Music and
Dance students who are passionate and aspiring performing artists and Nkosinathi
Ntshangase Quintet which is led by trombone player Ntshangase. The Quintet has
performed in various places around Durban. Classically trained Ntshangase plays
African and jazz inspired tunes.
Dr Opondo says: “The Annual African
Cultural Calabash is a main cultural event of the UKZN African Music Project
and provides a platform to celebrate various cultural traditions, and for
exiting students to have hands on experience in producing and hosting a
large-scale cultural event as part of the training in my module African Music
Outreach: Community Development. I thank the National Arts Council of South
Africa, SAMRO Foundation and Concerts SA for sponsoring the 12th edition of the
African Cultural Calabash.”
The concert will be held on October 6 at
19h30 at Howard College Theatre, at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Tickets R80
(R40 students) available at the UKZN Centre for Jazz on the Howard College
Campus. The show will be followed by delicious African cuisine (samp,
dumplings, biryani, sweet potato, tripe, ujeqe, chicken curry and inhloko
amongst others)
For more information contact Thulile Zama
at the Centre for Jazz at 031 260 3385 or Chairperson of the Calabash Committee
Lihle James at 079 070 5940 or email: lihlethobile@live.com or Dr Opondo on
email: opondop@ukzn.ac.za
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