(Jerry
Pooe at the Wushwini Arts Centre)
Wushwini Pan African Centre will host a
four-day arts festival titled Botho Pan African Arts Festival from September 28
to October 1, 2017, at Wushwini, overlooking the scenic Inanda Dam in the
Valley of 1000 Hills in KwaZulu-Natal.
A packed weekend programme includes drama
productions; conversations and panel discussions; storytelling, craft,
exhibitions, dance; music; poetry; culinary; film; sound experimentation, CD
launches and workshops.
The festival provides the opportunity to
re-launch the much-loved and busy arts centre to include its pan-African
context during a ceremony on September 28, 2017. Both the centre and the
festival will be launched by the former African Union Chairperson, Dr Nkosazana
Dlamini Zuma. The evening ceremony includes a host of drummers from many
nations literally drumming in the new chapter for the arts centre.
“We warmly welcome all our guests to this
our fourth annual festival in which we salute South Africa’s 23 Years of
Democracy and the Year of OR Tambo Celebration. 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 as soulless humans, hence we stage Botho by beating the drums to
revive ubuntu bethu as Africans (Our Humanity),” explains founder Jerry Pooe.
Botho Pan African Arts Festival umuntu
ngumuntu ngabantu 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, Eastern Cape, North West, Burundi, Nigeria,
Kenya, Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Some 16 theatre productions will be staged
over the festival weekend: Nomalizo the
Brave written / directed by Bonginkosi Shangase which premiered in
Grahamstown Arts Festival; Emmanuel
written by Nkululeko Mzinyane and Mluleki,
directed by Nkululeko Mzinyane; Daffi
Falls written / directed by Musawenkosi Shabalala and Bongumusa Shabalala.
about life and times of Muammar Gaddaffi; AFDA’s Othello; Umabatha written
by Welcome Msomi and directed by Siza Mthembu DUT ‘”the Zulu Macbeth”; Between Brothers a “poor theatre”
inspired production about three brothers wrongfully accused of raping a three
month old baby; Roots of All Evil
written and directed by Xolani Dlongolo about money; Two Dead Government Officials by Bongani Baai; Sins of a Man by Thapelo Motloung (Gauteng); Peace Magents by Linda Masondo; Robin’s
Tale written and directed by Anele Nene; Distant Silence inspired by Mia Couto’s Sleep Walking Land directed by Tsieng Mokgoro; I have to go back a powerful collaboration from three countries,
South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique; a production from Botswana; TAU a winner
of Market Theatre Festival, Naledi Theatre Awards (2017).
Offering food for thought and to share some
inspiration there will be a workshop: The
Magic of Lights and Sound in a Production by Peter Mokgosi. Also three
panel discussions: Keeping our industry
alive through Festivals; Women Powerhouse: Challenges and Opportunities for
Women in the Arts and What
Contribution can arts culture and heritage give in the journey of Africa 2063
Vision.
An interesting feature will be the
discussion / Conversation and Sound
Experiment, featuring Peru/Johannesburg composer Joao Orecchia with
internationally acclaimed KZN-born composer, cellist and academic, Dr Thokozani
Mhlambi.
Carrying the dance flag will be Nelly Rushualang
from Siwela Sonke in Durban and Reggie Denster from East London.
Film screenings will be on offer from AFDA:
Amandiya by Liana Hassim; Mandlakhe by Charles Matthews; Dear Swanky Frank by Michael Struwig and
Homeless by Nathan Rice.
The spoken word will be celebrated in a Poetry Power Hour and music in the form
of concerts featuring Zuloe Blue, AFDA singers and Hlengiwe Pearl.
The concert culminates on with a full day’s
music and picnic at Kwangcolosi, Inanda Dam on October 1 from 11h00 until 19h00
offering a feast of African sounds from the continent fused with food and
African crafts.
African cuisine will be available prepared
by Zambian Chef Pasco Mulenga, who will be showcasing different meals from
various African countries and Chef Nonjabulo Khoza will be specialising on
South African cuisine, from bunny chow, breyani, braaivleis, amadumbe,
ubhatata, umgxabiso and dumplings.
Crafters will be from different cultures
showcasing the unique diverse artefacts as well as visual artists will be
displaying and selling their works.
The audiences will experience diverse
cultures in its best celebrating our golden vision of building one continent
through Africa 2063 Journey with the hot line-up that caters for different
sounds of jazz, gospel, kwaito, soul and more featuring musicians from
different countries: Brodas (Nigeria); Afro Soul (SA); Madala Kunene (SA);
Mbuso Khoza (SA); René Tshiakanyi (Congo); Graphity and Meez (Ghana); OZ (SA
and Tanzania); Jimmy Rama ( Kenya); Sheilla; Dawn King (SA); Amavukayibambe
(SA); Amachube Amahle (SA); Ngcolosi Home Boys; Ngcolosi Gospel; Big Nhlo;
Three 5 Crew and Sikhuzeni Arts Production.
Botho Pan African Arts Festival tickets are
R20 per show. The music concert tickets will be R50, Tickets will be available
at Computicket and at the gate, and tickets can booked in advance through Phila
Majola on 072 520 5093 or e-mail phila@wushwini.co.za.
“We, the organisers are sincerely grateful
to Ethekwini Municipality, Lotteries Commission of South Africa; KZN Department
of Arts and Culture and various educational institutions 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,” concludes Pooe.
For more information visit http://www.wushwini.co.za/1.html
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