(Chris
Ntuli & Durban Black Drifters)
Durban Black Drifters will host the 15th
High Schools Isicathamiya Choir Competition, #Isicathamiya Summit, to be held at the Playhouse Opera on November
30 at 10h00.
Only 50 schools are expected to participate
in this song & dance music event. Huge cash prizes totalling R25,000 and
trophies are up for grabs. The 1st prize is R15,000, 2nd prize is R6,000 and
3rd prize is R4,000. SABC, Ukhozi FM Joe Hudla will compere this show for the
10th time. Students will be entertained by Isicathamiya veteran groups such as
Natal Try Singers, Zulu Messengers and Women’s Group, while Eric ‘’Coolfire’’
Hadebe will rekindle ancestors with the burning of impepho (incense) during the
opening of this show.
The invite list includes Ukhozi FM’s Thanda
Ndlovu, Zim Dolla, Dr T. Biyela, Juba Special and top government officials. The
15th Isicathamiya High Schools Choir Competition seeks to preserve, promote,
educate and develop this genre at grassroots level so that the music can stay
for generations as it is on the verge of extinction.
Started in 1992 as a workshop project by
Durban Black Drifters, the event has established and transferred skills to over
2,000 school groups. It has won a BASA award and numerous other cultural awards
as the best youth-based Isicathamiya music development project. DBD has been in
music for three decades. They’ve toured France, Belgium, Norway, Canada, USA,
China and Japan. Drifters have also appeared in a Broadway musical written by
American playwright, Ermill Thrower, called ’Hurricane
Katrina’’, dedicated to the flood victims of New Orleans in 2004.
Ntuli, as a leader, has worked and recorded
two albums with Ladysmith Black Mambazo entitled ’Ukuzala Ukuzelula and Thuthukani
Ngoxolo. He later translated both albums for Paul Simon with a little help
from a friend, Msizi Shabalala. He further appeared with Mambazo on King Cetshwayo musical play, written and
directed by Prince Njengabantu Zulu who had just came back from exile in
America in 1994. The others he has recorded with include Aerto Moreira
(Brazil), Madala Kunene, and all late musicians Sipho Gumede, Busi Mhlongo and
Jabu Khanyile.
He has come a long way with his music when
he first came to Durban in the early 70’s. he spent his first two years on the
streets in Point eking out a living from shipping contractors earning R2 a day.
When the chips were down, he would go for days without a meal. Having worked
for various publications, Chris Ntuli is a rare and unique kind of musician who
possesses many years of experience in marketing and media. Before engaging in
music fulltime, he was employed as a sales promotions manager for a long
established national daily newspaper, Sowetan. He also holds a modelling
diploma obtained in 1983 from Sexy Katz Modelling School in Bree Street Arcade
in Johannesburg.
Ntuli boasts huge experience in music mixing
and mastering gained from working extensively under the leadership of Joseph
Shabalala and award-winning engineer, Neil Snyman. He also recorded and
produced the first Isicathamiya compilation CD released under Universal Music
label, featuring 17 Durban-based veteran Isicathamiya groups in 2010.
DBD Entertainment in association with the
Playhouse Company will award two veteran journos, Billy Suter and Charles
Khuzwayo, for their coverage of this event for the past 14 years. The 15th High
Schools Isicathamiya Choir Competition is sponsored by the Department of Arts
& Culture, Mzansi Golden Economy and managed by DBD Entertainment. Drifters
is still calling on businesses and Lotto for sponsorship of the event.
Entrance is free and people attending this
event should dress formal, smart casual or traditional. Weapons, bottles,
drugs, alcohol, bags, suitcases and students without school uniform are all not
allowed.
Schools are urged to register now by
sending an SMS with the word ‘’Yes’’, their school name, place and contact
person to 073 301 6740 – available 24/7. Previous DVD’s available for sale at
R150 a copy.
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