(Mbuso
Khoza)
The Joburg Theatre in partnership with KZN
Heritage Ensemble will present IJADU le Afrika, Africa Month celebrations
featuring Mbuso Khoza from May 18 to 20, 2018.
The KZN Heritage Ensemble comprising a
16-voice strong acapella outfit will be on the Mandela Stage for three shows
only, fresh from a recording of Amahubo with award-winning Dutch Jazz pianist
Mike del Ferro in January, 2018.
The group’s founder and leader, Mbuso
Khoza, attributes the remarkable reception to the originality of the concept
and the hunger demonstrated by music and arts consumers for authentic heritage
productions.
Amahubo are ancient songs sung by Abanguni
in the late 17th and 18th centuries to mark significant events in their
communities. The Abanguni griots and composers would capture all historically
significant moments in songs that were then taught to future generations.
“These are therefore essential time
capsules through which we can effectively take a look at the kind of issues
those communities were faced with in the 17th and 18th centuries especially in
the Southern African region,” said award-winning vocalist, Mbuso Khoza.
The Ensemble was formed by Khoza following
five years of research into the origins of Amahubo, its significance and its
method of presentation. Khoza said the Joburg Theatre performances were
conceived to celebrate both the centenary of South Africa’s first
democratically-elected president Nelson Mandela as well as the legendary Zulu
king Cetshwayo ka Mpande ka Senzangakhona.
Since its formation in 2016, the energetic
troupe has toured in South Africa and the rest of the continent to tumultuous
applause.
“Those lucky enough to secure the tickets
for the Joburg Theatre shows will be mesmerised by the purity and the
originality in terms of interpretation of this long-abandoned art-form whose
vitality still resonates so strongly more than two centuries later,” promised
Khoza.
Performances take place on the Nelson
Mandela stage at Joburg Theatre on May 18 and 19 at 20h00 and on May 20 at
15h00. Tickets R150 – R300 booked through Joburg Theatre's website
www.joburgtheatre.com or by calling 0861 670 670 or through Webtickets.
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