(Founder
of Durban Black Drifters, Chris Ntuli,
with the choir from Lamontville High
School)
Durban Black Drifters will host the 17th
High Schools Isicathamiya Choir Summit to be held at the Playhouse Opera on
Friday, May 10, 2019 at 10h00.
Only 50 schools are expected to participate
in this song and dance music event. Huge cash prizes totalling R50,000 and
trophies are up for grabs. The 1st prize is R25,000, 2nd prize is R15,000 and
3rd prize is R10,000. SABC, former Ukhozi FM’s Joe Hudla will compere this show
for the 12th time, while Eric ‘’Coolfire’’ Hadebe will rekindle ancestors with
the burning of impepho (incense) during the opening of this show. Entertainment
will then be provided by Ngcolosi Home Boys and Madala Kunene.
The invite list includes Ukhozi FM’s Thanda
Ndlovu, Lucky Nkosi, Dr T Biyela, Juba Special and top government officials.
The 17th 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.
Durban Black Drifters is the only Isicathamiya
group that teaches this music in schools since 1992. Communities, students and
teachers are warned never to be confused by opportunists who are now purporting
to be teaching this genre to schools. The fact is, for the past 28 years,
Durban Black Drifters are the founders, officially registered and remain sole
proprietors of Isicathamiya Schools Workshops project, including the 17th High
Schools Isicathamiya Choirs started in 1999, which is a direct result of this
programme. Furthermore, the project strives to shape and guide these young people
to be better citizens who’ll be respectful, competent, reliable, efficient,
self-reliant, embracing and upholding their culture when they leave school.
Started in 1992 as a workshop project by
Durban Black Drifters, the event has established and transferred skills to over
2,000 school groups. Other artists the project has produced are Ngcolosi Home
Boys from Botha’s Hill, Abafana Basentembeni from Melmoth; Mpumalanga White
Birds from Hammarsdale and Uglama kaMaskandi from Pietermaritzburg; to name but
a few. It has won the 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 returned 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.
Ntuli has come a long way with his music since
he first came to Durban in the early 70’s. He spent his first two years on the
streets in the 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, Ntuli is a rare and unique kind of musician
who possesses many years of experience in marketing and media. Before engaging
in music full-time, 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 and
guidance 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. The 17th High Schools Isicathamiya Choir Summit is presented with the
compliments of National Lotteries Commission, Playhouse Company, and organized
and managed by DBD Entertainment.
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. All interested 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 will be available for sale at R150 a
copy.
The 17th High Schools Isicathamiya Choir
Summit to be held at 10h00 on Friday, May 10, 2019, in the Playhouse Opera.
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