(Above: Mbuso
Khoza)
The Poetry Africa festival, Durban’s
popular poetry feast that takes place from October 7 to 12, will feature a host
of local and international poets, with talented musicians opening the sessions
each evening.
Musicians include KwaZulu-Natal born talent
Mbuso Khoza, whose music is often referred to as “a delicate mix of deep
traditional Zulu music infused with jazz elements”. Khoza’s vocal skills have
thrilled audiences far and wide in countries like Senegal, Burkina Faso,
Portugal, Switzerland and The Netherlands. Khoza is a columnist for the
Isolezwe Newspaper, radio presenter for Ukhozi FM and a university lecturer.
(Right: Zawadi
Ya Mungu)
Zawadi Ya Mungu who comes from Mandeni on
the KZN North Coast brings together gospel and R&B sounds. Her first album,
produced by the iconic duo Themba Mkhize and Nduduzo Makhathini, was recorded
in 2019 in tribute to Princess Magogo.
(Right: Ikusasa
Lethu)
Music and dance group Ikusasa Lethu meaning
“our future”, will also feature on the programme. Assembled from the University
of KwaZulu–Natal’s African Music and Dance programme, the group was established
in 2000 as a platform for students to come together to create original
repertoire to be performed in local, national and international spaces.
(Left: Igolide)
Igolide, a three-man band features Khethelo
Madondo (piano and vocals), Oudskul Funk (drums) and Simiso Dlamini (bass).
Their musical influences are jazz, neo-soul, afro-soul and traditional Zulu
music.
(Right: Izimbewu
Zekusasa)
An all-female group, Izimbewu Zekusasa (The
Seeds of Our Future), play indigenous instruments including the umrhubhe,
guitar, Halifax ceramic ocarina, toca seed shell-shaker and Congo drums. The
group was started by Nothando Maphumulo in 2019, a third-year student of
African Music and Dance at UKZN.
Lastly, Durban-raised Nicky Shange, studied
music at the Natal Technikon and was discovered in 1998 at the BAT Centre by
musician Busi Mhlongo.
(Left: Nicky
Shange)
“We are extremely excited about our line-up
of musicians this year, who open each evening with a musical introduction for
the poets. There is so much similarity between the words that are sung and the
words that are spoken and these musicians will complement and set the tone for
each session,” says Programme Curator Siphindile Hlongwa.
The festival is hosted by the University of
KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts (CCA) and supported through principal
funding from the eThekwini Municipality.
The full programme can be viewed on
the website http://poetryafrica.ukzn.ac.za/
Tickets R60 (R40 pensioners and
students) and can be purchased through Computicket or at the door.
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