THE MITH TEAM

The music you love in the place you love – join in for a very special MiTH – the Midlands’ beloved Music in The Hills hosted at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm. For just R50, you get access to the perfect blend of great music, and there’s good food, familiar faces, and drinks on sale. Every MiTH night is its own unique little treasure chest.

 

Date: June 3, 2026

Venue: The Knoll Historic Guest Farm

Entrance: R50 (cash or Zapper at the door)

Info: 082 331 7271

 

20h20 – Time In A Bottle (a Jim Croce tribute show preview)

Jim Croce rose from South Philadelphia’s working‑class grit with a gift for turning ordinary lives into unforgettable songs. Years of small gigs and odd jobs finally broke open with You Don’t Mess Around with Jim in 1972. Hits like Operator, Bad, Bad Leroy Brown, and Time in a Bottle made him a national voice almost overnight, but a 1973 plane crash cut his life short at 30. His songs endure for their tenderness, humour, and the way they make everyday stories feel luminous.

Continuing the established tradition of local musical collaborations: Mark Manley, Brian Bedingfield, Roly Struckmeyer and Rudi Engelbrecht are planning a show on the life and music of the legendary Jim Croce. They are bringing a preview of the show to MiTH, with a selection of his favourite songs.

 

19h20 – Padlangs

Padlangs brings together Korné and François in an acoustic collaboration built on songwriting, harmony and a shared passion for live music. Performing originals and selected covers in Afrikaans and English, their sound draws from country, folk, rock and alternative influences. Korné has performed since childhood, played in numerous bands and enjoyed success including a Battle of the Bands win and airplay on 5FM, while François adds energy, tasteful touches and musical sensitivity. Together, Padlangs creates performances where feelings are communicated through the language of music.

 

19h00 – The Jingles

The Jingles are a four-piece amateur band featuring Sharon, Erlo and Simon on acoustic guitar and vocals, with Oliver on bass. The group meets weekly to play many of their favourite songs from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, spanning rock ’n’ roll, folk and country. Their repertoire includes classics by Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) and Elvis Presley. The Jingles made their first public appearance on Valentine’s Day this year and have since performed at a 50th birthday celebration.

 

ABOUT MiTH

Food and cash bar available on site. The KZN Midlands’ favourite live music venue, MiTH is a platform for beginners, professionals and music lovers to celebrate the joy of live performance. Hosted every second Wednesday at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm, Hilton.

 

DIRECTIONS TO MiTH

Take the N3 to Hilton. Turn into Hilton Village and drive 5.2 km along Hilton Avenue, which becomes Dennis Shepstone Drive. Look for Knoll Drive on your right – the entrance to MiTH is the second left into The Knoll Historic Guest Farm. Info: 082 331 7271, www.mith.co.za or mithbookings@gmail.com

PJ SABBAGHA NAMED 2026 JOMBA! LEGACY ARTIST

 

(Above: PJ Sabbagha- pic by Christo Doherty)

The 28th annual JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, hosted by UKZN’s Centre for Creative Arts, has announced that it will honour South African choreographer and arts activist PJ Sabbagha as the 2026 JOMBA! Legacy Artist.

PJ Sabbagha, whose name has become synonymous with issue-based dance theatre, is the founding member and Managing and Artistic Director of The Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative (FATC - now in its 31st year), the Ebhudlweni Arts Center (in its 11th year) and the annual My Body My Space Rural Public Arts Festival (in its 11th year).

Sabbagha was the recipient of the 2005 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance and the 2006 FNB Dance Umbrella award for Best Choreography for his work, Still Here. He was also awarded the 2005 and 2009 awards for Most Outstanding presentation of a new work for The Double Room and Macbeth respectively. In 2005, he was voted top South African Artist and was also placed in the top 10 of The Star Tonight’s annual top 100 South Africans.

He has travelled across the USA as a guest of the US State Department as part of the 2007 International Visitors Leadership Program investigating HIV and AIDS and other communicable diseases. In 2017, Sabbagha visited France as a guest of the French Ministry of Culture and Communications as part of a Seminar Focusing Arts and Culture in Service of Community and Territorial Development. Sabbagha’s choreographic work has been shown at festivals and theatres in countries that include Russia, Mexico, France, Holland, Tanzania, Mali, Mozambique and Taiwan.

Currently PJ leads FATC in its delivery and work as appointed implementing agency on behalf of the Mpumalanga Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Recreation’s Community Arts Center Support and Development Programme funded by the National Department of Sports, Arts and Culture

JOMBA!’s artist director, Dr Lliane Loots says: “Deeply significant to the JOMBA! Legacy award is PJ’s lifelong commitment to not just his choreographic excellence, but a deep-seated care for community and his pioneering work that has shifted South African dance out of urban spaces. His curation and vision have shifted our dance landscape and we are deeply humbled that we get to honour PJ in this way.

“The JOMBA! festival’s 2026 overall curatorial theme and provocation is Choreographies of Activism: Moving Bodies as Disruptive Presenting and we can think of no other South African artist who has exemplified this moving across physical, economic and access borders in his dance work, whether this has been training and teaching, choreography, or curation”.

PJ and FATC will open JOMBA! on August 25 and 26 in Durban with a re-visit and re-boot of an earlier work NOAH - a multi-media dance work exploring the notions of loss, love and letting go. It uses the frame of irreversible climate change as an immersion in the moment of crisis, from which there is no return. NOAH will be performed by Nicholas Aphane, Athena Mazarakis and Shawn Mothupi, and is a layered conversation between live performing bodies, video projection and shadows that surfaces the personal and collective response to this (personal and geopolitical) moment of crisis.

JOMBA! takes place at The Sneddon Theatre in Durban from August 25 to September 6, and the satellite festival takes place at The Market Theatre in Johannesburg from September 9 to 12, 2026.

For more information, go to https://jomba.ukzn.ac.za/

FESTIVAL CONFERS LIFETIME AWARD ON NJABULO NDEBELE

 

(Above: Professor Njabulo Ndebele)

 

The 29th edition of the renowned Time of the Writer festival presented by the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts has conferred a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award on Professor Njabulo Ndebele, in recognition of his extraordinary and enduring contribution to South African literature and intellectual life.

Shafinaaz Hassim, the curator of the 2026 Time of the Writer festival, says: “Professor Ndebele stands as one of the country’s most influential literary figures—an author, scholar, and public intellectual whose work has shaped not only how South African stories are told, but how they are understood. From his seminal collection of essays, which called for a turn toward “the ordinary” in South African narrative, to his acclaimed novel The Cry of Winnie Mandela, his writing has consistently challenged dominant modes of representation while opening new imaginative and ethical possibilities.”

Across decades, Professor Ndebele’s influence has extended beyond the page. As an academic leader and cultural thinker, Professor Ndebele has played a pivotal role in nurturing generations of writers, scholars, and readers, helping to build a literary culture grounded in critical reflection, historical awareness, and creative courage.

Ismail Mahomed, the Director of the Centre for Creative Arts, says: “The Lifetime Achievement Award acknowledges both the depth of his literary achievements and the breadth of his impact on South Africa’s cultural and intellectual landscape. It honours a body of work marked by intellectual clarity, narrative innovation, and a sustained commitment to exploring the complexities of human experience in a society shaped by profound change.”

Speaking on behalf of the Centre for Creative Arts, he noted that honouring Professor Ndebele affirms the festival’s ongoing commitment to recognising voices that have not only defined South African literature, but have also expanded its horizons for future generations.

The 29th edition of the Time of the Writer festival which was presented in Durban between March 23 – 28, 2026, continued its tradition as a vital platform for literary exchange, bringing together 100 writers from across South Africa to engage in dialogue, performance, and reflection. Participants also included writers from Norway, Ivory Coast, Ukraine and Palestine. The 30th edition of the Time of the Writer festival will take from March 16 to 21 2027.

The Time of the Writer festival took place from March 23 to 28, 2026. The complete festival schedule including the Children’s Festival programme can be viewed at https://tow.ukzn.ac.za/29th-online/

All events to the festival were free. The 29th edition of the Time of the Writer festival was supported by the University of KwaZulu-Natal, National Arts Council of South Africa and the KZN Department of Sport, Arts & Culture. Festival partners include the Wits Writing Centre, DALRO, KZNSA Gallery, the Alliance Française (Durban) and the ATKV.

The 30-year Centre for Creative Arts is a multi-disciplinary cultural hub in the School of Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The Centre is renowned for presenting 5 of South Africa’s leading arts festivals – the Time of the Writer festival (29 years), JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Festival (28 years), Durban International film Festival (46 years), Poetry Africa (30 years) and the Artfluence Human Rights Festival (5 years). The Centre for Creative Arts is also host of the 5th World Slam Poetry Competition which will present 40 slam poets from forty nations competing for the global title in Durban during October 2026.

 

ABOUT THE CURATOR:

Shafinaaz Hassim is an multi award-winning author and sociologist. Her more than 18 titles have received international and local acclaim. In 2014, she was listed by UNESCO as one of the top 39 writers in Africa under the age of 40. Her novels have been commended by the SALA and NIHSS awards and the UJ Prize for Creative Writing. She is also the author of the five-book Nisa Qamar series for young adults, which has been shortlisted twice for the Minara Aziz Hassim Literary Awards and the prestigious Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature 2019. Her novel Darlings of Durban received noteworthy accolade. Kimya Writes is her latest series. Hassim presents a popular book review show called BookBytes, showcasing cutting edge writing from local and international authors. She brings her varied industry expertise to the curation of Time of the Writer Festival.

 

NB: To link directly to the Centre for Creative Arts website, click on the logo advert to the right of this page.

DURBAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES DATES FOR ITS 47TH EDITION

 

The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), presented by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, has unveiled the official poster and its visual identity to officially announce that the 47th edition of the festival that will run from July 23 to August 2, 2026.

Centered around the design concept, The Prism of Heritage, this year’s artwork takes a bold step to signal a fresh, contemporary direction for the festival’s programming under the new leadership of Sakhile Gumede. Having been associated with DIFF for more than a decade, he draws on the festival’s institutional legacy, as well as engagements with a broad range of stakeholders to move the festival forward and to strengthen its relevance in South Africa and on the continent.

“In sync with our vision for this year’s programming, our visual identity embraces a sharp, tech-minimalist aesthetic to present a distinctly modern vision of African identity and global cinema”, explains Gumede. “This year, the festival has received over 2,600 submissions from more than 125 countries worldwide. DIFF continues to serve as a key platform and gateway for filmmakers in Africa, as well as a vibrant hub for cultural exchange across the globe.

“It has been fascinating engaging with the film sector, who continue to remain optimistic about DIFF as a platform for film exhibition and cinematic experience. It has also been an incredibly rewarding experience working as the Festival Programmer for this edition, curating a diverse slate of content from both local and international filmmakers. The journey has strengthened my appreciation for the power of cinema, to connect people and spark meaningful dialogue across borders."

The 47th Durban International Film Festival will take place at Suncoast CineCentre, as well as satellite screenings across various community arts centres in the greater Durban municipality. An industry-programme will serve emerging film-makers with a series of strategically conceptualised workshops, residencies and mentorship opportunities.

The DIFF prides itself in catapulting the careers of both film-makers and future festival programmers. The festival’s programme coordinator, Helene Naicker, has been working together with the Wales One World Film Festival (UK) to programme a series of film exchanges between the UK and South Africa. Assistant Project Officer, Kholeka Khumbuza will project-manage the festival’s outreach engagement and Industry Programme under Mr Gumede’s leadership. Bash Siddiqi will be the festival’s digital specialist.

Ismail Mahomed, the Director of the Centre for Creative Arts, said: “The new visual identity goes beyond representing an exciting programme that will be announced in the coming weeks but it also represents a fresh new energy injected into the festival by a team that is looking beyond traditional templates of how festivals should be presented. Gumede’s leadership of the festival offers an inspiring opportunity to rethink programming, given our country’s development agenda as well as new opportunities that are framed by evolving strategies in the film industry.”

The release of the poster marks the official visual kick-off for the 2026 festival season. Over the coming months, the striking "Prism of Heritage" artwork will become the visual anchor for the festival’s programming announcements, industry events and city-wide branding.

For more information and to stay updated on upcoming programme announcements, visit the official festival website - https://ccadiff.ukzn.ac.za

 

UMEMULO KA NDLOVUKAZI FOR TATHAM

The Tatham Art Gallery in Pietermaritzburg is hosting the exhibition Umemulo ka Ndlovukazi: Coming of Age.

Umemulo ka Ndlovukazi: Coming of Age is a collaborative exhibition between the Tatham Art Gallery, French Cultural partners in the Pietermaritzburg local, and emerging UKZN-trained artist Ndlovukazi Ngilande born in 1999 at Port Shepstone.

Positioned as an experimental conversation across space, history, and identity, the exhibition brings 27-year old Ngilande's contemporary ceramic and sculptural works into dialogue with narratives of the French presence in KwaZulu-Natal.

This is done through a juxtaposition of her work alongside some pieces from the Gallery's Permanent French Collection and some craft collected by the French Cultural partners in other projects.

Whilst this exhibition is a component of the much-anticipated French Week Tours facilitated by local Francophile, Glenn Flanagan, the exhibition also celebrates Ngilande's independent achievement in securing an artist residency at the Cite de Arts in Paris through her own successful competition entry in the ABA l'atelier art competition. As she has already departed, the work she leaves behind continue this conversation in her absence, inhabiting the gallery as reflections on memories of her own umemulo, womanhood, heritage, and transition.

Through this unique exchange between Pietermaritzburg and Paris, this exhibition explores what it means for a young artist to metaphorically 'come of age' within both local and global cultural landscapes, simultaneously casting a spotlight on French culture in the context of the city. This exhibition will be up until she returns to South Africa at the end of her residency.

The exhibition will close on August 30, 2026, at 16h00. The Gallery is located opposite the Pietermaritzburg City Hall..

 

N.B. Safe Parking space is available and join the Tatham for a Sunday morning of thoughtful engagement and investment in local emerging voices in art.

For information concerning the exhibition contact Pinky Madlabane-Nkabinde at Pinky.Nkabinde@msunduzi.gov.za or Naledi Maboee at Naledi.Maboee@msunduzi.gov.za

 

SPIRITS AND SPACES

 

(Poster: Experimental Short Film by Gabriella Blumberg inspired by Roger Ballen Book)

 

An experimental short film Spirits and Spaces, inspired by the book of the same name by world-renowned photographer and artist Roger Ballen - his first publication in colour - enters the strange psychological terrain that defines the Ballenesque: a world that is chaotic, absurd, and deeply subconscious.

Now available to view on YouTube, the film was created as a companion artwork to the book, and directed by Gabriella Blumberg, with director of photography Gavin Pincus and creative director Marguerite Rossouw. Spirts and Spaces unfolds as a journey through a transitional interior world of rooms and spaces.

In it, a lone spirit awakens in a coffin and wanders through a sequence of 6 rooms inspired by chapters from Ballen’s book, each embodying a distinct state, as the walls breathe, shadows detach, and the world erupts into chaos around him - transforming the photographic themes into living spaces.

Blumberg comments: “Creating Spirits and Spaces felt more like making a documentary than a work of fiction - as though placing a camera within the mind of Roger Ballen, The film invites viewers to step beyond the surface of each photograph and inhabit its liminal space.”

Ballen adds: “This is the first photographic book and film in my long career of nearly six decades that I have expressed my world in colour. This place should be viewed not as a location that is real versus unreal, but as an uncanny spot that exists somewhere in each of our minds. Upon viewing the film and images you will be unclear as to if whether and when you have ever been to this Ballenesque universe.”

Blumberg says: “We are thrilled to launch the film on YouTube alongside the release of the book, allowing audiences immediate access to experience both works in dialogue with one another. Presented simultaneously, the film and book encourage us to engage with the project as a unified and immersive experience,”.

The film is available to watch on Youtube here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2GSaneIPu8

Spirits and Spaces is published by Thames & Hudson and is available on Amazon worldwide and Takealot in SA on https://www.takealot.com/roger-ballen-spirits-and-spaces/PLID97154473

 

SING ALLELULIA!

 

(Above: The Durban Chamber Choir)

The Durban Chamber Choir invites audiences to celebrate the joy of choral singing in two vibrant autumn concerts—one in Pietermaritzburg and one in Durban. The second concert brings the music home to Durban on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at 15h00 at St Thomas Anglican Church, Musgrave, Durban.

The Choir presents an uplifting carefully-chosen, eclectic programme of music which includes: the elegant Messe Brève by Charles Gounod; Baba Yetu (Swahili: "Our Father") by celebrated Xhosa hymn writers, John Knox Bokwe; and the iconic Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.

The Durban Chamber Choir has been in existence for over 20 years. The choir’s conductor is Margrit Deppe. Come and enjoy an afternoon of beautiful music.

Tickets are available through Quicket or at the door for R120, concessions R80. Please join the choir after the performances for tea, cake, and conversation.

SONGBOOK SESSIONS – MONDAY NIGHT WITH MASUDA

 

 

The UKZN Centre for Jazz and Popular Music proudly presents another exciting edition of The Songbook Sessions, featuring acclaimed Johannesburg-born DJ, producer, and pianist Obakeng Thamage, better known as Masuda, on Monday, June 1, 2026, at 18h00.

Masuda is rapidly redefining the Afrohouse landscape with a distinctive sound that blends cinematic depth, electronic dance music energy, and rich live instrumentation. A graduate of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, he has collaborated with some of South Africa’s biggest music names, including Prince Kaybee, Distruction Boyz, Zakes Bantwini, Kabza De Small, and Dlala Thukzin. Most recently, he co-produced the hit track Muthi alongside Kabza De Small and Dlala Thukzin.

Known for his immersive live performances, Masuda seamlessly fuses live synths, expressive piano riffs, and his signature productions, all enhanced by striking visuals and a bold, fashion-forward aesthetic.

For this special performance, he will be joined by an exceptional ensemble featuring Daniel Sheldon on trumpet, Mandla Matsha on percussion, and Nick Pitman on guitar.

 

Event Details

The Songbook Sessions – Monday Jam Session led by Masuda

Date: Monday, June 1, 2026

Time: 18h00

Venue: UKZN Centre for Jazz and Popular Music

 

Tickets: R130 (R100 pensioners & R70 students)

Tickets are available at the door or via Webtickets.

https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/Performance.aspx?itemid=1595344554

2026 WORLD SYMPHONY SERIES SECOND LEG

Bongani Tembe, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra announces: “As the air turns crisp and our beloved city of Durban settles into the quiet magic of winter, I am thrilled to welcome you to the second leg of our 2026 World Symphony Series!

“We have handpicked two unforgettable programmes designed to inspire, elevate, and deeply connect with you. Concerts take place on June 11 and 18, at 19h00.

“We urge you to secure your Season Ticket savings of up to 20% by contacting our offices on 031 369 9438 or info@kznphil.org.za

“There is something truly special about gathering in the warmth of the iconic Playhouse Opera to experience the transformative power of live music together.”

 

Programme:

 

CONCERT 1: June 11 at 19h00 – Playhouse Opera

Conductor: Daniel Boico

Soloist: Elvin Ganiyev, violin

Beethoven: Egmont Overture

Dvořák: Violin Concerto, Op. 53 in a minor

Brahms: Symphony No. 3, Op. 90 in F Major

 

 

CONCERT 2: June 18 at 19h00 – Playhouse Opera

Conductor: Alexandra Arrieche

Soloist: Federico Colli, piano

 

Curtain Raiser performed by the KZN Youth Orchestra

Schumann: Piano Concerto, Op. 54

Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3, “Scottish”

 

NB: To link to the KZNPO website, click on the advert at the top right hand of this page.

ISICATHAMIYA CONCERT

 

The Playhouse Company proudly presents its 2nd Isicathamiya Concert, featuring outstanding groups from Gauteng Province, eThekwini District and uThukela District. This vibrant and celebratory event brings together diverse voices and communities in a powerful showcase of harmony, tradition and cultural expression.

Rooted in rich South African heritage, Isicathamiya is renowned for its intricate vocal arrangements, disciplined choreography and deeply resonant storytelling. This special concert offers audiences an authentic and uplifting musical experience, celebrating the enduring legacy and unifying spirit of one of South Africa’s most treasured musical traditions.

Featuring incredible performances by:

Pomeroy Golden Stars | Zulu Messengers | Royal Messengers | Inkululeko |

Khalabhayi Boys | Umlazi Tremendous Boys | Abafana Benkokhelo | O-Ben 10

 

This will be an unforgettable afternoon of rhythm, heritage and soul-stirring harmony as the beauty of Isicathamiya music takes centre stage.

The concert takes place on May 30 at 14h00 in the Playhouse Drama Theatre.

Tickets: Standard – R100 booked through Webtickets.

 

A vibrant celebration of heritage, harmony and cultural pride, the Isicathamiya Concert brings together powerful voices and timeless traditions in an unforgettable live experience.

35 YEARS OF ARTIST PROOF STUDIO

 

(Photo Credit: Provided by Artist Proof Studio)

The KZNSA will host 35 Years of Artist Proof Studio: A Legacy in Printmaking on May 28, 2026.

This is a landmark exhibition that celebrates one of South Africa’s most influential centres of printmaking, honouring three and a half decades of artistic excellence, collaboration, and community impact.

Artist Proof Studio (APS) was founded in 1991 and has become a leading force in fine art printmaking, recognised for its commitment to training, mentorship, and creative exchange. Over the years, APS has supported generations of artists whose work has been exhibited at major art fairs, represented in prominent galleries, and developed in collaboration with some of the country’s most celebrated practitioners.

 

35 Years of Artist Proof Studio

Programme Highlights

Walkabout with APS Kim Berman and Nathi Simalane –on May 29 May, at 09h30 for 10h00 to 11h00

This guided tour will offer a rare opportunity to hear directly from the visionaries from APS, as they reflect on the studio’s history, its impact on South African printmaking, and the stories embedded within the works on display as an attendee you will gain a deeper understanding of the artistic processes, collaborations, and community‑centred ethos that have shaped APS over the past three decades. Kim and Nathi will also be available after the walkabout for any questions relating to the exhibition and APS’s ongoing work.

 

Printmaking demonstrations by Nkosana Nhlapho and Tshogofatso Nkhumeleng - First Thursday, 4 June 14h30 for 15h00 to 17h00.

 

APS 35‑Year Walkabout - Saturday, June 6, 10h30 for 11h00 to 13h00.

 

The KZNSA looks forward to welcoming art lovers as they celebrate 35 years of artistry, resilience, and the shared humanity at the heart of printmaking.

The KZNSA Gallery is located at 166 Bulwer Road, Bulwer, Durban. For more information visit https://kznsagallery.co.za/

BANK OF AMERICA ART CONSERVATION PROJECT

Bank of America's Art Conservation Project (ACP) is a global initiative dedicated to preserving culturally and historically significant artworks and artefacts for future generations. Since its launch in 2010, the programme has supported the conservation of more than 15,000 artworks and cultural objects across 40 countries through partnerships with museums, galleries and cultural institutions.

At a time when many cultural organisations face increasing financial and resource pressures, the ACP helps safeguard works at risk of deterioration while ensuring they remain accessible to the public. The initiative forms part of Bank of America's broader commitment to arts and culture, recognising the important role that cultural heritage plays in education, community development and fostering greater understanding across generations.

As Brian Siegel, Global Arts, Culture & Heritage Executive at Bank of America, explains: “Conservation is the quiet work that brings those stories forward today and for future generations… the goal is simple: to ensure these works remain visible, accessible and enjoyed by visitors for years to come.”

The latest round of ACP recipients highlights the growing importance of conservation and preservation efforts worldwide, as institutions work to protect cultural heritage and expand access to art and history for wider audiences.

For more information, contact email: Samantha.robinson@omc.com