30TH POETRY AFRICA FESTIVAL & WORLD POETRY SLAM CHAMPIONSHIP OPENING CEREMONY: REVIEW

 

(Left to right: Ms Linda Bukhosini; Ms Sphindile Hlongwa; MEC Khawula; Dr Gcina Mhlope; Dr Ismail Mahomed; Professor Hlongwa. Picture credit: Poetry Africa/Centre for Creative Arts UKZN)

 

That the 30th edition of Poetry Africa, along with the 5th World Poetry Slam Championship is ‘a thing’ is itself a triumph. (Review by Shannon Kenny)

The 30th Poetry Africa Festival & World Poetry Slam Championship (October 5-9, 2026):

Opening Ceremony - The Drama Theatre - The Playhouse Company Durban

 

That the 30th edition of Poetry Africa, along with the 5th World Poetry Slam Championship is ‘a thing’ is itself a triumph. It is a triumph for Art and Art-makers in South Africa and abroad, who keep on keeping on, through the winds and hurricanes of national and global change. This year’s theme is, fittingly: Every Word a Street, Every Voice a City.

The audience was welcomed by Dr Ismail Mahomed, Director of the Centre for Creative Arts (CCA), UKZN, and led in a rendition of the South African national anthem by Thulile Zama, of the UKZN Centre for Jazz and Popular Music. There is something about our anthem, whether sung in a rugby stadium, school hall or gala event – that stirs and uplifts and unites us in its appeal for divine blessing and its exhortation to strive for a freedom that is the right of us all.

Celebrated artists, poet, and our host for the evening, Lebo Mashile and dancer-choreographer Musa Hlatshwayo took to the stage in a confluence of words and movement that was also a clarion call to action, to the urgency for our times: “These are the hours to reach for what's worth rising for” was a particularly memorable line.

KZN MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Mntomuhle Khawula; Creative Director and CEO of The Playhouse Company, Linda Bukhosini; and Dean and Head of the UKZN School of Arts, Professor Nobuhle Hlongwa delivered messages that not only acknowledged the importance of the Arts but also the important work of the Centre for Creative Arts under its past and current leadership. Most notable was the audience response – an audible, collective gasp – at the announcement of Dr Ismail Mahomed’s retirement at the end of this year. Ismail Mahomed is not only an arts administrator par excellence. His sincere and tireless advocacy and activism and most of all his empathy for artists - and genuine desire to see artists live and thrive in their vocation - is an immeasurable gift.

Poetry Africa curator and senior administrator at the CCA Sphindile Hlongwa, and Ms Mashile both spoke to the work of the poet and their place in society, as they introduced the evening’s line-up.

Zawadi Yamungu thrilled and delighted with her lyrical artistry and endearing stage presence, topping the evening’s performance with a superb rendition of her hit song, Ngimuhle.

South African, Steel the Poet (Nhlakanipho Thabethe) delivered a masterful performance of three of his poems, infusing each with an urgency where one couldn’t help but feel all the feels.

Nanda (Naelle Sandra) of Gabon brought lyricism and a celebration of our individuality and uniqueness through “Imagine” and then, her call to join her in a liturgy in praise of love/ intonda/amour.

Featured poet, Koleka Putuma, delivered a keynote address that placed Voice front and centre. Her observation that a voice that is encouraged to always speak up and be heard is different to the voice that is told to know its place struck a particular chord with the audience.

And finally, Lifetime Achievement awardee, poet, playwright, actor, director, arts activist, author and storyteller, Dr Gcina Mhlope took to the stage. In her inimitable manner she payed homage to the way makers who’ve left us and simultaneously delivered a call to action, to resist “forgetery” and “shoot the arrows of self-love to our children’s children.”

With 38 delegates from 38 countries competing in the 5th World Poetry Slam; a host of panel discussions, performances, mentoring sessions and contests over the course of the festival, Poetry Africa is truly a celebration of Voice and Memory, of Poets and Freedom Fighters, of what has been and is and is to come; of Language and Lyricism; and all of our gorgeous and flawed Humanity!

A massive high five to the teams from the Centre for Creative Arts, UKZN, their funders, partners and every participating poet and panellist at Poetry Africa 2026, for what can only be described as a feast of the spoken word.

Venues: The Loft, Room M1 and Drama Theatre at the Playhouse complex. Open Mic sessions take place at the Belaire Suites Hotel. 

Ticket bookings via Webtickets

Halala! Durban, you are in for a treat! – Shannon Kenny

NB: For more information on the Centre for Creative Arts, click on the logo advert to the right of this article.

 

CITY OF WIDOWS: REVIEW

 

It is in the construction of the plot that the novel encounters problems. (Review by Margaret von Klemperer, Courtesy of The Witness)

 

Nadia Hashimi’s parents emigrated from Afghanistan to the United States where she grew up and later worked as a paediatrician before turning her hand to writing. Afghanistan, and particularly the plight of women in that tragic country, is her subject of choice, with several novels to her name dealing with the rollercoaster experience of the Soviet invasion, Taliban rule, American-backed government and, following the ignominious departure of the Americans, the Taliban again.

Back in 2016, her novel, A House Without Windows, had a launch in Pietermaritzburg and her books have always attracted a big readership.

Here the main character is Marjan and in 2021, she is desperately trying to leave the country because, as we gradually discover, she has served with the Female Tactical Platoon (FTP), a trained military unit of Afghan women who served with the American army as a group who could speak to Afghan women – something male soldiers could not do. Unlike their female American counterparts, members of the FTP spoke the local language. But, as we know, in the US forces’ undignified withdrawal, many people who were going to be at risk simply could not escape, even though the Americans claimed to be trying to help them.

Marjan has a young daughter, Hawa, and a great friend, Soraya who served in the FTP with her. And Soraya has an aunt, Mina, who is a journalist and an anchor on a TV news show – all of them obviously at risk from the advancing Taliban whose attitude to women is well documented. But to escape is never going to be easy.

Hashimi divides the novel into sections. The main thrust of the plot concerns 2021, when the women are struggling to find a way of leaving the country. The title, which Hashimi explains in the author’s note at the end of the book, is where Marjan and Hawa end up hiding while they try to work out how to escape to a different life. But there is also a lot of backstory, mainly concerning Marjan but also explaining her connection with Soraya and Mina.

It is in the construction of the plot that the novel encounters problems. The reader has to go backwards and forwards, from Marjan’s horrible experiences as a child bride, to her escape from an abusive husband, to the reasons that she and Soraya joined the FTP, and to Mina’s career as a journalist. Hashimi seems to feel the need to end each section or chapter on a cliffhanger, and then leave the reader dangling while she goes backwards or forwards to re-connect with wherever she left her characters before.

This becomes an irritant. It interrupts the flow of the story and, to a degree, causes the reader to lose interest. It is a pity, because Hashimi is highlighting the plight of the people of Afghanistan and tackling some very real problems. – Margaret von Klemperer

City of Widows is published by William Morrow: ISBN 978-0-06-349363-6

BANDS UNDER THE STARS CONCERT

 

Come, join up for the highly-anticipated, picnic-style, Bands Under the Stars Concert on Friday, October 16, 2026, in Pietermaritzburg.

This free concert will showcase the talents of the St Charles College Junior School and High School Bands, bringing the 2026 Bands season to a memorable close. Gather your family and friends, pack a picnic, blankets, and chairs, and enjoy an evening of music under the night sky.

 

Date: Friday, October 16, 2026

Venue: Grass area below the SP Quad

Time: 18h00-19h30

Entrance free

Bring your picnic, blankets, and chairs

 

The St Charles College Music Department. The College is located at Harwin Road, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg.

MITH PROGRAMME: OCTOBER 7

 

 

MiTH brings another evening of live music to The Knoll Historic Guest Farm on October 7 where the Midlands comes together for a proper night out. For just R50, you can catch a hand-picked mix of local and national musicians and performers, with genres, styles and surprises changing from fortnight to fortnight. Grab something good to eat, order a drink, find a spot and settle in.

MiTH isn’t a concert where everyone listens and then goes home. It’s a night of discovering new music, bumping into old friends, meeting new ones and enjoying the wonderfully-unpredictable business of live performance. Come curious. Come hungry. Come thirsty. Most of all, come listen!

Venue: The Knoll Historic Guest Farm

Entrance: R50.00 (cash or Zapper at the door)

Info: 082 331 7271

 

20h30 – Imagine Peace

In what is becoming something of an annual tradition, Clive Willows has curated a new programme, this time around the theme of imagining peace. He has once again pulled in his friends, Brian Bedingfield, Ilan Lax, and for the first time on the MiTH stage, Cal Bray. In this world of conflict and division, they invite you to imagine peace through the words of Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, John Lennon, Bill Withers, Grateful Dead, Michael Jackson, Sting and more.

 

19h30 – Rhiannon & Vince

Rhiannon and Vince are a father-daughter duo from Howick, KZN. They have been performing at MiTH for many years, starting when Rhiannon was a teenager, and they continue to share a tradition of familial connection through their music. Known for putting a unique spin on both old and new tunes, they have recently added a few original songs to their repertoire.

Expect originals and covers in the traditional Celtic theme - Donoughmore by Rose Cousins, Out on the Mira and Maid of Culmore (traditional) and others that didn’t quite make it into their Black Velvet Band show. Rhiannon wows on lead vocals and plays guitar, while Vince impresses on piano, harmonica, cajón, and penny whistle.

 

19h00 – Cormac Slattery

Part-time coffee shop owner, part-time musician, full-time husband and dad, Cormac Slattery is happiest with a guitar in his hands, a good song to sing and absolutely no obligation to stick to one particular genre. Based in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands and running Mac’s Café in the Central Drakensberg, Cormac’s musical tastes wander happily all over the place.

His acoustic set might move from the anthemic sounds of Imagine Dragons and Coldplay to the unmistakable songs of The Cranberries and Radiohead, with a little Tracy Chapman thrown in - and perhaps even a nod to his Irish roots with The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. There may be some Tina Turner, too, because sometimes a great song is simply a great song. He’s looking forward to dusting off the guitar, stepping away from the coffee machine for an evening, and sharing a handful of favourites at MiTH.

 

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

 

 

DEAN’S CONCERT PRESENTS TOP PERFORMERS

Baritone Professor Federico Freschi, pianist Christopher Duigan and international guest soprano Angela Gilbert perform with the UJ Choir, conducted by Sizwe Mondlane.

An evening of compelling voices, expressive piano and rich choral sound awaits audiences at the annual Dean’s Concert on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 17h30 at the UJ Arts Centre.

Presented by UJ Arts & Culture, a division of the University of Johannesburg’s Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA), the concert raises funds for academically-deserving FADA students facing financial challenges.

Accomplished baritone Professor Federico Freschi, Executive Dean of FADA, joins acclaimed KZN-based pianist Christopher Duigan and international guest soprano Angela Gilbert to lead the musical programme.

Performing alongside them is the UJ Choir, under the direction of Sizwe Mondlane. Together, they bring the intimacy of solo performance and the power of collective voices to an evening with a lasting purpose. 

First presented in 2016, the Dean’s Concert supports the bursary fund established by Professor Freschi to help students with limited financial resources pursue their education.

South African-born soprano Angela Gilbert brings an extensive international career to the UJ stage. An alumna of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, she has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, San Diego Opera and Cape Town Opera, among others. Her signature roles include the title role in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, and she represented South Africa at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition in 2003.

Duigan’s longstanding association with the Dean’s Concert adds a familiar musical presence to this collaboration. Duigan, Freschi and Gilbert have all studied and worked together over many years, and it is fitting that in celebrating a decade of student support, this concert also celebrates the incredible possibilities of creative collaboration that go beyond personal friendship and professional partnerships. 

Duigan says: “Audiences can look forward to the intimacy of a solo voice, the dialogue between singer and pianist, and the thrilling sound of a choir. Bringing Angela, Federico and the UJ Choir together gives us wonderful scope for contrast and collaboration. We want audiences to experience the warmth, energy and emotion that make live music so rewarding.” That shared musical experience also brings artists, audiences, alumni and donors together to expand opportunities through creative education.

Professor Freschi adds: “Our students are the future artists, designers and architects who will shape how we live, think and see the world. The future of work will demand greater creativity: the ability to imagine new possibilities, respond to complex challenges and reshape our world. Supporting creative education is an investment in that future. I invite our alumni, friends and business partners to join us for an evening of wonderful music and help these young people realise their potential.”

Donors, businesses and friends of the University are warmly invited to attend and make a donation on the evening. Each contribution helps academically-deserving FADA students continue their studies and develop the skills to shape our creative future. Qualifying donations are eligible for a tax benefit.

 

Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026

Arrival: 17h30

The concert commences at 18h00. Book at Quicket

Ticket includes a light refreshment. A cash bar will be available.

 

Location: UJ Arts Centre, Keorapetse William Kgositsile Theatre

Auckland Park Kingsway Campus

 

BUILD THE AUDIENCE AT DURBAN FILMMART

 

(Artist's rendition of a WiC Cinema, Deepixels' community-scale exhibition environment designed to connect African screen content with audiences through technology-enabled physical cinema infrastructure. WiC Cinema will be launched this Friday (October 9) at the Durban FilmMart)

 

WiC aims at African cinema’s missing link, audiences.

Deepixels launches WiC, a new audience infrastructure initiative for African screen content, at Durban FilmMart 2026

African cinema has spent decades building filmmakers, films, festivals, markets and production capacity. Yet one fundamental challenge remains: how d­­o African films consistently find, grow and sustain paying African audiences?

At Durban FilmMart 2026 (October 9-12), Deepixels will introduce WiC, Watch in Community, an audience infrastructure initiative designed to help build new audience markets for African screen content.

The launch forms part of a broader proposition Deepixels is bringing to the industry, that every film is made for someone, and the challenge is to find them.

WiC is being developed in response to the persistent gap between the creation of African screen content and the systems required to connect that content with audiences over time.

(Right: Toni Monty)

Toni Monty, Co-Founder of Deepixels says: “Across African film, we have invested substantially in creative development, production capacity and market access. The missing discipline has been sustained audience development. WiC is designed to help address that gap by building practical routes between content, audiences, transactions and exhibition, so that more African stories can find viable markets over time.”

WiC connects digital discovery and ticket acquisition with physical exhibition, enabling screen content to reach audiences through a network of programmable venues and community-based cinema environments. The model brings together content discovery, programming, ticketing, exhibition and audience intelligence, creating a system through which audience relationships can be developed over time rather than ending with an individual screening or release.

Ross Joughin, Co-Founder of Deepixels, says: “WiC is not simply a screening initiative or a streaming product. It is a connected technology system that brings content discovery, ticket acquisition, programming, venue operations, payments and audience intelligence into one operating environment. That integration is what enables the model to be tested, measured and refined as it grows.”

WiC does not position itself as a replacement for existing cinemas, festivals, broadcasters, streaming platforms or distributors. It is intended to create additional audience pathways and exhibition opportunities within the wider screen ecosystem.

WiC will be introduced to the film industry during a session at the 2026 Durban FilmMart titled: Build The Audience: WiC takes aim at African cinema’s missing link: audiences, on Friday, October 9, 2026, from 11h15 to 12h00 at the Elangeni Hotel, Durban.

The session will explore the gap between content creation and sustained audience access, and introduce Deepixels’ approach to connecting content, communities, exhibition spaces, transactions and audience data within a new distribution and exhibition ecosystem.

The presentation will be led by Ross Joughin, with fellow Deepixels co-founders Toni Monty and Molise Ramaili and Content Partners Helen Kuun, Indigenous Film Distribution and Paul Robinson, NEFTI Films, joining the session for discussion and audience Q&A.

Delegates will also be able to experience WiC through a pop-up WiC Cinema, a dedicated screening venue presenting a curated programme of African screen content, and at the Deepixels / WiC exhibition stand, where they can engage with the platform and the wider audience-infrastructure model.

The WiC Cinema programme will bring together selected films submitted directly to WiC with titles presented in collaboration with WiC content partners Indigenous Film Distribution and NEFTI Films. NEFTI will contribute a curated short-film showcase, while Indigenous Film Distribution will bring selected titles from its catalogue into the programme, alongside a broader selection of African screen content. The full WiC Cinema programme, including screening times and participating titles, will be announced separately.

 

Building beyond Durban FilmMart

Durban FilmMart marks WiC’s public introduction and an important stage in its pilot development.

Molise Ramaili, Co-Founder of Deepixels, says: “WiC is also an industrial-development proposition. It creates a framework through which local venues, operators, content owners and partners can participate in a new entertainment economy. The opportunity is to develop commercially viable community exhibition infrastructure, mobilise investment around it and build an enterprise model capable of expanding across markets.”

Following DFM, Deepixels plans to continue testing the model through a South African pilot rollout, working with content partners, audiences, venue operators and other industry stakeholders to refine its commercial, operational and technical model. The longer-term ambition is to build scalable audience infrastructure capable of connecting more African stories with audiences across multiple markets.

“Deepixels is therefore using the DFM launch not simply to introduce a product, but to invite the industry into a larger conversation: if we want sustainable African cinema, we have to build sustainable African audiences,” concludes Ramaili.

 

For more information about WiC go to www.wicstream.com

For more information about the Durban FilmMart go to: https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/

MAHOTELLA QUEENS – BUYELEKHAYA TOUR

 

A vibrant celebration of South Africa’s living musical heritage, bringing together two generations of traditional music on one stage.

After more than six decades of carrying the sound and spirit of South African music across generations and borders, the legendary Mahotella Queens bring their timeless mbaqanga sound to Durban.

Joining them as a special guest is one of KwaZulu-Natal’s finest Maskandi artists, Limit Nala creating a powerful meeting point between the past, present and future of South African music.

 

Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026

Time: 19h00

Venue: The Playhouse Company, Durban

Booking is through Webtickets

REALS PRESENT GET BACK 3

 

The Reals - Barry Thomson, Dawn Selby, Mali Sewell, Robz Millar and Guest Guitarist Colin Peddie will present Get Back 3 at Rhumbelow Theatre in Umbilo and Northlands Bowling Club.

 

Durban:

Saturday: October 10, 2026. Show starts at 19h30

Sunday: October 11, 2026. Show starts at 14h00 - SOLD OUT

 

Northlands:

Saturday, October 17, 2026. Show starts at 19h30

 

(Venue opens 90 minutes before show for snacks/drinks)

 

In the short seven-year life span of the Fab Four, better known as ‘The Beatles’, they achieved phenomenal success, holding the record of having the most number-one hit songs (20). They hold the record for most number-one albums on (19) and the most singles sold in the UK, 21.1 million. By 1985, they were the best-selling band in history, with estimated total sales of over 1 billion records worldwide.

In the 60s, their songs helped popular music to become the soundtrack for political, social and cultural upheaval, particularly in the US. From made-to-measure suits and mop tops, to psychedelic suits, nowhere is the importance of image and visual styling more apparent than in their development. They also pioneered new recording techniques and ideas, forgoing live tours and performances to develop a new, more sophisticated studio sound. The Beatles began transforming our culture, dress, and music and their impact is still felt today.

Join Barry Thomson & The Reals in Get Back 3 as they pay an authentic tribute to Liverpool’s most famous pop group of all time, featuring frontman Barry Thomson (guitar/vocals), Dawn Selby (keyboards/vocals), Mali Sewell (drums/vocals), Robz Millar (bass guitar/vocals) and guest Colin Peddie (guitar/vocals).

Tickets R220 (R200 Pensioners, R180 under-13 and Northlands Bowling Club Members)

Bring food picnic baskets (Northlands & Durban) or buy at the venue (Northlands & Durban). Bar available (no alcohol may be brought on to the premises)

Limited secure parking available.

Booking is essential on email: roland@stansell.co.za or WEBTICKETS or http://events.durbantheatre.com/

For more information contact 0824998636.

 

RHUMBELOW THEATRE

42 Cunningham Road off Bartle Road, Durban

&

Northlands Bowling Club, 50 Margaret Maytom Avenue, Durban North

MARKING TIME: CHRIS DE BEER AT KZNSA GALLERY

 (Right: Silver earrings on ecoprint)

 

(Right: Silver earrings on ecoprint)

Durban artist Chris de Beer presents Marking Time, opening at KZNSA Gallery on Friday, November 6, 2026, at 18h00.

The exhibition brings together eco-prints, artist books and creative jewellery developed from leaves and flowers gathered during De Beer’s daily walks. 

These botanical fragments are collected, printed, illuminated and transformed into artworks that explore memory, introspection and the passage of time.

 Marking Time asks viewers to reconsider what is easily overlooked. In a hurried world, the exhibition proposes attentive looking, walking and making as meaningful acts. Its transformation of everyday natural material encourages a renewed awareness of the local environment and of the memories held in seemingly ordinary things.

De Beer is an Honorary Research Associate in the Jewellery Design programme at Durban University of Technology, where he lectured for 38 years. He currently designs custom jewellery and continues his creative and academic practice.

Marking Time opens at 18h00 on November 6. 2026 at KZNSA Gallery, 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, Durban.

Members of the public, artists, collectors and interested galleries are warmly invited.

 

DURBAN FILMMART WELCOMES CANADIAN DELEGATION

The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) will welcome a delegation of Canadian film professionals to this year's market that takes place from October 9 to 12, 2026. The delegation's presence, presented in partnership with the High Commission of Canada Trade Office in South Africa, is anchored by a dedicated speed-meeting session connecting Canadian filmmakers with DFM delegates.

Magdalene Reddy, Director of the Durban FilmMart Institute, says: “Canada has long been one of South Africa's strongest co-production partners, and this delegation builds on a relationship with the Canadian High Commission that we've been growing year on year. South Africa's co-production treaty with Canada gives our filmmakers real, practical access to Canadian financing, expertise and markets, and vice versa. Durban FilmMart exists to be that meeting space; a hub where international delegations like this one can sit across the table from African producers and turn shared interest into actual projects.”

 

SPEED MEETINGS: MEET THE CANADIAN FILMMAKERS

Presented in partnership with the High Commission of Canada Trade Office

Durban FilmMart delegates will have the opportunity to meet selected film professionals from Canada, with the opportunity to finance, distribute, co-produce and collaborate. The Canadian delegation brings together an award-winning, genre-spanning group of 17 producers, writers and directors working across documentary, fiction, animation and factual formats - with slates spanning genre and elevated-genre features, impact-driven documentary, BIPOC-led storytelling and international co-production, from across Canada.

Alex Bogomolov is CEO/Producer, at Apsis Pictures (British Columbia) an independent production company handling full-cycle development, financing, production and delivery for genre and elevated-genre features.

Amy Miller is a Producer, with Wide Open Exposure Productions, who has for more than two decades, produced bold documentaries investigating the political, environmental, historical and cultural forces shaping the world, screening at 150+ international festivals. The company is now focused on expanding international collaborations through documentary co-production.

Annette Clarke is a Producer, at Ruby Line Productions Inc, and a National Film Board of Canada veteran who has produced or co-produced 100+ films.

Chibie Louis-Okoye is Founder/Producer, at Colo Studios who is also a media entrepreneur whose work is shaped by spirituality, Africa and social themes. She produced KOFA (2024), which debuted at Number 1 in Nigeria on Amazon Prime Video and won Best Feature Film at AFRIFF.

Danilo Reyes is Founder/CEO, Blue Maroon Media, and is also an actor and musician striving to diversify the voices and faces on screen. An alumnus of Reelworld's BEP Producer's Program and the CMPA Producer Mentorship Program, Danilo is currently developing a slate of television series and feature films.

Feven Ghebremariam, Eritrean-Canadian filmmaker is Founder/CEO of Zantana Media who is working at the intersection of cinema and community engagement, whose work explores diaspora, colonial legacy and belonging. Feven is a co-founder of Black on Black Films, a collective supporting Black filmmakers in Quebec.

Ian Mark Kimanje is a Producer at Film Garage Studios that develops premium documentary and impact-driven content connecting culture, identity, science and social change, with relationships spanning Canada, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and the US. 

Katia Café-Fébrissy is Producer/President, KaFé Productions Inc., a bilingual production company dedicated to telling bold, intimate stories that amplify fresh and underrepresented voices.

Nicholas Tabarrok is President & Producer, Darius Films (Ontario). He is a prolific film and television producer whose company, Darius Films, has offices in Los Angeles and Toronto. His company has produced over 40 feature films which have premiered at the most prestigious film festivals and have been sold around the world. He has worked with cast including Ethan Hawke, Woody Harrelson, Kurt Russell, Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, Dennis Quaid, Snoop Dogg, Matt Dillon, Harvey Keitel, Noomi Rapace, Nick Nolte, Susan Sarandon, Tim Roth, Sam Bee, Andrew Dice Clay, Sandra Oh and others. Highlights of some of his productions include The Baker, Stockholm, Art Of The Steal, The Padre, Weirdsville, Defendor and The Calling. Nicholas is also active in television and has sold series to Canada’s CBC, Corus and Bell as well as ABC, BBC America, Hulu and Sky Atlantic.

Nina Dube is Trade Commissioner, High Commission of Canada Trade office in South Africa. The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service helps Canadian export-ready companies navigate the complexities of international markets. Representatives from the Canadian Trade Office will be available throughout Durban FilmMart to facilitate introductions, support networking opportunities, and explore potential partnerships and co-production opportunities between Canadian and South African industry stakeholders.

Patricia Sims is the President/Producer at CanazWest Pictures which has produced award-winning documentaries and factual series for CBC, Discovery Channel, ARTE, NHK and others. Patricia is also the Founder of World Elephant Day, a global awareness campaign reaching over 2 billion social media impressions.

Roble Issa is Producer, Gobez Media Inc.an Ethiopian-Canadian production company creating documentary, fiction and digital content rooted in Africa and its diaspora. Recent projects include Finding Sally and the Emmy-nominated Made in Ethiopia, with work screened at Cannes, TIFF, Tribeca and FESPACO.

Samantha Kaine is an activist, mentor and speaker; founder and CEO of IMPACT (Independent Media Producers Association of Creative Talent). She is a Jamaican-Canadian producer working at the intersection of AI, cultural policy and economic inclusion. Samantha leads IMPACT's accelerator programmes supporting Black mid-career producers across Canada and the diaspora, and serves on the AI Committee of the Coalition for Diversity of Cultural Expressions. IMPACT is also a co-partner of the 2026 Canadian delegation to DFM.

Sarlota Csete is Director, Mentorship, International Development & Board Secretary (CMPA (Canadian Media Producers Association). Sarolta leads international development initiatives at the CMPA, fostering global partnerships and co-production opportunities for Canadian producers. A co-partner of the Canadian delegation to DFM 2026, the CMPA is Canada's leading advocacy organization for independent producers, dedicated to helping Canadian producers establish international partnerships and bring their content to screens around the world.

Shane LaTouche is Founder/CEO, Toronto Black Media Productions, a producer and cultural creative focused on projects for Black and Caribbean communities. He also volunteers as Executive Director of the Toronto Black Media Association.

Shannon Walsh is Producer/Director at Last Songbird Productions, and is an award-winning filmmaker and Guggenheim Fellow producing documentary and fiction features, shorts, VR works and music videos centred on bold, underrepresented voices. 

Sylvester Ndumbi is Founder/Producer, at Simba Creative, and leads an award-winning production company creating scripted, documentary and unscripted content for global audiences, with 15 years of Canadian broadcast credits and productions screened at UN events worldwide. Simba Creative is actively expanding its international co-production slate.

 

The Canadian delegation's presence at Durban FilmMart demonstrates, a growing interest in building sustainable co-production pathways between the Canadian and South African audio-visual industries, with opportunities spanning documentary, fiction, genre and digital content.

For more information on Durban FilmMart, visit https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/

FUNNY FUNDRAISER FOR MIDLANDS HOSPICE

 

Join Aaron McIlroy and Lisa Bobbert’s Comedy Night - a fundraiser for the Midlands Hospice.

This will take place on Saturday October 10 at 18h00 at The Netherwood Bullring in Nottingham Road.

A cash bar and food will be on sale.

Tickets are R250 and can be purchased through Hospice on 033 330 5257 or email marketing@midlandshospice.org.za

RUGBY MAD FROM BALLITO TO RAMSGATE

 

(Right: Aaron McIlroy)

 

From Ballito to Ramsgate everyone is rugby mad!

 

Rugby Mad is Aaron McIlroy’s high-energy, laugh-out-loud latest one-man comedy. Watch as Aaron dives into the wildly passionate world of rugby, bringing to life a colourful cast of characters who are completely obsessed with the game. From an overenthusiastic referee and intense sideline coach to die-hard spectators who live for every try, tackle, and controversial call, Rugby Mad captures the spirit, humour, and drama that surround rugby culture.

With remarkable skill and physicality, McIlroy seamlessly transforms between characters, creating a fast-paced theatrical experience that is both hilarious and impressively crafted. At its heart, Rugby Mad is about passion, identity, and the things that unite people — making it just as enjoyable for those who’ve never watched a match as it is for devoted rugby lovers.

Directed by Bryan Hiles, Rugby Mad is relatable with all the characters instantly recognisable, and the energy - infectious. Rugby Mad promises a winning combination of comedy, charm, and theatrical flair.

Coming soon to Ashton International College, Ballito on Wednesday October 14 and Southcity Church in Ramsgate on Friday October 16. Performance time at both venues is 19h00

Bookings through Webtickets