Abigail Kubeka

Abigail Kubeka Joins Mayibuye iAfrika Freedom Songs Concert

Legendary Soweto songbrid Abigail Kubeka has been announced as the surprise guest star at the one-night-only limited-tickets Mayibuye iAfrika Concert: A Celebration of Exiled Musicians and Composers.

Renowned South African guitarist Billy Monama, the driving force and producer of this important cultural event, will also be performing with several other legendary South African artists including Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse, Judith Sepuma and Titi Luzipo live on stage in Johannesburg.

“We had hoped to keep Abigail’s presence on stage a secret for a while longer, but a stage performance in Johannesburg from Abigail Kubeka is something you cannot keep a lid on for long,” says an excited Billy Monama.

Monama confirmed that Abigail Kubeka would join the legendary line-up, setting up the Mayibuye iAfrika concert as the not-to-be-missed musical event of the year. Monama also confirmed that ticket sales are approaching sold-out with only a small number left – he urged the public and African music fans with an appreciation of Black Consciousness and African Freedom Struggle History to book before it was too late.

The concert will be held at the iconic Theatre of Struggle – the Market Theatre in Newtown Johannesburg – on 9 September 2023. Conducted in two parts by Grammy-Award Winning composer JB Arthur, the event will pay homage to a first exile generation of indomitable composers and a second exile generation of musicians.

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Part one will comprise choral freedom songs from the earliest compositions of ANC exiles in Tanganyika, now Tanzania. The fresh arrangement will feature work by Vuyisile Mini, Zinakele Nkaba and Wilson Khayinga.

Under the direction of Monama and led by The Grazroots Project Orkestra featuring bandleaders and composers: Sydney Mavundla, Lucas Senyatso, Themba Mokoena and Mduduzi Mtshali, the second segment will pay tribute to the anti-apartheid stalwarts and towering figures in the local and international music landscape, Letta Mbulu, Dorothy Masuka, Busi Mhlongo, Miriam Makeba, Jonas Gwangwa and Hugh Masekela.

Mayibuye iAfrika: The South African Freedom Songs will be remembered as vital to documenting and disseminating South Africa’s generational music knowledge and a source of musical inspiration.

About Billy Monama:

A guitarist since 1997, composer, arranger and author Billy Monama has gone on to perform and record with a host of South Africa’s legends including Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse, Mbongeni Ngema, Abigail Kubeka and others. While his music is often ineffable, Monama exalts South Africa’s jazz genius through his arrangements and performances.

Notes to Editors:

Artists featured in the line-up are available for radio, print and TV interviews.

Tickets are available at web tickets at R350 per person, tickets for pensioners and students available at R175.

Reuben T Caluza

A multimedia concert unearths the buried music of South African composer, Reuben T Caluza

Reuben Tholakele Caluza (1895 to1969) was once a household name in South Africa. For decades though his music was largely forgotten in the sound archives of music history. Now, a multimedia concert at The Market Theatre by acclaimed contemporary musicians, sets out to change that.

As part of Heritage Month, Reuben T. Caluza – The B-side will celebrate a musical legacy of one of South Africa’s most accomplished composers. The performance will feature imaginative new interpretations of songs based on the original recorded album, called The Double Quartet, that Caluza made in London in 1930.

Caluza’s lyrics were often commentaries on the social issues of the day, ranging from the brutal apartheid laws coming into effect in the early 1900s, to his critical views on the growing aspirations of the Black middle class living in the cities of Joburg and Durban. His work was influenced by a variety of styles and idioms from choral hymns to ragtime and protest music.

The project to re-introduce Caluza’s music is led and arranged by the internationally acclaimed composer Philip Miller, together with his collaborator, Tshegofatso Moeng, a multi-talented musical opera singer and composer. An impressive ensemble of singers join Miller and Moeng, alongside award-winning theatre-maker Khayelihle Dominique Gumede who directs the concert.

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The project began at the beginning of the Covid pandemic, when Miller came across the song ‘Influenza’ (1918) which Caluza had written in response to the devastation of the Spanish flu pandemic in South Africa. It resonated so powerfully at that time, that Miller and Moeng brought together a talented ensemble of twelve singers to record this song remotely, raising awareness of the plight of singers who were struggling to make ends meet.

The Brazilian video designer, Marcos Martins joined the project.  He created a video on social media, using mostly cellphone video footage filmed by the singers who were isolating in their homes during the hard lockdown. Miller says that, “The response to the song was so overwhelmingly positive that the they collaboratively continued to learn, arrange and record more of Caluza’s incredible repertoire.”

Miller adds, “It become clear that Caluza’s music, and the messages of his songs still has strong relevance today.”

Martins has gone on to create twelve unique films that now provide a contemporary visual response to the music that is to be presented theatrically in this dynamic multimedia concert. He uses a rich mixture of visual languages ranging from original filmed footage, archival material, and typographic animations and drawings.

The singing team includes many of the singers who have collaborated with Miller and Moeng over the years – most of them would have been heard singing Millers music for William Kentridge’s work: The Head and the Load that was seen earlier this year at the Joburg Theatre.

The singers include: Ayanda Eleki, Ann Masina, Bulelani Madondile, Nokuthula Magubane, Lydia Manyama, Zebulon Mmusi, Mhlaba Buthelezi, Mapule Moloi, Lindokuhle Thabede, Lubabalo Velebayi and Bham Ntabeni.

Other great instrumentalists like Dan Selsick, trumpeter Adam Howard, cellist Kutlwano Masote, and bassist Thembinkosi Mavimbela complete the ensemble which has led to the creation of the concert and digital album, entitled Reuben T Caluza – The B-side.

Don’t miss this exciting concert over Heritage Day weekend that aims to advance the legacy of South Africa’s rich musical history.

Bookings at Webtickets or visit www.marketthaetre.co.za for more information.

Listen to the album @

https://philipmiller.bandcamp.com/album/reuben-t-caluza-the-b-side

https://iamtranscriptions.org/reuben-t-caluza/

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 “Learning about Caluza has been a revelation to me…”  – Albie Sachs, Former Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa

 …a perfect example of how the rich archive of black South African musical traditions may still speak to contemporary issues and audiences. – Prof. Veit Erlmann, Professor of Ethnomusicology and Anthropology, Butler School of Music, University of Texas at Austin

To make block bookings and discounts please contact Anthony Ezeoke 011 832 1641ext 203/ 083 246 4950

For further information, interviews and images, contact:

Acting Brand and Communications Manager: Lusanda Zokufa 072 367 7867 or lusandaz@markettheatre.co.za

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JOMBA!

JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience at The Market Theatre 13-16 September

The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Art’s JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience celebrates its 25th anniversary year – and now as part of the milestone celebrations will have short season in association with The Market Theatre, Johannesburg from 13 to 16 September.

The 25th year firmly sets JOMBA! as the longest running contemporary dance festival in South Africa. The 13-day festival begins in Durban on Tuesday 29 August with JOMBA! Legacy Artist Mamela Nyamza’s work titled HATCHED ENSEMBLE.

For the Market season works by Mamela Nyamza (South Africa) will feature along with Hannah Ma’s hannahmadance (Germany/Luxenbourg), Virva Talonen (Finland) with the FLATFOOT Dance Company (South Africa), ACE dance and music (UK) with Serge Aimé Coulibaly (Burkina Faso) and Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe (South Africa).

The Artistic Director of The Market Theatre Foundation, Greg Homann says, “I see JOMBA! @ The Market in partnership with the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Art, as an invaluable opportunity to showcase in Johannesburg some of the very best from the South African and global dance community. The brilliant programme that Dr Lliane Loots has curated for this Joburg leg of JOMBA! is going to be a celebration to the enduring power of movement to inspire, challenge, and excite us all.”

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Mamela Nyamza’s HATCHED ENSEMBLE is motivated by an original 2007 solo work which offered an autobiographical work that reflected on her life as a mother and artist. HATCHED ENSEMBLE builds on this and is now performed by seven ballet trained dancers from different racial and gendered backgrounds. Challenging issues of tradition, gender norms within the dance classics, and various issues around identity and belonging, HATCHED ENSEMBLE references both classical Western music and dance, with traditional African vocal scores.

Hannah Ma’s hannahmadance performs a work that links with South African performers Thobi Maphanga and Jabu Siphika. INVASION(S) analyses the act of invasion as the act of violently entering a (political, physical, biological) territory from a feminist, and post-migrant perspective.

With support from the Finnish Embassy (Pretoria), Virva Talonen presents a work in collaboration with Durban’s FLATFOOT Dance Company. Her Portable Home Project is a contemporary dance performance series that delves into a concept of home and its various definitions. The work is co-created by Finnish Lighting Designer Nanni Vapaavuori. Virva will also perform Nothing Personal a solo work she made in 2018 with Nanni Vapaavuori. The core of Nothing Personal lies in the relationship between the repetitive, minimalistic improvisational movement, written text and the audience.

Mamela Nyamza’s HATCHED ENSEMBLE is motivated by an original 2007 solo work which offered an autobiographical work that reflected on her life as a mother and artist. HATCHED ENSEMBLE builds on this and is now performed by seven ballet trained dancers from different racial and gendered backgrounds. Challenging issues of tradition, gender norms within the dance classics, and various issues around identity and belonging, HATCHED ENSEMBLE references both classical Western music and dance, with traditional African vocal scores.

Hannah Ma’s hannahmadance performs a work that links with South African performers Thobi Maphanga and Jabu Siphika. INVASION(S) analyses the act of invasion as the act of violently entering a (political, physical, biological) territory from a feminist, and post-migrant perspective.

With support from the Finnish Embassy (Pretoria), Virva Talonen presents a work in collaboration with Durban’s FLATFOOT Dance Company. Her Portable Home Project is a contemporary dance performance series that delves into a concept of home and its various definitions. The work is co-created by Finnish Lighting Designer Nanni Vapaavuori. Virva will also perform Nothing Personal a solo work she made in 2018 with Nanni Vapaavuori. The core of Nothing Personal lies in the relationship between the repetitive, minimalistic improvisational movement, written text and the audience.

Birmingham (UK) based ACE dance and music features in a spectacular double bill UNKNOWN REALMS – with choreography by Burkina Faso’s Serge Aimé Coulibaly and South Africa’s Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe. Coulibaly’s THE NIGHT BEFORE TOMORROW is a metaphorical night where people try to do their last dance before an uncertain tomorrow. Mantsoe’s MANA – THE POWER WITHIN which engages the sacred, ritualistic and shamanic. 

In celebration of this 25th anniversary, JOMBA! will launch its special book done in partnership with the University of KwaZulu-Natal Press, and supported by IFAS and BASA. Provocatively titled, Archiving History and Memory: 25 Years of the JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, the book has been edited by Tammy Ballantyne Webber. A special Johannesburg book launch will take place in tandem with The Market Theatre season, hosted by IFAS at Alliance Francaise Parkview on Saturday 16 September at 2pm.

JOMBA! and The Market Theatre will host four free dance workshops at the Sophiatown Studio in Newtown. Hosts of these are Vincent Mantsoe (South Africa) and ACE music and dance (UK), Mamela Nyamza (South Africa), Virva Talonen (Finland) and Hannah Ma (Germany). 

Nanni Vapaavuori (Finland) hosts a lighting workshop: “LIGHT AS MATERIAL” in the Mannie Mannim Theatre at The Market. All workshops are open to dancers 16yrs and older. Booking essential with thobimaphanga@gmail.com

JOMBA! curator, Dr Lliane Loots says, “We are incredibly excited to pay our first visit to Johannesburg and The Market Theatre, and hope this is the start of a long-term partnerships that sees incredible dance being shared across our two cities and provinces. I can think of no better way to serve artists than making these partnerships a reality.  This JOMBA! @The Market Theatre package showcases a broad range of contemporary styles and themes, reflecting local and global motifs that speak to our festival theme of “(in)tangible heritages.”

For more information about JOMBA! go to https://jomba.ukzn.ac.za/

-Ends

For JOMBA!

Sharlene Versfeld


Versfeld & Associates


Public Relations and Communications


Mobile: +27 (0) 83 326 3235


Email: sharlene@versfeld.co.za

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Blacksmith

Blacksmith Forges a Communion of African Stories and Consciousness

The Market Theatre Foundation in collaboration with Arts Alive International Festival 2023,Arts, Culture and Heritage Presents The 2022 Zwakala Festival Winner production Blacksmith as part of the Arts Alive International Arts Festival programme which seeks to feature an array of creative offering to activate the artistic landscape.

The 2022 Zwakala Festival winners, Thabo Ramaine and Lonwabo Bhele, bring their thought-shifting production of Blacksmith to The Market Theatre, in perfect synchrony with the spirit of Heritage Month. This theatrical experience combines mask work with the mesmerizing harmonies of a live musician, weaving the threads of ancestral resonance and awakening the legacy of our heritage.

Writer and actor, Thabo Ramaine, offers a profound insight into the essence of the play: “The name ‘Blacksmith’ is a historical concept from the original meaning that describes the one who crafts weapons and sharpens metal with fire. The title of the play is the metaphor that describes the one who sharpens the mind and creates weapons of consciousness. The communion between fire and metal becomes the key significance of the communion between African stories and the minds that conceive them.”

Under the direction of Lonwabo Bhele and rooted in the urgent need to address mental slavery among Africans, Blacksmith employs inventive mask work and a live musician to bring its powerful narrative to life. When the lights come up, a man of profound significance takes center stage, entrusted with the sacred duty of preserving a heritage born from the crucible of struggle, taking you on a voyage that delves into the depths of African History’s untold truths.

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This production emerged through the Incubation Programme sponsored by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. With a firm commitment to nurturing emerging practitioners and honing their skills. The Incubation Programme places a strong emphasis on cultivating home-grown content. Blacksmith, a testament to this initiative, is set to generate excitement among audiences, offering a compelling perspective on African narratives.

This production confronts the pivotal moments that have shaped the African trajectory under the weighty yoke of colonialism and white supremacy. Brace your mind for an emotional odyssey that challenges preconceived notions, ignites introspection, and fosters a collective awakening. Through this performance, you will bear witness to the indomitable spirit that survives adversity and the unyielding resilience that forges a future rooted in empowerment and reclamation. Allow your thoughts to be provoked, your understanding to be stretched, and your perspective to be altered by this exploration of Africa’s past and its resonating echoes in the present.

“The Market Theatre Foundation takes immense pride in supporting and showcasing the most recent Zwakala Festival-winning work,” expressed Greg Homann, the Market Theatre Artistic Director. “Thabo Ramaine and Lonwabo Bhele’s production, Blacksmith, serves as a valuable reminder that acknowledging and engaging with the impact of our colonial past is vital. It sheds a piercing light, exposing the complexities and wounds that continue to shape our nation and sense of identity. The upcoming restaging of this work in Heritage Month will no doubt encourage dialogue and contribute to a path where, one day, our colonial legacy no longer haunts us.”

Blacksmith promises to be a theatrical encounter that delves deep into the struggles and triumphs of the African experience. With Lonwabo Bhele at the helm as director, supported by mentor director MoMo Matsunyane and dramaturge mentor Monageng “Vice” Motshabi, this production guarantees a transformative journey for all who experience it.

Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the fire of resilience ignite within the hearts of us, forging a renewed sense of identity and belonging.

Blacksmith is in the newly refurbished Barney Simon Theatre at The Market Theatre from 23 September to 8 October 2023. Book your tickets now to be part of this extraordinary exploration of African stories and consciousness.

Production Creative Team:

Writer & Actor:                                    Thabo Ramaine

Director:                                              Lonwabo Bhele

Mentor Director:                                  MoMo Matsunyane

Dramaturge Mentor:                           Monageng “Vice” Motshabi

Season:                                               23 September – 8 October 2023

Venue:                                                 The Mannie Manim Theatre 

Performers:

Thabo Ramaine

Mpho  Ramorola

To make block bookings and discounts please contact Anthony Ezeoke 011 832 1641ext 203/ 083 246 4950

 For further information, interviews and images, contact:

Brand and Communications Manager: Lusanda Zokufa 072 367 7867 or lusandaz@markettheatre.co.za

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CALL FOR ZWAKALA SHOWCASE 2023/2024

CALL FOR ZWAKALA SHOWCASE 2023/2024

The incubation programme is sponsored by the Department of Sports Arts and Culture Incubation Programme. Through this programme the department aims to help emerging practitioners to hone their skills through mentorship and propel them to professional status. The process also puts a strong emphasis on home-grown content to hopefully generate exciting new productions for the theatre-going public.

ELIGIBILITY:

  • All members of the group must have South African ID
  • Groups are to reside within boundaries of City of Johannesburg
  • Group members need to be between 18 and 35 years old
  • Only full-time theatre practitioners can apply, no students/learners allowed to participate
  • Groups must secure their own rehearsal venue for site visits and fieldwork. No rehearsal venue will be provided by Market Theatre
  • All groups must adhere to the confirmed site visit schedule, no deviations will be allowed. Failure to adhere will result in disqualification.
  • Failure to comply will all the requirements, will result in immediate disqualification
  • Rights of admission reserved

REQUIREMENTS:

Should you meet the above eligibility criteria, the following needs to be submitted for your application to be evaluated:

  • A duly completed showcase application form
  • Script
  • Production picture (minimum of two/ maximum of five pictures)
  • 100 word bios of the writer and the director
  • The total number of group members not to exceed ten
  • Technical Rider

IMPORTANT DATES:

When applying, groups must ensure that they are available for showcasing  as well as fieldwork. Site visits and fieldwork will be as per the festival schedule that will be shared with accurate dates per production.

Roll-out of the festival for 2023/2024 is as follows:

  • Selection 1: September 2023
  • Fieldwork 1 & Selection 2: September& October 2023
  • Fieldwork 2: November 2023
  • Ko Lapeng Showcase: December 2023
  • Fieldwork 3: January 2024
  • Zwakala Festival: February 2024
  • Zwakala Winner:
  • Rehearsals: 2 weeks pick-up rehearsals (Dates TBC)
  • Season: 2 weeks run (Dates TBC)

Applications can be submitted online by 08 September 2023  at 23:00

Correspondence will only be limited to successful groups

For enquiries, please contact the Festival Coordinator at proposals@markettheatre.co.za 

Market Theatre Foundation will not be liable to cover costs for rehearsal process during fieldwork phases. 

Right of Admission reserved

 

Applications are closed 

apply here

WOMAD 2023 – Bringing the WORLD to your doorstep!

Bringing the WORLD to your doorstep! WOMAD SA expands its offering with multiple genres

WOMAD @ The Market in Joburg hosts a three-day intensive series of performances and workshops (29 September to 1 October 2023) in and around The Market Theatre precinct. This ambitious and eclectic self-contained festival serves as a catalyst for Joburg’s inner city cultural rejuvenation.

The John Kani Theatre hosts a diverse variety of musically themed concerts. “The Night of the Legends” including The Mahotella Queens, African Jazz Pioneers and Vusi Mahlasela together with Guinean kora superstar N’Faly Kouyate and Aboriginal icon Shellie Morris and hosted by WOMAD SA patron Zolani Mkiva. “Bringing the World” features Senegalese mbalax greats Saintrick et Les Tchielly, Atse Tewodros Project from Ethiopia, American all-girl country group The Merlettes featuring our very own AuzTebza and the award-winning Herencios de Los Rios from Colombia. “Rap Nation” presented by The Music Arena showcases the diversity and creative brilliance of the hip-hop genre. The impressive line-up of established hip-hop icons Youngsta CPT, Blaklez, and Majorsteez alongside rising star Nu Edison and includes a Special Guest appearance from world renowned Australian rapper DRMNGNOW.

Kippies is the venue for Fringe Theatre works and will host a blend of fresh performances from young artists. The sets of work delve into questions of identity, hope, wellbeing, and historic awareness. The programmed pieces in the intimate 50-seater space promise an engaging journey for the audience who will be able to encounter inventive storytelling elements.

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The Mannie Manim Theatre hosts Blacksmith, the 2022 Zwakala Festival winners. Thabo Ramaine and Lonwabo Bhele bring their thought-shifting production to WOMAD, in perfect synchrony with the spirit of Heritage Month. This production confronts the pivotal moments that have shaped the African trajectory under the weighty yoke of colonialism.

The Barney Simon Theatre is the venue for Skin We Are In, a play with music for young audiences that offers fresh science-backed perspectives on race and diversity. It is based on the popular book by Sindiwe Magona and Nina Jablonksi. Performed by the Kwasha! Theatre Company – a small ensemble of exciting young talents that takes its name from the isiZulu interjection which, loosely translated, means ‘It’s on fire!’

The iconic Nikki’s Oasis will celebrate its 28-year legacy by hosting a program of international and local jazz which includes Beyond Words: AfroNaarm Showcase ft. Australian DRMNGNOW, legendary multi-instrumentalist Craig Calhoun (Australia/USA) and rising Zimbabwean stars Sylent, NGQ, Ceeko, Niasha and Tamvela.

The JazzLand exhibition and installation is created in dialogue with jazz appreciators from Katlehong. Ngoma kaMphahlele’s work takes us into the sounds and life of what he has termed JazzLand, an intergenerational confluence of music, image and life with an augmented reality element which embeds videos, sound and interactive multimedia content onto the exhibited photographs.

Another exciting offering includes a Visual Arts component curated by Sara Hallatt from OpenStudios. Joburg and the META Foundation. This program connects and extrapolates the music visually and provides festival audiences with a multisensory experience that is both memorable and immersive while introducing local visual artists to new audiences.

Across the square, AMPD Studios will host recording sessions and workshops -and in line with job creation and exposure The Newtown Mall Junction will host a Fashion Showcase in the Glass House featuring emerging young designers and musicians to round off a rich cultural weekend.

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Songs of Hope

Love Child Music(PTY) LTD Presents Songs Of Hope At Kippies Fringe Festival And Womad Festival 2023

We are excited to announce that LoveChild will be showcasing her production titled Songs of Hope, at Kippies Fringe Festival on the 27th Sept 19:30 and at WOMAD Festival 29th Sept 20:00 & 1st Oct 2023 16:00 at Market Theatre, Johannesburg. Tickets are available at Webticket at R100.

Songs of Hope is a collection of acoustic songs that explore the human experience through the lens of resilience, perseverance, and hope.

With simple yet powerful lyrics and melodies, the songs evoke a range of emotions, from sadness to joy. They may bring the listener to tears, but ultimately leave them feeling inspired and uplifted.

With 2 guitars, a flute and vocals, the songs feel intimate and personal, like a conversation between the artist and the listener. The songs of Songs of Hope are a powerful and moving exploration, like a warm embrace offering comfort and solace in the midst of adversity. The lyrics are both poetic and relatable, speaking to the heart of the listener. The melodies are simple yet haunting, staying with the listener long after the songs have ended. The songs are a testament to the human capacity for hope, and a reminder that we are all connected by our shared humanity.

For more information, please contact Vuyiseka Maguga on 0711459553 / lovechild_36@live.com

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Skin We Are In
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ZEMQADINI

Moving Acts Productions presents ZEMQADINI as part of the KIPPIES FRINGE PROGRAMME

ZemQadini is about a friendship that is glued by the aftermath of a tribal war in a small village in KwaZulu- Natal, these friends rely on each other to navigate the obscure and surreal reality they have or had.  It is a sensitive yet comical blend of memory and trauma, exploring disability, and heroism through a marriage of physical performance and Oral storytelling. Focusing on two friends one mute, one blind yet still bonded by memories and wounding dreams. This play explores and questions the idea of what remains after the war, and what kind of memory that carries on to historical archives.

Written by Sboniso Msimango, under the direction of Philisiwe Twijnstra, with Thamsanqa Khumalo as both AD and stage manager; the featured cast is Bongani Mbatha and Bhekani Shabalala.

ZemQadini will be performing on the 8th – 10th of September at 19:30 and 10th of September at 15:30

Tickets go for R100,00 at Webtickets

Skin We Are In
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Mayibuye iAfrika

Mayibuye iAfrika Concert: A celebration of exiled South African musicians and composers

Renowned South African guitarist Billy Monama will bring us closer to our past to help us reimagine our future during Heritage Month in September when he joins a number of legendary South African artists like Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, Judith Sepuma and Titi Luzipo live on stage in Johannesburg.

During a one-night-only limited-tickets concert called Mayibuye iAfrika: The Freedom Songs, Monama will present a musical journey and conversation between two generations of ancestral artists, finally culminating in a reminder of what makes South African music resonate deeply with Africans and the rest of the world.

From the choice of venue to scholarly discussions around the concert and its celebratory participants, the concert aims to be a “re-visioning of heritage music for modern ears,” says Monama.

The concert will be held at the iconic Theatre of Struggle – the Market Theatre in Newtown Johannesburg – on 9 September 2023. In two parts, the event will pay homage to a first exile generation of indomitable composers and a second exile generation of musicians.

Part one will comprise choral freedom songs from the earliest compositions recorded by ANC exiles in what was called Tanganyika, now Tanzania. The fresh arrangement will feature work by Vuyisile Mini, Zinakele Nkaba and Wilson Khayingo.

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Under the direction of Monama and led by The Grazroots Project Orkestra, the second segment will pay tribute to the anti-apartheid stalwarts and towering figures in the local and international music landscape, Letta Mbulu,  Miriam Makeba, Jonas Gwangwa and Hugh Masekela.

The musical spectacular will also feature contemporary artists who specialise in different South African music genres and across a range of historical time frames. The pieces will showcase legendary drummer, saxophonist, composer and activist Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, award-winning, afro-funk, jazz and gospel singer Judith Sephuma, and a household name in the Afro Jazz and soul genres Titi Luzipo, as well as a surprise guest artist.

The concert will be a feast for music scholars, aspiring and current musicians, as well as Maskandi, Kwela, Mbaqanga and African jazz connoisseurs and fans.

”This is a journey created to heal through song and reawaken consciousness as we revisit South African classics that celebrate past South African composers and musicians,” adds Monama.

Mayibuye iAfrika: The Freedom Songs will be remembered as vital to documenting and disseminating South Africa’s generational music knowledge and a source of musical inspiration.

About Billy Monama:

A guitarist since 1997, composer, arranger and teacher Billy Monama has gone on to perform and record with a host of South Africa’s legends including Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse, Mbongeni Ngema, Abigail Kubeka and others. While his music is often ineffable, Monama exalts South Africa’s jazz genius through his arrangements and performances.

Notes to Editors:

Artists featured in the line-up are available for radio, print and TV interviews.

Tickets are available at web tickets at R350 per person. Early bird tickets are sold at R280 until 16 August 2023.

For media enquiries and interview requests, please contact:

Thando Dhaza – thando@tishalacommunications.com | +27 79 429 8263

OR

Nomsa Mdhluli – nomsa@tishalacommunications.com | +27 71 628 6231

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Cradle of Creativity Festival

Cradle of Creativity 2023 offers a feast of engaging arts for young theatre goers

The 2023 Cradle of Creativity festival is an 8 day long city-wide celebration of unforgettable encounters. The dynamic roving international performing arts festival for children and young people is hosted by The Market Theatre and offers the very best performing arts for young audiences from across the continent and the world. This year’s theme “The Stories That Move Us” will build a rich legacy of diversity, creativity & opportunity that will continue to generate energy and activity long after the final curtain call.

Cradle of Creativity is meticulously curated in Women’s month, August, by one of the foremost young female curators of our time, Faye Kabali Kagwa, who was recognized as a Mail and Guardian Top 200 Young South African in 2021. “This festival continues to take seriously our youngest citizens and engage them in a creative way, while being an exciting platform for artists from South Africa, the continent and the world” says Kabali-Kagwa.

The festival will feature some of the very best in South African theatre with performances from all provinces, speaking to children from as young as 2 to young adults. We have a range of voices present, from youth voices to professional theatre companies: these include “Skin We Are In” by the Kwasha Theatre Company, “Stories We See” by Gcebile Dlamini, featuring children from the Johannesburg Society for The Blind, “Bounced” by Cape Town based theatre company Magnet Theatre, a leader in early years theatre, and the musical extravaganza, “Mwana wa Mvula” by Kimberley’s Amandla Dance Teatro ZA: these are just some of the bold voices to make up the festival programme on the South African front.

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Cradle also boasts a rich series of international productions presented by Netherlands theatre company, de Stilte; Danish theatre company, Batida; Carre Blanc Cie from France; La Guimbarde from Belgium; the Joshua Monten Dance Company from Switzerland; Ishyo theatre from Rwanda; Teatro Al Vacio from Mexico, and Maas Foundation from Pakistan. Performances take place at the Market theatre, Windybrow Arts Centre, Sibikwa Arts Centre and the National Children’s Theatre as well as at selected schools and community centres. In addition, some of the dance productions will be travelling to the Jomba! Contemporary Dance festival in Durban, in partnership with the Centre for Creative Arts.

In addition, there is a rich Professional programme aimed at artists, teachers, and subject advisors, with workshops, panel discussions and presentations from across the globe taking place daily according to a range of focus areas. To further extend the international element, the ASSITEJ international Executive Committee meeting and an African regional workshop as part of the BABEL, EU-funded ASSITEJ project, will be housed at the festival, ensuring the representation of more than 30 countries in person at the festival.

We are also excited to introduce the Young Critics Programme which is an integral part of the festival and sees youth voices reviewing and critiquing productions, using a variety of styles and media.

The festival producer, another powerful female leader within the arts sector, Yvette Hardie, the Director of ASSITEJ SA, says “this will be a Cradle of Creativity festival to savour and enjoy. We are delighted to bring the festival to Gauteng for the first time, where we hope new audiences and artists will be attracted to participate in and access the performing arts for children and young people. We encourage families, schools and community groups to engage with the festival and ensure that South African children realise the power of their imaginations to make positive change happen.”

Cradle of Creativity will open on the 20th of August and wrap up on the 27th of August, with a closing ceremony at the Market Theatre. The festival is supported by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture and the Department of Basic Education, as well as a number of cultural agencies that include: British Council Wales, Pro Helvetia, Government of Flanders, Wallonie-Bruxelles Internationale, the French Institute of South Africa, the Royal Netherlands Embassy, the Goethe Institute, the Swedish Embassy and Performing Arts Fund NL.

All programme information and tickets are available on www.cradleofcreativity.com.

For more information please contact:

Yvette Hardie (producer): director@assitej.org.za

Faye Kabali-Kagwa (curator): cradle@assitej.org.za

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