National Arts Festival features Durban talent

For all our theatre-lovers, the live performance goers, and the overall performing arts fanatics, the National Arts Festival, which usually takes place in Grahamstown, will be hosted online for the second time this year from July 8 - 31 July.

Before COVID-19, one would easily run into famous on and off-screen actors in the country. Bands like Freshlyground, who performed at 2019's festival, also visit the small town in the Eastern Cape for two weeks of the country's biggest artists event. 

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Fortunately, technology has allowed us the adaptation of an online festival and some of our very own talent from Durban are featured in the programme. 

- The Durban High School Band, directed by Natalie Rungan 

In their ensemble arrangements they shall feature songs including Abdullah Ibrahim's Royal Blue' and Mandisi Dyantyi's 'Somandla'.

TICKET PRICE: R0.00. 

DURATION: 21 minutes 

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- Melvin Peters 

He has a BMus in Music Education and an MMS in Jazz Performance from the University of Natal, Durban. He has also performed globally with South Africa's top Jazz musicians like Winston Mankuku Ngozi and Abdullah Ibrahim. His music goes from mainstream jazz to modern jazz.

He has performed around the world in different music genres and has worked with many of South Africa’s top musicians, ranging from Abdullah Ibrahim and Winston Mankunku Ngozi to the Free State Symphony Orchestra and the Cape Town Jazz Orchestra. With a repertoire that ranges from mainstream to modern jazz, the trio combine solid musicianship with creativity and imaginative improvisatory skills.

Ticket Price: R50.00.

Duration 60 min.

From July 9 - July 31

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- Afrika Mamas 

They are a seven-piece isicathamiya acapella group from Durban, South Africa that has travelled the world in cultural exchanges. Countries they performed in include Germany, Poland, Belgium, Holland, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Namibia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. 

They are recipients of the following awards: Imbokodo Award at the Isicathamiya Awards 2019, Afrika Mamas (Woema Music 1999), Bayalibuza (SONY BMG 2008), Iphupho (ARC Music 2018) and Ilanga (ARC Music 2019). Their most recent album is 'Ilanga – The Sun'.

Ticket price: R40.00 

Duration: 60 min 

From July 12 - July 14 

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In total there are 239 shows, exhibitions, webinars, and workshops on the programme.

*The sponsors of the National Arts Festival are 

• Eastern Cape Province
• Standard Bank
• National Department of Sport, Arts & Culture
• National Lottery Commission
• Sarah Baartman District Municipality
• Eastern Cape Parks & Tourism Agency
• Business and Arts South Africa

"The Festival will add warmth to winter, and the lockdown," National Arts Festival share. 

May all our Durbanites break a leg with their performances. 

For the full programme and tickets click here. 

Main Image Courtesy: National Arts Festival 2021