Musical cultural exchange
MIDRAND - Midrand Reporter caught up with Exodus, a 32-member steel drum orchestra, at Imbizo Shisanyama, popularly known as Busy Corner.
The band from Trinidad and Tobago, on its last leg of the tour in South Africa, entertained guests at the venue which was filled to capacity.
Busy Corner’s spokesperson Develd Monyai said, “The meeting of two cultures through music gives us a chance to expose local traditional African talent to our guests. We will begin the youth month in music.”
Tour manager Wendy Wiltshire said, “The group is in South Africa for a cultural exchange in joint celebrations of the 20th anniversary of South Africa’s freedom and democracy.
“The musical tour seeks to forge diplomatic relations between South Africa and Trinidad. Through the musical tour we hope to spur increased tourism between the two countries,” she said.
She added that the group had also toured Zimbabwe before coming to South Africa.
Department of Arts and Culture said the band is one of the groups that comes for a cultural exchange programme which allows artists and festival promoters to share expertise and skills. Spokesperson Mack Lewele said, “The band was not directly invited by the department… but they are in the country due to a cultural exchange programme agreement that South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago have.”
Lewele explained that the link to the 20 years of democracy “… is part of the celebrations to thank the international community for the role they played in helping South Africans achieve freedom and democracy”.
In a statement, His Excellency Harry Patap, High Commissioner for Trinidad and Tobago said, “The visit by the steel band marks the 20th anniversary of South Africa’s democracy and the 20th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago.”
