The second Battlefields Carnival (September 23-24) is setting up to be a musical, art and cultural explosion. A host of top musicians will be here including singing sensation, Thandiswa Mazwai (born March 31 1976) , who is a multi-award winning South African musician, and is also the lead vocalist and songwriter of Bonga Maffin.
Thandiswa’s first attempt to get noticed occurred at the Shell Road to Fame talent show but Thandiswa did not even make it to the semi-finals round. She did, however, catch the eye of musician and producer Don Laka, who arranged to include her in a project he was working on. And so she began her career in 1998 with Bongo Maffin, one of the pioneering bands of Kwaito. She became widely recognised as the voice of South Africa’s conscious youth, their compositions consistently combining dance floor favourites with thought-provoking lyrics.
After five albums with Bongo Maffin she ventured onto a solo career. Her first project, Zabalaza (2004), reached double platinum status and won numerous awards, including a Kora award for Best African Female and four South African Music Awards, including Best Album. It was also nominated for the BBC Radio 3 Planet awards. Her second album, Ibokwe (2009), reached gold status in the first few weeks of its release and her live DVD, Dance of the Forgotten Free (2010), won Best Female Artist and Best Live DVD in 2011. The Guardian has called her “South Africa’s finest female contemporary singer.’ At home in South Africa, Thandiswa has collaborated with illustrious musicians including Hugh Masekela, Stimela, the late Busi Mhlongo, and BLK JKS.
In July 2012 she duetted with Paul Simon in Hyde Park, London, in his Graceland album’s 25th anniversary concert. She sang the female vocals on Under African Skies, which was originally sung by Linda Ronstadt on the Graceland album. Catch her in Dundee at the Battlefields Carnival.

You can look forward to at this year’s Battlefields Carnival

• Street Parade – floats and costumes designed by professional artists working with local people
• The Night of Long Knives – The Night of Long Table
• Music – Crossover and Jazz by international-revered musicians
• Book Fair and Story telling
• Kiddies/Fun Park– local talent will be showcased
• Art Exhibition – curated by revered art critic based on the theme of the Carnival
• Career Guidance Talks and Exhibitions for Youth

Artist Line- up
* Thandiswa Mazwai
* Gus Brown Band
* Afrika Mhkize
* Black City
* Robbie Malinga
* Shwi Nomtekhala
* Musa
* Urban Village
* Qadasi
* Thuto
* Steve Newman