GALLERY: Joburg ushers in Africa Month

Africa Month, a month that sees Africans on the continent and the diaspora of cultural affairs, museums, galleries and Africa-themed film, music and food festivals is an annually commemorated affair that sees Africans from far and wide celebrate a united Africa and common identity throughout the month of May, ahead of Africa Day on 25 May.

Pula Twala from the Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation said it was important to celebrate Africa Month in order to remind and celebrate each other as Africans.

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Africa Day is an annual commemoration that intends to uphold greater unity and solidarity between African countries, and also strives for accelerated political and socio-economic integration of the continent.

Historically, Africa Day is a yearly celebration of the day when the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the predecessor to the African Union (AU), was formed in 1963. It acknowledges the progress that Africans have made while reflecting upon the common challenges Africans face in a global environment.

Even though the day is not a public holiday, it has come to present an opportunity for South Africans to reconnect and recommit themselves in support of a progressive and inclusive Africa – one that stays true to the spirit of Ubuntu.

“We’re part of the continent, we’re part of Africa,” said Twala.

The day has also interestingly taken a less political turn and has presented an opportunity for Joburgers to celebrate Africa’s musical, theatrical, cultural and artistic heritage through festivals and cultural exchanges that aim at strengthening the arts and culture industries while promoting social cohesion under one banner – We are Africa.

Joburg Theatre, in partnership with The Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation, will usher in Africa Month with a heart-warming celebration of Hugh Masekela’s theatrical music.

Makhoala Ndebele, the celebration’s artistic director, spoke fondly about Bra Hugh’s African musical influence and said his music embodied Africa and was rooted home.

“Bra Hugh’s life and career is an inspiration and the complexity of his music brought people together as he wanted the best for us as Africans,” said Ndebele.

The exclusive four-performance season at The Mandela stage will feature renowned artists such as Thandiswa Mazwai and Sibongile Khumalo in addition to a harmonious and theatrical tapestry of songs from Sarafina!, directed by Mbongeni Ngema, Songs of Migration, directed by James Ngcobo, and Gone Native: The Life and Times of Regina Brooks directed by Makhaola Ndebele.

Ndebele said celebrating Bra Hugh is ultimately a celebration of ourselves as Africans.

The Joburg Theatre has also partnered with the KZN Heritage Ensemble to present IJADU le Afrika, Africa Month celebrations featuring Mbuso Khoza.

Fresh from a recording of the critically acclaimed Amahubo, ancient songs sung by Abanguni in the late 17th and 18th centuries to mark important events in their communities, the 16-voice strong a capella ensemble will be on the Mandela stage for three shows.

The group’s founder and leader, Mbuso Khoza attributed the outstanding reception to the originality of the concept and the appetite demonstrated by music and art lovers for authentic heritage productions.

“These are therefore essential time capsules through which we can effectively take a look at the kind of issues those communities were faced with in the 17th and 18th centuries especially in the Southern African region,” said Khoza.

He said the Joburg Theatre performances were conceived to celebrate both the centenary of South Africa’s first democratically elected president Nelson Mandela as well as the legendary Zulu King Cetshwayo ka Mpande ka Senzangakhona.

Read: Joburg Theatre collaborates with The Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation to honour Bra Hugh

“Those lucky enough to secure the tickets for the Joburg Theatre shows will be mesmerised by the purity and the originality in terms of interpretation of this long-abandonedart form the vitality of which still resonates so strongly – more than two centuries later,” Khoza said.

With a whole lot more on offer during Africa Month, Joburgers are in for a treat, one that signals the importance of celebrating ourselves without waiting for the world.