Celebrating our cultural diversity

Published Nov 30, 2012

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South Africa’s biggest celebration of our cultural diversity reaches it’s climax at the Alex Stadium this weekend. The Zindala Zombili African Music and Dance Festival features the best in local music, dance and poetry talent. It is the culmination of a series of provincial competitions held all over South Africa in 2011 and 2012.

Adding to the prestige of this event is that the festival coincides with the centenary celebrations of Alexandra township. Says festival director, Qhuzulini Sithole: “Alex was chosen as the venue for this year’s Zindala Zombili so as to compliment and enhance the Alexandra Centenary Celebrations and to pay tribute to the cultural diversity of South Africa’s first township, the birthplace of many African luminaries. Alexandra is a microcosm of South Africa and there are many lessons we can learn from the way in which its residents celebrate unity through diversity.”

Some of the highlights for this years festival includes a rare performance by the renowned Umkhonto ka-Shaka band , as well as the Venancio Mbande Timbila Orchestra from Mozambique. Venancio, the leader of this group, is a recent winner of a prestigious UNESCO award for his work to conserve indigenous music in Mozambique. The programme will also feature an isiScatamiya competition with 10 groups participating for cash prizes.

Proceedings kick off at 10am. Entrance is free.

For more information on Zindala Zombili, please contact Bontle Maqubela at [email protected] or [email protected]

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