Africa Unites through Music & Dance Concert by School of Arts

BY: .

In light of the recent spate of xenophobic attacks in the province, the African Music and Dance (AMD) discipline within the School of Arts recently hosted an ‘Africa Unites through Music and Dance Concert’ at the Howard College Theatre.

Director for the African Music Project at UKZN Dr Patricia Opondo saiid that the timing of the concert coincides with South Africa’s decision to declare May, Africa Month. This was in line with the African Music and Dance Program’s (AMD) ethos of ‘standing together in common purpose to celebrate our diversity, yet commonalities as descendants of our blessed continent, Africa’.

Said Opondo : ‘The music and dance items in our Lunch Hour Concert are composed and choreographed by Team AMD to celebrate that diversity which is reflected in both our staff component and student profile. Team AMD came together to make a joyful noise in celebration of South Africa, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya. 

‘Through our creative talents we are able to come together and build bridges, expressing our purpose and vision through our voices, our choreograpy, playing instruments, and through spoken word.’

Opondo added that as part of their social responsibility, Team AMD also visited the camp set up in Isipingo for those that were affected by the xenophobic attacks. ‘We listened to their laments and desire for peace.  Their struggles make us appreciate that we all have a need for shelter, warmth, food and community, so in the spirit of Ubuntu and Harambee, we joined hands to sing UMoja – Africa Unite.’

The concert also saw AMD students perform onstage alongside their lecturers’ with the concert showcasing a marimba band, Congolese dance, Gumboot dance and Ngoma dance, poetry and percussion.

AMD students Mr Sibonelo Ndlovu and Ms Thobile Mbanjwa were also excited to get involved in the concert and to perform alongside their lecturers. ‘The concert was a good way to raise awareness about xenophobia and to unite us as brothers and sisters,’ they said.

Lecturer Brother Clement Sithole who teaches students how to play the Umakweyana Bow performed onstage with them stating that getting involved in the concert was a highly memorable moment for him and was for a good cause.

‘To be on stage with my students made me very happy, especially since we were performing together against xenophobia. I hope that those audience members that came to see us are able to view the concert as Africans uniting as one through our music and dance.’

Gumboot dance lecturer Mr Gibson Mtshali expressed his delight at being on stage with his students and being a part of a worthy concert. ‘I am proud of the way the students performed but I am even more proud of them for creating awareness about xenophobia through music and dance.’

‘I got involved with this concert; because I too believe that with this art form we will be able to create understanding about this issue and change mind-sets. We all are the same; we have the same blood and should be working alongside each other to build a better Africa.’

Both AMD Lecturers and students were grateful to Dr Opondo for pioneering the concert and allowing them to express their feelings and to educate the public about Xenophobia and the collective power and harmony of Africa in Unity through their performances.

Melissa Mungroo