The new companies Act has had significant impact on some of the services that SAMRO has offered to its members over the years. The most significant of the services affected by the Act is the distribution of the Non-Royalty Revenue (NRR). Various means of communication have been used by the organisation to communicate the implications of the Act with regard to the payment of NRR.
In order to ensure that SAMRO members are kept informed at all times, SAMRO has created a dedicated call centre line with extended operating hours. The call centre will operate from 07h00 to 24h00 on weekdays; 08h00 to 17h00 on Saturdays and 08h00 to 12h00 on Sundays.
TO TALK TO A CONSULTANT DURING THESE HOURS CALL 0800 247 247, OR SEND A “PLEASE CALL ME” TO 079 269 3417 AND A SAMRO REPRESENTATIVE WILL CALL YOU BACK.
WHAT IS NON-ROYALTY REVENUE (NRR)?
The Non-Royalty Revenue (NRR) is income that SAMRO derives from interest earned on cash held while awaiting distribution; from surplus on disbursement of investments (in other words profit when the company disposes of any of its assets including shares) as well as from administration fees earned by the organisation in the course of providing administrative support to its subsidiaries.
NRR has, until the coming into effect of the Companies Act, been distributed at the beginning of December every year to both members and affiliated societies.
WHY SAMRO IS NOT PERMITTED TO PAY NRR in 2011?
Until 1 May 2011, SAMRO was a Company Limited by Guarantee, a corporate form that emanates from the 1926 Companies Act and was allowed to continue in the subsequent Companies Acts of 1965 and 1973. As a Company Limited by Guarantee, SAMRO could operate in ways similar to that of a publicly listed Limited Company (LTD) even though it did not have share capital and therefore no shareholders. The most important characteristic of this was the ability to distribute income.
However, the new Companies Act of 2008 specifically does not allow the ‘Companies Limited by Guarantee’ corporate form to continue. Such companies were required to elect, within twenty days of the Act coming into effect, either to become a ‘profit company’ or a ‘non-profit company’. The two key distinctions between these two corporate forms are:
| FOR PROFIT COMPANY | NOT-FOR PROFIT COMPANY |
| 1. Can distribute its income to its shareholders | 1. Cannot distribute income except:1.1. Where there is a bona fide agreement between the company and the members1.2. As a payment in respect of any rights of members that are being administered by the company.
1.3. In respect of any legal obligation binding on the company. |
| 2. Upon dissolution, the company assets after settlement of creditors may be liquidated and distributed among the shareholders in proportion to their shareholding. | 2. Upon dissolution, the assets of the company shall not be distributed to members, but may be donated to another non-profit entity with similar objectives as the company being dissolved. |
On 20 May 2011, SAMRO held an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of members with a view to getting members to elect to become a for-profit company or non-profit company. To make this election, a special resolution voted for by at least 75% of the votes cast had to be passed. None of the proposed resolutions received the required minimum of 75% of the votes cast, thus rendering SAMRO a non-profit company (NPC) by default.
NRR does not fall within the exception created by the Act where in those specific instances non-profit companies may distribute income. It will therefore be illegal for SAMRO to distribute NRR to its members as a non-profit company.
Given the fact that this Act is new, and given the possibility of differing interpretations of the exceptions created in Schedule 1 of the Act, the SAMRO Board took a decision to seek a declaratory order from the courts of law. Until the order has been given, the payment of NRR has been suspended. This means that NRR will be computed as usual but will not be disbursed in any way.
WHAT ABOUT THE SAMRO RETIREMENT ANNUITY FUND (SRAF)
The SRAF is registered and administered in terms of the Pensions Funds Act. The money already invested on behalf of the members will not be affected by the introduction of the new Companies Act except that SAMRO may not continue contributions into the fund, at least in the current form.
To this extent, SAMRO will also be seeking a declaratory order with regard to continued contributions from the courts of law. This will be done simultaneously with the NRR declaratory order.
This means that members will benefit from the growth of the fund as a result of market / asset performance but there will not be any growth from contributions. More importantly, members who are already part of the fund may retire at any time in accordance with the Fund’s rules.
WHAT ABOUT THE SAMRO FUNERAL BENEFIT SCHEME.
The SAMRO Funeral Benefit Scheme is a group scheme that is being administered and underwritten at arm’s length. SAMRO pays an annual premium to the scheme. There is also uncertainty as to whether SAMRO can continue to make these contributions to pay the premium of the group policy.
For that reason the Board of Directors has taken a decision to seek a declaratory order from the courts at the same time as with the NRR and the SRAF.
As the premiums are paid annually in advance, the current premiums will still entitle members to the benefits of the scheme. Should the matter be resolved with the courts soon enough there will not be any impact on the scheme. Should there be delays, however, there is a likelihood that the premiums may not be paid resulting in the cancellation of the scheme.
In an event that it becomes necessary to cancel the scheme due to SAMRO being prohibited to pay the premiums, members will be notified in advance. In the meantime, SAMRO will continue to explore alternative but legal ways to sustain the benefits that its members have become accustomed to.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON NRR, CALL 0800 247 247 (toll-free from Telkom landlines and 8ta lines), OR SMS A “PLEASE CALL ME” TO 079 269 3417 AND A SAMRO REPRESENTATIVE WILL CALL YOU BACK
details to follow shortly!
http://www.dramaforlife.co.za/
shimmering display of young instrumentalists’ talent was the hallmark of the 2011 SAMRO Hubert van der Spuy National Music Competition, which took place in Cape Town from 26 to 30 September.
Seventy young primary school candidates aged 13 and younger participated in this prestigious national music competition, which was sponsored by the Southern African Music Rights Organisation for the first time.
The event attracted a record 134 entries from around the country in the categories of piano, strings, woodwind and brass instruments, as well as other instruments (percussion, recorder, classical guitar and harp), with a special category for development groups.
After three preliminary rounds, the best performers went through to the final round at the Hugo Lambrechts Auditorium in Parow, Cape Town, on Friday, 30 September. The coveted first prize – with a gold medal and prize money of R10 000 – went to talented young pianist Kensuke Kawajiri, under the tutelage of Karien Labuschagne.
The full list of winners is as follows:
Quoting from the famous NP van Wyk Louw poem “Die Beiteltjie”, in his opening address, Andre le Roux (General Manager: SAMRO Endowment), said that this poem, like the competition, was about small, focused actions leading to bigger achievements.
“It’s about talent and skill, and honing that talent and skill so that it reaches its maximum potential. That is precisely why we, as SAMRO, have chosen to invest in this competition. One day, not long from now, these candidates will have honed their talents and skills to become contributing members of society … and will contribute meaningfully to the cultural life of this country,” he said.
He expressed the hope that some of the candidates would one day be awarded SAMRO Bursaries or even one of its coveted Overseas Scholarships, and perhaps ultimately become SAMRO members as professional musicians.
After the exceptional performances in the final round Le Roux added that it was heartening to have “such a platform of excellence existing at primary school level, and to witness young kids coming on stage and performing their hearts out”.
The SAMRO Hubert van der Spuy National Music Competition is organised by the Tygerberg branch of the South African Society of Music Teachers, with prizes worth more than R50 000 for the winners and their teachers. It is sponsored by SAMRO, UNISA, the ATKV, the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre, Music@Work and several anonymous donors.
Visit www.sena.org.za to find out more about SAMRO’s investment in music education and development.
For media queries please contact Ayob Vania | Vanessa Perumal on:
[t] 011 788 7631 or [m] media@jtcomms.co.za
Issued by JT COMMUNICATION SOLUTIONS on behalf of SAMRO ENDOWMENT FOR THE NATIONAL ARTS
This international indaba, presented by the Department of Arts and Culture and the Arterial Network, is taking place on 20 and 21 October 2011. Delegates from South Africa, Africa and around the world are poised to chart a way forward to realise the goals set out in the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression.
Opening the conference on Thursday, SAMRO Endowment General Manager André le Roux – who is also Chairman of the South African Coalition for Cultural Diversity (SACCD) – paid tribute to the late Dr Kader Asmal and dedicated the event to his memory.
A formidable intellectual and cultural activist, Dr Asmal was passionate about ensuring the state delivered on its cultural mandate. He played a pivotal role in negotiating the UNESCO Convention, which Le Roux said was “one of the most important international legal instruments to promote cultural diversity and the arts globally”.
Le Roux also summoned the iconic words of Bob Marley – “Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights, don’t give up the fight” – in crystallising the call to cultural activism that underpins the UNESCO Convention. This international policy instrument is aimed at both protecting and growing local cultural and creative industries, with an emphasis on the developing world.
Mike van Graan, cultural activist, playwright and secretary-general of the Arterial Network, had the following to say on day one of the conference: “The Convention will either serve the interests of mostly wealthy nations in the global north, or will be a dead document because of the lack of political vision and will on the part of governments in the global south – unless civil society organises itself to advocate strongly for the Convention to be implemented locally, regionally and internationally.”
He said the conference had been a good start to educating the creative sector about the UNESCO Convention, “so that by being informed, we can take appropriate action to ensure the implementation of the Convention, which is ultimately about maintaining cultural democracy globally and regionally.”
The event will also serve as the platform for launching the African chapter of the U40 (Under-40) Network, which will assemble a variety of go-getting young cultural experts, graduates and professionals under the age of 40. This new continental arts network is aimed at nurturing and investing in the decision-makers of the future.
The two-day conference includes the participation of delegates from South Africa, Brazil, Germany, Mozambique, Mali, Algeria, Mauritius, Ivory Coast, Rwanda, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso and Tunisia.
As a key player in the local cultural landscape through its role as a music rights collecting society and its CSI activities in the arts sphere, SAMRO is providing facilities and logistical support for the Diversity Conference.
The conference takes place on Thursday and Friday, 20 and 21 October 2011, at the SAMRO Auditorium, 20 De Korte Street, Johannesburg. E-mail registration@diversityconvention.co.za for more details, or visit www.diversityconvention.co.za
For media queries and interview requests, contact Andrea Botha or Vanessa Perumal on 011 788 7631 or media@jtcomms.co.za
Issue by JT COMMUNICATINS SOLUTIONS on behalf of SAMRO ENNDOWMENT
This year MES and SAMRO (South African Music Rights Organisation) decided to join forces in celebration of 25 and 50 years, respectively, of service in the city of Johannesburg. With this collaboration, SAMRO and MES will hosts a concert to new and current donors.
The concert will carry the theme of “Beyond the music” for the birthday celebrations. The evening will start off at SAMRO’s head offices with refreshments, appetizers and a short welcoming speech. From here guests will be transported in busses to the Hillbrow Theatre. The tour to the theatre will be via different key spots in Hillbrow. On the busses tour guides will explain the key historic points in Hillbrow.
Guests will enjoy dinner in the heart of Hillbrow. After dinner guests will enjoy performances by Tidal Waves, Louise Carver and the African Jazz Pioneers. Throughout the evening hosts Coenie De Villiers, Lizz Meiring and Sans Moonsamy will entertain the guests.
Aim of the evening:
For MES –To celebrate with SAMRO the years of service to the community
Move into a new donor market. Create awareness and ultimately to establish new partnerships and recruit new donors.
For SAMRO: Celebrating 50 years of service, creating an ongoing partnership with MES.
More about MES
MES is a registered social development organisation that has been serving the homeless and destitute community in the city of Johannesburg for over 25 years. Our vision is “To change the heart of the city!" by empowering the homeless and destitute within our country’s inner-cities. MES recently expanded its services to the community on a national level by instituting branches in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth as well as a satellite office in Kempton Park.
MES is very proud to have received a Platinum Award at the Impumelelo Innovations Awards in May 2008 for making an impact on poverty. MES was also awarded the Halala Award for “Caring for Johannesburg” and a runner-up for the Mail & Guardian Award in the category “Initiators of Change” in 2009.
Last January the Road Warriors launched their year-long celebration of three decades of performance together with a run at the Baxter in Cape Town and garnering high critical acclaim in the process. Since then, this iconic guitar duo has unleashed their inimitable brand of acoustic guitar music on appreciative audiences throughout South Africa.
Needless to say, the length and breadth of this particular guitar duos' performing history and the sheer vivacity and brilliance of their combined guitar playing, has ensured that their popularity cuts across all age groups and several generations. There are no other genres of performing musicians outside of these two who can lay claim to such a boast. But just sit in their audience and see for yourself.
The road leads many places for the Warriors and this October the tar will deliver them to Olive’s Bistro in Bedfordview, Johannesburg. Olive’s Bistro is a fine-dining theatre/restaurant and will be offering up a scrumptious 3-course meal as part of the ticket price.
COX & NEWMAN
Return Of The Road Warriors
30 Years - Concert Tour
Where: Olive’s Bistro, Bedfordview, JHB
[Cnr. Hawley & Van Buuren Roads]
When: Wed to Sun 12 to 23 Oct 2011
Time: 20h00
Booking: 082 364 3626 – 082 218 3698
The duo will be occupying Wednesday through to Sunday nights during their run at Olive’s and have a few new, head-expanding tunes for those who have already been to the show.
Cox and Newman have received a Standard Bank Ovation award for their Grahamstown festival production and will be invited to the main festival in 2012. The Ovation awards recognise innovation and excellence.
The show has been recorded and filmed for a DVD/Documentary of the duo, to be released in the weeks following the festival.
Cox And Newman have received critical acclaim from reviewers and seasoned music journalists from around the country.
COX & NEWMAN IN THE PRESS:
‘From the minute the show starts, the magic begins’ – Karen Rutter, Sunday Times – Aug 2011
'The duo left their audience in awe' - Daily Dispatch - June 2011
'A standing ovation and endless cries for an encore' - Thandiwe Jumo, Daily News - March 2011
'Guitar masters have earned demi-god status' - Tyrone August, Cape Times - 27 Jan 2011
'All you need to say is Tony Cox and Steve Newman are playing together and immediately you know it is going to be magic' - Theresa Smith, Argus - 26 Jan 2011
'Their performance could not have been more spectacular' - Daisy Lons, What's On Cape Town - 26 Jan 2011
www.tonycox.co.za
www.myspace.com/tonycoxmusic
www.stevenewman.co.za
For media and interview queries please contact Ayob Vania or Vanessa Perumal on:
[t] 011 788 7631 | [e] media@jtcomms.co.za
Issued by JT Communication Solutions on behalf of Tony Cox
On October 8, 2011 saxophonist, arranger and vocalist Grace Kelly joined by renowned local Gospel vocalist Audrey Mbuyazi and a local orchestra will celebrate the release of Kelly’s new CD, GRACE at the His People Auditorium in Parktown North, Johannesburg. The proceeds from the evening will benefit Rebecca’s Well, a South African non profit organization that confronts the mounting needs of South Africa’s disadvantaged women and children.
With hundreds of performances worldwide, a shelf full of music awards, and praise from jazz legends like Wynton Marsalis, Jimmy Heath, Dave Brubeck, Phil Woods and Lee Konitz, the 19 year old Grace Kelly has firmly established herself as a star on the rise in the Jazz world. Her new release, GRACE, marks a new direction for the accomplished artist into the genre of Gospel jazz.
The evening marks the beginning of a partnership between Ms. Kelly and Rebecca’s Well. The organization’s Executive Director, Sheila Wise Rowe explains their three-pronged approach to addressing the dire needs of these women and children. “We offer a holistic approach to addressing the emotional, spiritual and physical needs of women. We provide short term transitional housing, a place of safety for those needing inner healing, respite, reflection and redirection. To sustain our efforts, we also look to the future of these women and provide skills training in entrepreneurship and cooperative business.”
During Ms Kelly’s visit she will meet the Rebecca’s Well team and some of the women and children they serve. She will also visit children the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra and host a master class and jam session. “Grace Kelly is a remarkable young woman and an awesome talent,” says Wise Rowe. “We are grateful that she is giving of her time and talent to help Rebecca's Well projects continue to transform the lives of South African women.”
The funds raised from the concert will be applied to purchasing program supplies and training materials, funding micro enterprises, supplying meals to participants and their children, and to help with staff salaries and volunteer stipends.
The evening begins at 6:30pm with a VIP Reception which includes a dinner with Grace (R500). The concert starts at 7:30pm (R150) and is followed by a meet and greet and CD signing by Grace Kelly. Tickets are R150; R75 with student ID. Tickets are available online at www.rebeccaswell.org and will also be available at the door. For more information on Grace Kelly go to www.gracekellymusic.com
For media and interview queries please contact Ayob Vania or Vanessa Perumal on:
[t] 011 788 7631 | [e] media@jtcomms.co.za
Issued by JT Communication Solutions on behalf of Rebecca’s Well
Once again, the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation has, demonstrated its commitment to Heritage Month by hosting the Oral History Conference on Friday, 30th September 2011, at the Premier Hotel in Arcadia, Pretoria. Throughout Heritage Month, the department has put Gauteng’s struggle heroes and heroines’ contributions to the liberation of South Africa on the map.
During this past Heritage Month initiatives such as the Pale Ya Rona Carnival, Heritage Day Celebrations, the Liberation Struggle Heritage Route and Heritage Sites have all paid homage to those who sacrificed all they had for a democratic country.
The Oral History Conference is a provincial conference that was conceptualised by the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation to address the issues around the history and memory of the liberation struggle. The keynote address will be given by Lebohang Maile , the MEC – for the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation. He will elaborate on how the Conference will also serve to engage affected stakeholders institutions, interest groups and experts in order to lay a framework for future public programs and projects in the field of oral history.
The MEC’s address will be bolstered by Dr Somadoda Fikeni’s anchor presentation on the liberation struggle and the role of oral history. This will be followed by Professor Phillip Bonner from Wits University, who will deliver new and future research on the status quo of liberation history. The importance of the preservation of oral history will then be highlighted by Razia Saleh from the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
The Conference fits squarely into this year’s Heritage Month theme, which is “celebrating the heroes and heroines of the liberation struggle”. The department will also use it to contribute to the field of public memory and heritage through efficiently organised programmes and projects. These will allow the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation to quantify the impact that these, and others, will have on the legacy of the liberation struggle. In the interest of fostering a collaborative and consultative Conference, the delegates will take part in discussions that cover topics such as audits, partnerships and how much research still needs to be done.
There will be no doubt in all the delegates’ minds that there has always been a need for the Oral History Conference. It came into effect when the department realised that South Africa, more specifically Gauteng - which was the biggest hub of anti-apartheid activity – had been prevented from recording the memory of the liberation struggle by the previous regime. It is for this reason that the Conference’s main intention is to record and preserve public memory of the struggle for the benefit of society at large, and especially for future generations.
Thorough research has proven that, although progress has been made in recording South African history, gaps still remain in critical areas. These include the historic imbalance on the recording and presentation of public memory; episodes of the country and the province’s contribution in the liberation struggle and the abundant history of townships. Then there also events such as the number of violent uprisings and others that are associated with the move to democracy, which do not feature prominently enough in historical writings. The Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation’s Oral History Conference will also bridge the gap between the public and the research work and publications in libraries that are not easily accessible.
The Oral History Conference is an essential part of South Africa and Gauteng’s heritage, as it aims to explore ways of recording and preserving the history of the liberation struggle and the pivotal role that oral history has to apply.
For more information contact Nomazwe Ntlokwana on:
083 507 8068 / 011 355 2578 | nomazwe.ntlokwana@gauteng.gov.za
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For media related queries contact Ayob Vania | Vanessa Perumal on:
011 788 7632/1 | media@jtcomms.co.za
Issued by JT COMMUNICATION SOLUTIONS on behalf of
the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture & Recreation
WHO can forget the 1995 Rugby World Cup that united South Africans of all races and backgrounds when Nelson Mandela donned Francois Pienaar’s number 6 Springbok jersey? Or when South Africa was the first African country to host the groundbreaking Soccer World Cup last year? Sport has repeatedly proven that it is inseparable from South Africa’s culture. The Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation’s Heritage Day celebrations on 24 September, starting from 9am until 4pm at the Maropeng Heritage Site, will confirm this as sport and culture combine to deliver a culturally rich experience. This year sees Heritage Day coinciding with International Olympic Day and in the spirit of camaraderie, a number of activities have been lined up to incorporate International Olympic Day into Heritage Day.
At first glance, it might be thought that athletes and struggle heroes have nothing in common, but both groups endure great hardships and fight to overcome challenges. They are both then duly rewarded for their continued sacrifice and discipline.
Since South Africa attained its democracy, Heritage Day has always been the one day throughout the year that has been so pivotal that it was declared a national holiday. A day so indicative of our traditions, cultures and diversity that South Africans repeatedly and consciously take time out to reflect on where we come from and where we are going. It is a day used by the knowledgeable to transmit the
country’s legacy and inheritance to the future leaders of this nation.
Before festivities such as the singing of the national anthem and the planned cultural programme - which includes poetry, a choir that will sing struggle songs and entertainment by various artists - can be delighted in, the keynote address will be delivered by Premier of Gauteng Nomvula Mokonyane.
Without a doubt, the main highlight of the day will be the Fun Run/Walk in collaboration with SASCOC which will take place around Maropeng. On Heritage Day, more than 1000 children from local farm and rural schools and athletics clubs from the west Rand will be elevated to the top of the podium as they get to run and walk with celebrated athletes and the Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Lebogang Maile. Khotso Mokoena, Cameron van der Burgh, Sunette Viljoen, Tebogo Masehla and Hezekiel Sepeng will be encouraging them not only when it comes to sports, but also the importance of honouring the heroes and heroines who paved the way for them to be who they are today. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that the children will treasure for the rest of their lives.
There will also be an exhibition that will be hosted at Maropeng to honour individuals such as the Vaal’s Molefi Congress Mbata, former unionist Sam Ntuli, the ANC Women’s League’s first president Charlotte Maxeke, and a member of the first democratically elected parliament, Ellen Khuzwayo.
The exhibition will also be bolstered by the Oral History Conference which will take place on Friday 30th September in Pretoria. It will be held in collaboration with the National Archives and Library Services of South Africa. The conference will focus on the role of oral history and its ability to provide balance in the public and the shared memory of the province.
This year’s Heritage Day celebrations will be held in partnership with the West Rand District Municipality and Maropeng. The Heritage Site will be the best place in Gauteng to be immersed by our rich heritage and culture, and to ensure this, it will not charge an entrance fee to the public attending who come in by bus on 24 September. The gathered crowd will pay homage to Gauteng struggle heroes and heroines whose sacrifices resulted in a democratic South Africa for all creeds, races and Gauteng residents from all backgrounds.
The Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation has ensured that nowhere else in the country will there be Heritage Day celebrations that will offer the public inspiring speeches by struggle heroes and heroines, world-renowned athletes who have collected the highest sporting accolades, keynote addresses by influential South Africans who are living the legacy of our heritage, a diverse cultural programme and an entertaining line-up of artists.
For more information contact Nomazwe Ntlokwana on:
083 507 8068 / 011 355 2578 | nomazwe.ntlokwana@gauteng.gov.za
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For media related queries contact Ayob Vania | Vanessa Perumal on:
011 788 7632/1 | media@jtcomms.co.za
Issued by JT COMMUNICATION SOLUTIONS on behalf of
the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture & Recreation
JT Communications African Media Resource Centre of Excellence is proud to host the Queen Ifrica & Tony Rebel Press Conference at 11am this morning.
Follow @VanessaPerumal @JTComms @AyobVaniaPR and @Hlumz for updates
“Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another,” are the encouraging words uttered by the iconic Nelson Mandela. The Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation’s Liberation Struggle Heritage Route ensures that during September, which is Heritage Month, South Africans once again walk down that treacherous path of our history so that we do not make the same mistakes again.
The Liberation Struggle Heritage Route is a project of remembrance for South Africans so that we remain mindful of the country’s most significant events, individuals and locations that continue to vividly narrate the liberation of this heritage-filled nation.
The provincial department will utilise the Liberation Struggle Heritage Route poster campaign to publicise the Liberation Struggle Heritage Route, so that Gauteng’s communities participate in the identification of heritage sites that are associated with the liberation struggle. South Africa’s most sought after province, Gauteng, has proposed that the unique route be listed on the world heritage register as the first of its kind to be recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee. A committee made up of civil society stakeholders will be appointed to undertake a consultative process with communities so that these chosen landmarks and people are given proper platforms to depict our liberation’s stories.
The Liberation Struggle Heritage Route poster campaign’s impact will be bolstered by the Profiling of Personalities. The project aims to highlight the contributions that were made by figures whose history is not known. The profiling aims to publicise the individuals’ history in relation to the liberation struggle.
The modus operandi for the selection involves the individuals’ lives being researched, including who they are in their community, the values they stood for, their background and the role they played in the liberation. The gathered data will then be collated into a personality profile and this will be published in selected newspapers.
Africa is a continent that has not been utilising formal manners of recording history and this has meant that there has been a discrepancy and imbalances. There was also the fact that some of the country’s history has been left out intentionally. The Profiling of Personalities project’s strengths are that it generates, publicise and disseminate vital historical knowledge of the chosen personalities.
As a pilot project, only four individuals have been selected according to the following criteria: credentials in the struggle; the need for gender balance; youth empowerment; disability and involvement in former liberation forces like unions.
The first four individuals that have the honour of being profiled include the Vaal’s Molefi Congress Mbata, who facilitated the crossing of operatives for military training under uMkhonto Wesizwe; Sam Ntuli who is a former unionist from Ekurhuleni; Charlotte Maxeke who was the first president of the ANC Women’s League, and social worker, author and member of the first democratically elected parliament, Ellen Khuzwayo.
South Africa would not be the proud and progressive nation that it is today if it was not for the the selfless efforts of the men and women who were willing to lay their lives for our freedom and Heritage Month is an opportunity for all of us to thanks them by showcasing our strength through diversity.
For more information contact Nomazwe Ntlokwana on 083 507 8068 / 011 355 2578 or nomazwe.ntlokwana@gauteng.gov.za
For media related queries you may contact Ayob Vania / Vanessa Perumal on 011 788 7632/1 | media@jtcomms.co.za
Issued by JT Communications on behalf of the Gauteng DepartmeIssued by JT Communications on behalf of thent of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation.
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In a partnership with the 2011 Joburg Arts Alive International Festival, the Eldo’s Jazz Festival takes place at Kremetart Park, Ext 3 Eldorado Park on 25th September 2011, running from 10am to 6pm.
This year’s event features a line-up of fine musicians that includes top Jamaican reggae artists; Queen Ifrica and Tony Rebel. On the local scene, this year’s jazz will stage Allou April (SA), Dr Victor and the Ratsa Rebels, Prince Lengoasa, Zarcia Zacheus, Excellent Jazz Band, Hot Shots Dance Band, and Collaboration. The programme includes a memorable performance by Ernie B St Clair, a Michael Jackson impersonator, and a number of stalls will be set up for novelties and refreshments. Visit either the Status Lounge, Chill Lounge or Refreshing Beer Tent to enjoy your favourite beverage.
The 2011 Eldo’s Jazz Festival is followed by an After Party at the LAPA in Extention 5, making for a brilliant way to spend this Heritage Day weekend!
Other dates to diarise are Friday 23 September 2011 -Painting of the claypots in the main road, Saturday 24 September 2011 – Street Beat - Hip Hop & House Walter Sisulu Square, Kliptown.
* The 2011 Eldos Jazz Festival is managed by Tess Promo& Events and Besupreme Music. Joburg Arts Alive International Festival is a project of the City of Joburg, and is produced by Zanusi Brand Solutions.
For more information on the Eldos Jazz Festival go to: www.eldosjazzfestival.co.za
Follow us on Twitter: @eldosjazz1 | Facebook: Eldos Jazz Festival
For media interviews, please contact Ayob Vania, Andrea Botha or Vanessa Perumal on [t] 011 788 7631 or [e] info@jtcomms.co.za
Issued on behalf of the University of the Witwatersrand by JT Communication Solutions.
The GeePee Card aims to put real value back in the hands of the GP citizen and encourages citizens to become tourists in their own city region. Most deals available to cardholders are at a significant discount. Membership is free and open to all locals who feel as passionate about our vibrant province. Go to the website www.gauteng.net to download a digital version of the card to your cell phone.
To obtain your plastic GeePee card to keep in your wallet and score great deals on attractions and venues around the province, visit Gauteng Tourism Authority offices, #1 Central Place, cnr Jeppe and Henry Nxumalo Street, Newtown, or pick up a card at our pop-up stores in the shopping malls listed below, this Saturday, September 17.
Pop Up Stores in Malls for Saturday Sept 17
Lakeside Mall
Woodmead Shopping Centre
Eastrand Mall
River Square Shopping Centre
Menlyn Shopping centre
The Zone @ Rosebank
Brooklyn Mall- Design Quarter
Comaro Crossing
For more information on the “I’m A GeePee” campaign contact Gauteng Tourism Authority Communications Manager Taryn Gill on 083 560 1172
For media inquiries or interviews with AmaGeePee Ambassadors please contact Ayob Vania / Vanessa Perumal on [t] 011 788 7631 or [e] media@jtcomms.co.za
Issued by JT Communication Solutions on behalf of Gauteng Tourism Authority
WITS 969 – named for the distance in kilometres between Grahamstown and Johannesburg – is presented by Wits Theatre as part of the 2011 Joburg Arts Alive International Festival. It is renowned for offering theatre fans in Joburg the opportunity to experience the best of the National Arts Festival, right in their hometown.
This year, WITS 969 runs from September 21st to 30th at the Wits Theatre Complex on the Wits East Campus, giving Joburgers a chance to experience three productions that helped turn the 2011 National Arts Festival into such a success.
Flicker, directed and co-created by Gerard Bester and performed and co-created by Andrew Buckland, Craig Morris and Athena Mazarakis is on at the Wits Downstairs Theatre from September 21st to 30th.
Flicker comes from the same artistic team responsible for the award-winning Attachments nos 1-7 – this time with Bester, Morris and Mazarakis, joined by the award-winning Andrew Buckland. Already having played to capacity houses at the National Arts festival, Flicker explores the notion of ‘loss’ through a playful exploration of the disappearances that happen in people’s daily lives. This is conveyed through the interplay between the projected video presence of Buckland and the live performance of Mazarakis and Morris.
Flicker was first presented by the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown.
Directed by Fred Abrahamse from an adaptation by Joe Calarco, Shakespeare’s R&J has been described by the press as “very powerful” and “one of the most engrossing love stories ever to grace the South African stage”. Featuring performances by Marcel Meyer, James MacGregor, Rory Acton Burnell and Alistair Moulton Black, Shakespeare’s R&J plays at the Wits Main Theatre from September 21st to 30th.
The play is set in a Catholic boarding school during the 1950s, when four pupils discover an illicit copy of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and start acting it out. Perceptions and understandings are turned upside down as the fun of play- acting turns serious and the words and meanings begin to hit home and universal truths emerge.
Completing the line-up of must-see productions is Big Boys Don’t Dance, which was described by the official National Arts Festival publication, The Cue as a “South African version of The Hangover meets Flashdance with all the technical perfection of a Broadway musical”.
The sold-out show is directed and choreographed by Vanessa Harris and performed by Ash Searle and Bradley Searle and is suitable for theatregoers of diverse ages. The show sees these two real-life Pretoria brothers, Ash and Brad, set the stage alight using witty physical comedy, phenomenal dance talent and ingenious scripting. From late 80s Hip Hop to Kwaito, Dirty Dancing to the Shuffle, the dance takes this brilliant comedy play to new levels of entertainment.
With three theatre productions of this calibre, WITS 969 2011 yet again makes it easy for Joburg-based theatre fans to experience the best of the National Arts Festival in their own city.
Booking and show details below:
Flicker
Wits Downstairs Theatre
21-30 September 2011
19h30
Running Time: 50 min
Tickets: R70 full price, R45 for students at the door (Witstix R10 on 21 September 2011)
For a discounted price pre-book on strictlytickets.com
Shakespeare’s R&J
Wits Main Theatre
21 September-30 September
19h00
Running Time: 140 min including interval
Tickets: R70 full price, R45 for students at the door (Witstix R10 on 21 September 2011)
For a discounted price pre-book on strictlytickets.com
Big Boys Don’t Dance
Wits Amphitheatre
21 September-30 September
20h00
Running Time: 60 min
Tickets: R70 full price, R45 for students at the door (Witstix R10 on 21 September 2011)
For a discounted price pre-book on strictlytickets.com
For media interviews, please contact Andrea Botha or Hlumisa Mbanga on (011) 788 7631 or info@jtcomms.co.za
Issued on behalf of the University of the Witwatersrand by JT Communication Solutions.
The past is the gateway to a better future - September is Heritage Month in South Africa and it is proving to be the most critical part of the year for us as a nation, as we cannot know where we are going until we know where we have been.
For the country’s premier province, the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation plans are set on ensuring that its residents have an opportunity to recognise their vast cultures through emotive expressions like historical inheritance, passionate memories and an impressive array of languages, all of which will bolster this year’s theme: Celebrating the heroes and heroines of the liberation struggle, both living and passed on.
The first resoundingly successful initiative - the seventh annual Pale Ya Rona Carnival, held at Soweto’s Mofolo Park from 2 to 4th of September – saw more than 17 000 participants showcase Gauteng’s diverse culture and artistic talent. Mass participation in the arts was used to spike an interest in young people so that they can benefit from a constantly growing pool of skills development and creative industries, and therefore providing them with alternative and creative opportunities.
September also sees a number of month-long activities that remind South Africans of varying creeds and cultures, that the success of the struggle heroes and heroines must be claimed by the entire country as a collective achievement.
The Liberation Struggle Heritage Route Poster Campaign (which also forms part of the Gauteng Chapter of the National Liberation Heritage Route, launched earlier this year) is a call to Gauteng communities to identify at least 60 heritage sites that are associated with the liberation struggle.
A consultative process between the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, communities and municipalities will yield heritage sites that depict thought-provoking stories about South Africa’s liberation. The highlighted sites - especially in previously disadvantaged areas throughout the province - will be protected and some of the landmarks will form part of a submission to UNESCO for them to be declared World Heritage Sites.
Another month-long project is the Geographical Names Awareness campaign. It was initiated to educate communities about the relevance of the process of geographical name changes. The areas that are going to benefit from this process are Sedibeng, Tshwane, Metsweding and Ekurhuleni.
The pinnacle of Heritage Month takes place on Heritage Day, the 24th of September, where the main celebrations will be held in partnership with the West Rand District Municipality. The momentous day will be characterised by exhibitions of the struggle heroes and heroines, but the most exciting part will be when some of the living legends who changed the direction of the country, form part of the dynamic programme. The birthplace of all humankind, the West Rand’s Maropeng, will also honour the legends who gave birth to a culturally diverse South Africa by opening its gate for free.
As Nelson Mandela has repeatedly pointed out, it is not only the well-known stalwarts that shaped this country’s landscape, and this is where the Struggle Veterans Personality Profile Campaign comes into play. It profiles certain historical figures associated with the struggle, especially those whose history is not known. Their history will be publicised in relation to the role they played towards the liberation of South Africa.
These names will be chose according to criterion such as credentials in the struggle, gender balance, youth, disability and the inclusiveness of former liberation movement and progressive forces, such as unions. As a pilot project, only four individuals have been chosen. These include the Vaal’s Molefi Congress Mbata, who facilitated the crossing of operatives for military training under uMkhonto Wesizwe; Sam Ntuli who is a former unionist from Ekurhuleni; Charlotte Maxeke who was the first president of the ANC Women’s League, and social worker, author and member of the first democratically elected parliament, Ellen Khuzwayo.
Even though the struggle brought about sweeping changes for the country, some of the memories bring back tears in the eyes of those who were affected. The Oral History Colloquium is a provincial mini-conference for affected stakeholder institutions, interest groups and experts that aims to focus on the memories and oral history of the struggle.
This is so that we can all draw strength and be in synergy with this year’s Heritage Month celebrations: Celebrating the heroes and heroines of the liberation struggle.
The end of September will be celebrated by the launch of the Oral History Recording programme, which will happen at the Oral History Conference, from 29 to 30 September, in Tshwane. The conference will focus on the role of oral history and its ability to bring balance in the public and shared memory of the province and country.
The Oral History Recording programme will focus on an oral history study of people who died during the violence in Thokoza, and whose names appear on the Thokoza Memorial. The programme intends to give the tragedy and the memorial a human face and an identity. The names of those who lost their lives so that the rest of us could gain a multi-cultural South Africa will be researched and their personal histories will be recorded as Gauteng’s contribution to the liberation struggle. This piece of provincial and national history will be compiled into booklets that will be available at community libraries.
To end off the celebrations, achievers from different social entities will be recognised during the Night of the Legend, which will happen at the end of September. This will include Sports men and women, artists, community leaders, social and political personalities. The award will recognise people who have played a meaningful role in society.
For inquiries contact Nomazwe Ntlokwana on 083 507 8068/ 011 355 2578 or nomazwe.ntlokwana@gauteng.gov.za
For media related queries you may contact Hlumi/ Vanessa or Andrea on 011 788 7632/1 | media@jtcomms.co.za
Issued by JT Communications on behalf of the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation.
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A line-up of heavyweight speakers has help ensure that this year’s Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition has delivered real impact for delegates.
What’s more an impressive line-up of live events throughout Moshito’s three-day run (Aug. 31st to Sept. 2nd), including Moshito Presents …, Africa Unites (featuring Nkulee Dube) and a host of live events throughout Newtown on day two of Moshito meant it more than lived up to its mandate of showcasing live music and job creation within the sector.
Taking place at the Sci-Bono Centre in Newtown, Johannesburg, Africa’s leading music industry drew delegates and participants from across South Africa and the continent with its most extensive and heavyweight conference programme to date. Through broadcast partner SABC, the issues and challenges facing the SA music industry were given a national profile through interviews with speakers on site at Sci-Bono.
For many, the keynote speech at Wednesday’s opening at the Sci-Bono Centre in Newtown, Johannesburg has been the highlight. Jim Griffin, Managing Director of Virginia-based digital music delivery consultancy, OneHouse LLC, delivered a thought-provoking speech that made sense of why CNN Money has called him “One of the sharpest minds in digital music”.
A self-confessed admirer of scholarly writing, Griffin titled his keynote address “Marshall McLuhan was right: The Medium is the Message” and gave delegates in the Plenary Auditorium a distinctly new way of looking at how Africans can deliver the music they make in the digital sphere.
“The notion that technology is as important if not more important than content should now be obvious to all of us,” Griffin said.
“I say that partly because we are unconscious to the way we use it. This is how we live today – the technology is far more important than the content that is there, both in terms of the money we spend and the time we allocate. “
For Griffin, help driving this is the fact that “our technology choices are greater than our content choices”.
“This can be an alarming thing. It presents us with a dizzying array of choices for how we might release a song or what technology we may use to put it out. But we have to remember that when we make a choice through the technology, we are turning our back on another – and that does have consequences.”
Two of the most well-attended sessions at Moshito 2011 revolved around digital – ‘Understanding the digital music ecosystem’ and ‘The future of digital music in Africa’. One of the speakers at both these sessions, Arthur Goldstuck, MD of Joburg-based World Wide Worx, offered up some fascinating research statistics that revealed how the uptake of internet use in South Africa has been driven by the rise of the smart phone.
The practical aspect of Moshito 2011’s programming was another strong attraction this year, with multiple sessions aimed at imparting knowledge and experience to practitioners on issues as diverse as music publishing, what record deal to sign, and ways of distributing music.
One of the most popular of these was a session titled ‘Musicians as Entrepreneurs’ where musicians Wouter Kellerman, Concord Nkabinde and Danny K gave honest, insightful and practical accounts of their wn music career trajectories that was well-received by those attending.
For recordings of sessions and other information, go to www.moshito.co.za
For media interviews on Moshito please contact Vanessa Perumal / Ayob Vania / Andrea Botha on (011) 788 7631 or media@jtcomms.co.za
Issued by JT Communication Solutions on behalf of MOSHITO www.moshito.co.za
Visionary SA Media Company & Youth Empowerment Organisation join hands to making a difference in reporting of the Arts by embracing the digital era
Johannesburg: In a ground-breaking partnership, specialist Johannesburg media agency JT Communication Solution has teamed up with Youth In Action South Africa (YIASA) to help usher in the next generation of arts and culture writers, bloggers, photographers, filmmakers, documenters, broadcasters and social media professionals in the country.
As part of its social responsibility project, JT Communication Solutions will make available its human capital, services and provide a platform for 20 volunteers from YIASA wishing to gain practical knowledge of the media industry.
Announcing the partnership yesterday, JT Communication Solution managing director Vanessa Perumal and YIASA Chief Empowerment Officer Unathi Memela said they were excited about working together to make a difference among youth in the country.
YIASA chief empowerment officer Unathi Memela said their efforts could see the birth of the most sophisticated volunteer data base this continent has ever seen.
“If it works as well as we expect, it could inspire people in other sectors, and become a wonderful job creation model,”” says Memela.
“We believe the model we are talking about can be replicated elsewhere in the country and could make a difference in the nation’s job creation effort,” she adds
As part of the plan, JT Comms and YIASA will pool together a team of about 20 volunteers who are interested and have aspirations of working in the media, communications and or public relations environment.
Two years ago JT Comms launched its media resource centre, which has been a hive of activity and played home to journalists from the country and continent since opening. This initiative could herald a new crop of media and PR professionals.
On a voluntary basis, candidates who have a media background both in traditional and new media spaces, who must have an interest in the arts, will gain access to a formal working environment in which they will get experience in the digital media space, among other platforms.
Volunteers will form part of the JT Comms content generation teams working on a number of key national music and drama events, including Arts Alive 1- 25 September – Jazz on the Lake, Drama for Life, MOSHITO 2011which takes place at Sci Bono, the Wits 969 Festival, SAMRO Endowment for the National Arts, and SAMRO 50th Anniversary celebrations.
They will also get an opportunity to be part of the JT Comms In-conversation with Abigail Khubeka session supported by Arts Alive 2011 on the 14 September 2011.
Welcoming the initiative JT Comms MD Vanessa Perumal said as a leading South African media and content producing company operating in a traditional space fast having to adapt our business model to embrace the digital onslaught, the goal was to add to the talent in newsrooms or PR agencies operating in arts and entertainment world.
“As a company we are known for making innovative pioneering solutions to gather historically important content but cultural reporting needs to reflect the goals and aspirations of post-apartheid South Africa.
“Through this initiative, we would like to ensure that volunteers become part of the solution as we progressively lead the field in ensuring we bring into the market skilled writers who can breathe life into the arts,” said Perumal.
“Our partnership with Youth for SA each is essentially about using the “each-one, teach-one” principle gives the youth a chance at having a crack in the world of arts through practical initiatives instead of fostering a culture of dependency.,” she added.
The Citizen Volunteers are:-
Hlumisa Mbanga; Yandisa Molebalwa; Pule Mqedlane; Unathi Memela; Lindy Nene; Eezy Raaloe; Tshidiso Lechuba; Ihsaan Haffejee; James Gezane; Donna-Lee Naidoo; Taynita Harilal; Elisa Mpofu; Sharon Mhlongo; Mfanel Ngoma; Evodia Melamu; Denise Phalatse-Vania; Zakithi Motha; Bongani Nkosi & Pascale Michael
For media queries and interview requests please contact Andrea /Ayob on (011) 788 7631 or write to info @jtcomms.co.za
Issued by JT Communication Solutions www.jtcomms.co.za and Youth In Action South Africa www.yiasa.org
Johannesburg: 11 August 2011 – Recently appointed Managing Director of the Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Organisation (DALRO) Nothando Migogo has promised to lead the organisation into the digital age by ensuring relevance and through strengthening its goal to look after the interests of authors, artists and publishers.
Having successfully completed a 12 year cycle in which the focus was to ensure that photocopying and other forms of reproduction of copyright-protected works at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in South Africa was under licensed control, DALRO is at the beginning of a new cycle and Migogo has been tasked with leading the organisation into the future.
Prior to her appointment, she was the General Manager: Corporate and Legal Affairs at DALRO – which is a subsidiary of the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO).
In taking the organisation forward, Migogo said the strategic plans for the future are informed and characterised by the digital revolution.
“As the ways in which creators disseminate information, and similarly users consume information, change rapidly in the ever-shrinking digital, global village, my vision is to ensure that DALRO remains relevant,” she said.
“The principles which characterise DALRO as a brand, business partner and organisation remain and will continue to be nurtured. The space in which we exist, however, is inevitably changing, and we need to ensure that we continue to provide relevant solutions to both our rightsholders and licensees,” she added.
Migogo holds LLB and LLM degrees in law from the University of the Witwatersrand and worked as a tax consultant for Deloitte before making her way into publishing and eventually copyright administration.
The go-getter mom of two said her goal has always been to work in a field she enjoys and that allows her to use her talents and be the best that she can be.
“My ultimate aspiration is to teach my children the importance of self-confidence, humility and happiness,” she said.
And if staying ahead of the game means becoming a student again, Migogo said she would not think twice. “I'll definitely go back to school to continue my studies in the not so distant future,” she said.
She said a significant reason for her success is the fact that she has always been surrounded by many teachers and mentors. “Some have helped me progress professionally, others have taught me the importance of having a thick skin. My father remains one of my closest business-space consultants. Similarly, a handful of senior colleagues in my previous (and current) roles continue to shape the professional I am,” she said.
About DALRO
DALRO was established in 1967 as a multi-purpose copyright agency administering various aspects of copyright on behalf of authors and publishers. Our main areas of administration are reprographic reproduction rights (photocopying from published editions), public performance rights (including stage rights for book musicals and dramas) and reproduction rights (granted for both publishing and copying) in works of visual art.
By virtue of bilateral agreements with foreign reprographic reproduction organisations as well as local and foreign authors, agents and publishers our clients have access to a vast repertoire of copyright works. DALRO is affiliated to the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) and was granted full membership of the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO ) in 1990.
The DALRO Board of Directors is made up of authors, publishers and copyright practitioners. The firm is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO)
For media queries and interview requests please contact Vanessa Perumal / Ayob Vania at JT Communication Solutions on (011) 788 7631 or write to media@jtcomms.co.za
Issued By JT Communication Solutions on behalf of the Dramatic Artistic and Literary Organisation (DALRO)
More than 30 music events means the annual Joburg Arts Alive International Festival is pulsing to a seriously hot beat in 2011!
Music’s central role in this year’s programming is announced with the Arts Alive Opening Ceremony on September 1st at The Fringe at The Joburg Arts Theatre.
A specially commissioned work by poet Don Mattera and musician Pops Mohamed will make its worldwide debut, underscoring Arts Alive’s role in stimulating creativity amongst the City of Joburg’s many high-profile residents.
This is followed, a day later (September 2nd), by Africa Unites, presented in association with Moshito and featuring a stunning line-up of world-class African artists including Nigerian singer-songwriter, Asa and Kenyan musician, Eric Wainana.
The next big music event is an undoubted Joburg Arts Alive International Festival highlight – Jazz on the Lake (Sun September 4th at Zoo Lake). This annual free concert is a major gift to residents of Joburg by the City of Joburg - and this year the line-up features singer Xoliswa Dlamini, award-winning vocalist Melanie Scholtz, pop outfit, Watershed, the riveting Indian act, Rajasthan Rocks, Afro-dub pioneers, 340ml, jazz musician Victor Ntoni and top international Nigerian singer-songwriter, Asa.
Another must-see free concert is the Eldo’s Jazz Festival, taking place on Sunday September 25th at Kremetert Park and featuring top Jamaican reggae artists, Queen Ifrica and Tony Rebel, along with several SA heavyweights including Allou April, Dr Victor, Prince Lengoasa, and Zarcia Zacheus, Throughout the festival, there are also an abundance of opportunities to see a range of world-class musicians from other countries – a major benefit of Arts Alive’s strong partnerships with foreign governments in 2011.
Many of these take place at Joburg Theatre including (in partnership with the Indian Shared History Festival) Rajasthan Rocks, featuring the mystic sounds and captivating dance from this region of India that plays at The Mandela on September 6th.
Brazil’s 2010 Top Female Singer, Teresa Cristina, brings her sultry Brazilian samba sounds to The Mandela on September 7th – Brazilian National Day. This show additionally features the Afro Brazilian Group Napalma (supported by African Synergy). Presented in partnership with the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China, the Gansu Ethnic Song & Dance Troupe is on at The Mandela from September 14th to 17th. This riveting show showcases performers from China’s Tibet, Hui, Mongol, Dongxiang, Yugu and Manchu ethnic groups. Cuban pianist and composer Luis Lugo is one of the leading interpreters of both classical and Cuban music and he’ll be playing at The Mandela on September 13th. September 14th sees Portuguese quartet Deolinda showcasing their new generation Fado – described by critics as funny, ironic, beautifully poetic and decidedly hip.
Alongside these music events there are several ongoing music nights during Arts Alive 2011 that make experiencing quality, memorable sounds very easy for Joburgers. These include Monday Blues (September 5, 12 and 19 at Co.fi at The Zone, Rosebank), now celebrating its 20th anniversary and showcasing some of the city’s top acts including Sliq Angel, LoveGlori, Ntsiki Mazwai, Joy of Jozi, The Fridge, and NAF Ovation winners, The Soil.
Reggae takes the spotlight at the Bassline on September 8, 15 and 22 with headline acts, Queen Ifrica and Tony Rebel from Montego Bay, Jamaica at the FINAL reggae night on 22 September. African Storm Sound System’s legendary reggae night hosted by Admiral and Jahseed sees reggae action till the early hours of the morning on all three nights.
There’s more to relish on September 9th with African Connections - Africa Night at Braamfontein’s The Alex featuring Oliver Mtukudzi (Zimbabwe) performing with Bombino (Niger). Other African Connections –Africa Night events showcase the music of the likes of Ringo Mandlingozi (SA) and Alexio Kawara (Zimbabwe) – both playing on September 23rd.
Fans of conscious hip-hop should not miss Thuba Lethu at The Alex on September 10th, featuring Sudan’s Emmanuel Jal performing with Tumi and the Volume (SA). There’s plenty for urban music fans to enjoy when ‘Street Beat’ takes over Walter Sisulu Square on September 24th. Included in the line-up are MCs Earl and Agemi, Black Cream, Yung J, Peoples Property, Charmer Boys, Besupreme dancers, Armageddon, and DJ’s Kent and Park Boys.
This year there are also plenty of community-based music events in the programme, including Arts Alive Authentic Sunday at Chaf-Pozi in Orlando with an artist line-up that includes DJ’s Bling, Zai Maya, Que, Rogers, Bayo and Buddist DJ as well as AKA, Khuli Chana and Pro.
Another exciting project is the Streetpop Festival taking place on September 17th from 2:00pm till late at G-spot, Mofolo Village, Soweto. It features Tidal Waves and T.H.O.T.S., Dj Dolla, and Maleh. Also in Soweto is Duelling Drums, on at the Soweto Theatre in Jabulani at 3:00pm. This free drumming duel is between the military western drummers from Spirit of America and the Womba Drummers from SA which heralds the first hard-hat performance at the new, worldclass Soweto Theatre, which has been built by the City of Joburg.
For the full line-up of music events at Arts Alive 2011 go to:
WEBSITE: www.artsalive.co.za
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joburg-Arts-Alive-International-Festival/132883022648?ref=ts
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/#!/Arts_Alive
YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/user/JhbArtsAlive
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/arts_alive/
Media accreditation: info@jtcomms.co.za
For media registration, interview requests access to EPK’s, broadcast footage and any other media queries please contact Ayob Vania, Hlumi Mbanga and Vanessa Perumal on (011)7887631 or info@jtcomms.co.za
Issued by JT Communication Solutions on behalf of Arts Alive 2011
