KWELA BAFANA+ AT THE MARKET THEATRE JOHANNESBURG: BRA B WOWS!:
A MyJHB.co.za selected Market Theatre Johannesburg video for you:
“A musical journey that will leave you dancing and wanting more…” – Gwen Ansell, Business Day
Following sold-out performances at the Victory Theatre last year, Kwela Bafana+ is once again about to take Jozi by storm. Starting 25 May, put on your most fabulous dancing shoes and head for the Market Theatre, where Bra B Ngwenya and the Kwela Bafana Band will get your feet tapping to the vibrant tunes reminiscent of South African townships in the 50s.
A distinctive style of music was born from the shabeen scene in the 1950s. It was funky and audacious and could liven up a dance floor in a moment. It was also layered with innuendo as it descriptively portrayed township life during an era in the country when people were faced with apartheid’s ugliness, which included the devastation of forced removals. To survive these adverse times, music became an escape and, although it was often uplifting, the undertones of tragedy and fear were always evident. The hauntingly evocative penny-whistle or “kwela” — meaning “get up” or “kwela kwela” describing the police vans – was made famous through kwela music during these times. It was this fabulous 50’s street music, with its magical jazzy undertones, which had revellers living up the night life inside the noisy walls of the shabeens, where kwela sounds, non-stop action and the never-ending flow of beer kept people’s hopes and dreams alive.
No payment on arrival PLEASE!
Ticket Prices
Tues R75, Wed & Thurs R95, Fri & Sat R160, Sun R120
Kwela Bafana+, A Night in a 50’s Shabeen, is an engaging musical story, which brings to life the unforgettable sights and sounds of South Africa during a decade known for producing a distinctive flavour in song and dance. Directed by renowned Sibikwa Art Centre founders Phyllis Klotz and Smal Ndaba, with musical direction by the multi-talented Themba Mkhize – who has among his many accolades arranged and composed the music for both the Confederation and World Cup – and choreography by the internationally-acclaimed Todd Twala, Kwela Bafana+ will warm the hearts of an eclectic and multicultural audience.
Boy Ngwenya, an original member of the Woodywood Peckers and the famous King Kong cast, brings authentic 50’s flair and personality to his performance. Then, accompanying Bra B, audiences can look forward to the award-winning talents of actress Velaphi Khumalo, who has, in previous Kwela productions, become one of the shows biggest attractions. Khumalo is a “tour de force” to be reckoned and brings some seriously powerful vocal talents to her performance.
This fabulous musical theatre features numbers from the classic, King Kong, songs by Victor Ndlazilwane of the Woodywood Peckers and Dambuza Mdledle of the Manhattan Brothers. These kwela songs became a hallmark sound in the South African township jazz genre and were sadly lost in the intense political history of those times. Now, Kwela Bafana will pay homage to the rich heritage of this definitive 50’s-style, urban township music.
Insist on speaking to Anthony for that special ticket price¡
Call the Special Ticket Hot line Now 083-246- 4950
Season Dates: 25th May — 24th June, 2012.
Tuesday to Saturday 8pm, Sunday 3pm
20 -25% discounts for block booking (excluding Tuesdays)
This extract produced by Paul Tilsley and multi-camera unit at Competent Artistes
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