SA musicians to rock Edinburgh
Thabo Mokgola
18 August 2004
The city of Edinburgh in Scotland will get a taste of South African culture on Saturday and Sunday when top South African musicians perform at the Princess Street Gardens at a cultural extravaganza to celebrate 10 years of freedom and democracy in South Africa.
The Ross Bandstand will be dedicated to South African entertainment, while the west end of the gardens will be home to a variety of South African arts and crafts.
Top South African musicians Caiphus Semenya and Letta Mbulu top the bill for a free weekend of music, dance, arts and crafts as part of the month-long world-famous Edinburgh Festival.
"South Africa in the Gardens" will be a fusion of styles and cultures, including the Soweto Gospel Choir, a mix of African rock and reggae with Sagrenti, Africa meets Scotland with Cantara, and a heady gumbo of "shanty punk" from Junkman's Choir.
Also taking centre stage will be Scottish singer Frances Lynch and "guitar George" from
rock group Dire Straits, who will perform music specially commissioned for the weekend.
Edinburgh-based producers Neo Production will bring the South African musical "Once Were Free", based on an examination of slavery, to the event.
Other activities planned for the Edinburgh festival include bringing a South African dimension to some well-known city events, including the summer festivals and various cultural and sporting events.
A programme aimed at young people, featuring debates and workshops, dance and music, is planned for later in the year, while the University of Edinburgh is planning a literary event in October.
The city also plans to recycle computers and other office equipment to send to South Africa.
South African High Commissioner Lindiwe Mabuza said South Africans are proud of the strong and growing relationship between SA, the City of Edinburgh and the Scottish people, which goes back many years.
"We hope and trust that the people
of Edinburgh will come to 'South Africa in the Gardens', fall under the spell of wonderful, unique South African music and entertainment, and join us in celebrating our precious freedom", Mabuza said.
Edinburgh's Lord Provost, Lesley Hinds, said Edinburgh and Glasgow both have a long association with the anti-apartheid movement.
Many people, he said, had worked tirelessly in both cities, and across Scotland, to bring about and maintain democracy in South Africa.
He added that "South Africa in the Gardens" was a great example of the colour and spirit associated with South African artistic and musical traditions and the new creativity released with the advent of freedom and democracy.
"This will be a wonderful event and a unique occasion", Hinds said. "I encourage the people of Edinburgh to come along and learn more about South Africa."
Source: BuaNews
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