MUSIC FROM DRC, ETHIOPIA, CAMEROON, SOUTH AFRICA
Thanks to the Pan African Space Station there is a festival of extraordinary music from all over the African continent in Cape Town this week. All of the shows are only R30 pre-booked (at computicket) or R50 at the the door.
TUESDAY: STUDIO KABAKO
Perhaps not for the faint-hearted - Studio Kabako is a dance collective from Kisangani in the DRC which "infuses the hybrid rhythms of Ndombolo music with hefty doses of punk rage and cosmic energy... they merge explosive dance and experimental theatre, mysticism, and millitancy, riddle and confrontation...weird worlds of sounds open up before us." It includes the talents of a poet, choreographer, fashion designer and band.
City Hall
Tuesday 28 19h00
WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY: BRICE WASSY TRIO AND IMPERIAL TIGER ORCHESTRA
Brice Wassy is a Cameroonian drummer and percussionist who has been a band-leader for Manu Dibango and Salif Keita and has worked with an impressive array of stars including Miriam Makeba and Busi Mhlongo. His music is described as "bringing together jazz and Afro-pop... a full-frontal rhythmic attack, profoundly rooted in Africa, but open to all genres."
The Imperial Tiger Orchestra is based in Geneva and is brought to SA by Pro Helvetia. They perform "songs of the Golden Age of modern Ethiopian music " but "are not to be mistaken for a covers band. Instead the Imperial Tigers explore uncharted territory with their powerful instrumentation of horn, percussion and keyboards....hypnotic rhythms and fierce grooves... beautiful new pieces based on the Ethiopian originals."
Slave Church 40 Long Street
Wednesday 29 19h00
Albert Hall 208 Albert Road Woodstock
Friday 1 October 22h30
THURSDAY AND SATURDAY: PHILIP TABANE
Philip Tabane and his Malombo Jazz Makers, an "ever-shifting cast of musicians" have been part of the South African music scene since the 1960s. "The master lets loose with intricate improvisation and free-form solo-ing.....that speaks to the soul while insisting that you get up and dance." The programme also features the Kyle Shepherd Trio.
St George's Cathedral
Thursday 30 19h30
Guga S'Thebe Centre Washington Road Langa
Saturday 2 October 12h00 - 18h00
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: THANDISWA MAZWAI TRIO
Since her days as a member of 90s Afro-pop crew Bongo Maffin, Thandiswa Mazwai has gone solo and has "travelled deeper into traditional Zulu and Xhosa melodies and rhythms to map out a fiercely individual route from past to present, sign-posted with borrowing from jazz, funk, Mbaqanga, reggae, quasi-gospel and thumping kwaito."
Slave Church 40 Long Street Cape Town
Friday 1 19h00
Guga S'Thebe Centre Washington Road Langa
Saturday 2 October 12h00 - 18h00
MORE MUSIC
In addition to this packed programme of music is a concert by Eric Omba "a guitarist and composer of Spanish, classical jazz, Latin American, African and French music" with an impressive list of collaborations behind him. At the Alliance Francaise this Thursday he will be showcasing his band and guest stars including Steve Newman and Mambote, and his new album Bella Vie.
Alliance Francaise 155 Loop Street
Thursday 30 20h30 R60
THIS WEEK ONLY: EXHIBITION AT THE NATIONAL LIBRARY
Photographs, rare books, and items from the manuscript collections of the SA National Library are on exhibition this week from Monday to Saturday.
National Library 5 Queen Victoria Street
Monday 27 to Saturday 1 10h00-17h00
Free entry
DAMON GALGUT AT THE BOOK LOUNGE
Damon Galgut's In a Strange Room has been shortlisted for the 2010 Man Booker prize and the Book Lounge has organized a "celebratory evening" at which we're invited to "raise a glass of bubbly....and listen to Damon read from this quite astounding novel."
Book Lounge
Wednesday 29 17h30 for 18h00
