Press Release by: Jeemersan Govender
Venue: Polokwane Cricket Stadium (Limpopo, South Africa)
16 December 2006 - Polokwane: Jazz fans are spoilt for choice with the just-announced line-up of artists taking place at the Mapungubwe Jazz Festival.
The event, which is now in its third year, takes place at the Polokwane Cricket Stadium on December 16th and forms part of the Mapungubwe Arts Festival. It is a project of the Limpopo Provincial Government’s Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the arts and culture calendar in the province.
This year’s line-up again dazzles, starting with two of the biggest names in African music – Papa Wemba and Oliver Mtukudzi.
Wemba hails from the Democratic Republic of Congo and is widely regarded as the “King of Rhumba” having created a musical style that remains vibrant and transfixing to this day. Mtukudzi, meanwhile, is viewed as one of the continent’s most gifted guitarists, this Zimbabwean having crafted a form of music known as “Tuku music”. In the music business for around three decades, Mtukudzi’s prolific outpourings as a songwriter and performer have seen him release close to 50 albums.
The Mapungubwe Jazz Festival also offers music fans that chance to see two of South Africa’s own legends play live. Caiphus Semenya and Letta Mbuli are famed as both composers and performers and their inclusion in the festival lineup gives it a depth and heritage that will attract many music fans.
Another stalwart of the South African music scene set to take to the stage come December 16th is poet and performer, Mzwakhe Mbuli who will bring his inimitable sound and strong lyrical messages to the Mapungubwe audience. Gloria Bosman is now also considered something of a veteran, having begun her recording career in the late 1990s, through several award-winning albums building a reputation as one of the country’s most gifted singers, and, more lately, songwriters.
The Mapungubwe Jazz Festival offers fans one of the first opportunities to see Afro-soul diva, Simphiwe Dana, perform material off her just-released ‘One Love Movement on Bantu Biko Street'. Dana is becoming a regular fixture on the European live scene and her appearance at the festival is a boon for fans of this award-winning singer and songwriter. Also part of the line-up are Bongo Maffin who consistently turn in excellent live shows, as does Ntando who will bring his cool Afro pop charm to the festival.
Adding their weight to the festival are Lesotho jazz musician, Bhudaza as well as Xidimangwana from Mozambique, and they are joined by Geoff Mapaya, Jonah Moyo and Mitchelle Jambo and Marungwa Brothers who all hail from the Limpopo region.
Tickets for the festival cost R85.00 and are available from Computicket.
RSVP: should be directed to JT Communication Solutions info@jtcomms.co.za
As there will be a bus booked to transport media to the event, it is crucial the media RSVP as soon as you can confirm attendance.
Interviews & Pictures available on request:
Contact: Jay/Zee (media@jtcomms.co.za or info@jtcomms.co.za)
Issued by:
Vanessa Perumal
JT Communication Solutions
info@jtcomms.co.za
On behalf of: Limpopo Provincial Government’s Department of Sport, Arts and Culture
www.limpopo.gov.za
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