WOMAD Cape Town | 1 to 6 October
Celebrating 30 years of democracy with cultural diversity from around the world with a special Desmond Tutu united 4 humanity concert in Cape Town; Sonography: Stories in roots and blues at Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees and various exciting concerts and workshops featuring top local and international artists.
WOMAD (World of music, arts and dance) was launched in 1982 by Peter Gabriel and has successfully brought the ethos, sights, global sounds and rhythms to 32 countries around the world to an audience of millions. WOMAD South Africa 2024 will be held in Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Johannesburg.
WOMAD SA festival sirector Dan Chiorboli says: “This is the third year since WOMAD was first hosted in SA and it is an important one for us as we celebrate important historical South African milestones, which present opportunities to reflect on the past and look to the future with a superb offering of performances, workshops and collaborations of cultural diversity and social cohesion.”
Ladysmith Black Mambazo will perform at the Desmond Tutu united 4 humanity concert. (Photo: provided)
In a deviation from their global traditional “festival in a field” format, WOMAD South Africa have adapted their model to present a series of activities as immersive cultural experiences in unique boutique type formats to fit into South Africa’s cultural landscape. The venues are intimate venues and activities take the form of boutique style events which are designed to offer as many job creation opportunities across the cultural eco-system as possible.
The Iskwew Singers will perform at Sonograophy at Toytota Stellenbosch Woordfees 2024. (Photo: provided)
In Cape Town, with the support of the City of Cape Town as presenting sponsor, WOMAD SA is proud to partner with the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation to present two special events: A once-off screening of the film A tree has fallen: remembering Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Desmond Tutu united 4 humanity concert at St George’s Cathedral with among other top artists Ladysmith Black Mambazo, PJ Powers, Zolani Mahola, Arno Carstens, Hilton Schilder and Shaheema Lakay, Joep Pelt and Soweto Soul. This special concert is being held to celebrate the legacy of one of South Africa’s greatest leaders, the 40th anniversary of Desmond Tutu receiving the Nobel Peace Prize and his contribution to South Africa’s democracy, social cohesion and cultural diversity. This unplugged, acoustic and choral concert includes a performance on the cathedral’s famed pipe organ and a selection of songs by the St George’s Cathedral Choir.
Joep Pelt and Soweto Soul will perform at the Desmond Tutu united 4 humanity concert. (Photo: provided)
WOMAD SA is furthermore excited to collaborate, for the first time, with Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees, in staging one special concert titled Sonography: Stories in roots and blues. Sonography is an exploration in sound and music of storytelling and questioning. In this production artists tell stories prompted by instruments and the memories they invoke: uhadi, blik-’n-snaar, kora, percussion, and Mississippi blues. Their questions gesture hope: how do we listen anew, with nuance and complexity? Featuring Iskwew Singers (Canada – vocals), Joep Pelt (Netherlands – guitar and voice), Ncebakazi Mnukwana (South Africa – Khoisan voice & uhadi bow) and Garth Erasmus (South Africa – Khoisan instruments and saxophone).
The full programme for WOMAD Cape Town features the following concerts and activities:
Tuesday 1 October at 19:00, Time Out Studio V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
- Film: A tree has fallen: Remembering Archbishop Desmond Tutu with short performances by Iskwew Singers (Canada)
Free entrance
More info: info.capetown@timeoutmarket.com
Wednesday 2 October at 16:00, Fismer Hall, US Konservatorium, Cape Town
- Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees: Sonography: Stories in roots and blues
More info and tickets: https://woordfees.co.za/en/program/sonografie-grepe-in-roots-en-blues/
Thursday 3 October 19:30, Social & Athletic Club, Cape Town
- A taste of Brazil with Livia & Fred (Brazil)
35 Buitengracht Street, Cape Town CBD
Bookings and info: info@theatlethic.co.za
Friday 4 October 19:00 at St George’s Cathedral
- Desmond Tutu united 4 humanity concert
Featuring Ladysmith Black Mambazo, PJ Powers, Zolani Mahola, Arno Carstens, Hilton Schilder and Shaheema Lakay, Joep Pelt and Soweto Soul (Netherlands/SA), Iskwew Singers (Canada), Nhoza Sitsholwana and Andre Kriel, Francesca Biancoli (Italy), Livia & Fred (Brazil), St George’s Choir and DSK Senior Band, and Nik Rabinowitz as MC.Tickets on Quicket here.
Saturday 5 October and Sunday 6 October at the amphitheatre, V&A Waterfront from 14:00 – 18:00
- WOMAD Global Sounds with various artists: diversity from around the world (free concerts)
- Additionally, there will be music workshops held in Masiphumelele and Langa on Saturday 5 October.See details on www.womadsa.co.za.
WOM AD Johannesburg | 9 to 13 October 2024
WOMAD Johannesburg will take place from 9 to 13 October 2024. Chiorboli says, “We have committed to investing in the inner city’s rejuvenation plans by bringing our international and local artists into multiple venues to drive the arts and culture element. We realise that there is a much deeper context at play and firmly believe that this is the right thing to do in order to boost socio-economic development plans and bring culture back to the inner city. The international artists will perform and collaborate with local artists at The Rand Club, Niki’s Oasis, Untitled Basement, Troyeville Hotel, Pata Pata, AMPD Studios, etc.