20 September 2006
Following a successful African Renaissance and African Intellectuality
Summit held in Durban on 23 and 24 May 2006, the Office of the Premier is to
kick-start the implementation of the summit resolutions by holding the
Bhambatha and Gandhi Music Eisteddfod at the University of Zululand on
Saturday, 23 September 2006.
Fourteen choirs representing each of the 11 districts in the province have
been invited to perform new choral music compositions in celebration of the
lives of Inkosi Bhambatha ka Mancinza Zondi, the leader of the 1906 Poll Tax
Uprisings and Mahatma Gandhi, who in 1906 named his passive resistance,
Satyagraha.
Five KwaZulu-Natal composers Qinisela Sibisi, Newman Sibisi, Pelelani
Mnomiya, Mduduzi Xulu and Simon Ntombela have composed a total of four songs on
Bhambatha and two songs on Gandhi. Two songs one by Mnomiya on Bhambatha and
another by Qinisela Sibisi on Gandhi are being orchestrated by Christopher
James and will be performed by a massed choir, some 800 voices backed by the
KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra as a symbol of celebrating unity through
the power of music.
Also featured are five earlier compositions by accomplished composer and
first music graduate at Hampton University, Virginia, USA, in 1934, Edendale
born Reuben Tholakele Caluza (1895 - 1968). These include his "1 Land Act"
composed after the promulgation of the 1913 Land Act. Caluza taught music at
Ohlange Institute under Dr John Langalibalele Dube and later at Adams College
and the University College of Zululand. His contemporaries included earlier
KwaZulu-Natal intellectuals like HIE Dlomo (1903 - 1956), BW Vilakazi (1906 -
1947), Nimrod Njabulo Ndebele (1913 - 2000), CLS Nyembezi (1919 - 2001) and
Mazisi Kunene (1930 - 2006), to name but a few.
Both Gandhi and Bhambatha are seen as heroes of the struggle for liberation
in South Africa. They were citizens of the KwaZulu-Natal Province. The
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government has been celebrating and commemorating the
role of Inkosi Bhambatha ka Mancinza Zondi in the 1906 uprisings and will
commence with Satyagraha celebrations on 30 September to 1 October 2006.
The choral music tradition is well established in African communities
throughout South Africa and particularly so in KwaZulu-Natal. While the writing
of music in tonic solfa and later in staff notation was introduced by the
missionaries in the 19th century, choral singing in KwaZulu-Natal was well
entrenched in the amahubo tradition, where each clan and family had its own set
of sacred songs which it rendered for major ritual events like weddings and
burials. Amahubo song styles are still evident in the more modern styles as a
result of tradition and change.
The last item will be rendition of a Zulu ihubo song by each choir in line
with the spirit of the Heritage Month.
The Bhambatha / Gandhi Choral Music Eisteddfod will take place at:
Venue: Bhekuzulu Hall, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa
Time: 09h00
Date: Saturday, 23 September 2006
KwaZulu-Natal Premier, honourable Sibusiso Ndebele, will be the guest
speaker and will later hand over the awards.
Photo opportunities will be available during and after the proceedings. The
Premier will be available for pre-arranged media interviews after the
proceedings. Members of the media are invited to attend.
Members of the media wishing to pre-arrange media interviews with the
Premier must please contact:
Jeff Hassan
Cell: 082 884 1872
For further information, please contact:
Professor Musa Xulu
Cell: 082 888 5458
Issued by:
Thulani Sithole
Deputy Director: Media Liaison
Tel: (033) 341 3428
Fax: (033) 345 8490
Cell: 082 317 3727
Email: sitholtn@premier.kzntl.gov.za
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
20 September 2006
Source: SAPA
