July 19, 2004
By Bontle Moeng
INTERNATIONAL and local artists will grace the colossal stage at the Newtown Music Hall for the fourth annual Urban Voices International Arts Festival from 21 July to 11 August.
The festival, organised by the Southern African Arts Exchange, will take place in three major cities - Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.
During the three-week carnival, Joburg will be abuzz with hip-hop, African pop and soul - not to mention workshops and poetry.
Patrons will also be able to enjoy the soothing sounds of jazz, reggae and traditional African music. Each performance will reflect the state of the arts in Africa and in the rest of the world, say the organisers.
Roshnie Moonsammy, the festival's founder and director, says: "This year's festival has a special focus in celebrating South Africa's 10 years of democracy. It will provide an ideal time for enjoyment and critical reflection of the state of our society in the context of our continent's quest for renewal and its interaction with the African Diaspora."
One of the artists expected to perform is Angelique Kidjo, who hails from Benin in West Africa. She is a three-time Grammy nominee who sings in English, French and two African languages, Yoruba and Fon.
The organisers say her music reflects eclectic influences from across the globe.
Kidjo is also a recipient of international awards, including the British MOBO Award for the best African album - 'Black Ivory Soul'. She will use the opportunity to launch her new album, 'Oyaya'.
Simphiwe Dana, a newcomer, will share the stage with Kidjo and will launch her debut album. The show's organisers say her awe-inspiring collection of original material reflects her diverse influences, which include African traditional music and choral and jazz rhythms.
Kidjo and Dana will perform two shows in Johannesburg, on 23 and 24 July.
The Urban Voices International Spoken Word Festival, scheduled for 30 and 31 July, will feature reggae's foremost poet, Linton Kwesi Johnson from Jamaica.
American artists - such as Jessica Care Moore, an award-winning poet, actor, recording artist, musician and publisher - will also be on the bill. Moore has worked with the likes of Gill Scott, Dead Prez and Mos Def. She also features in the Def Poetry Jam and is the first poet to have won the Apollo Showtime in New York for five consecutive years
Moore's company also published the first groundbreaking works of Saul Williams.
Toni Blackman, also from the US, is a scholar and accomplished freestyle artist who will deliver his version of hip-hop poetry.
South African poets on show include Don Mattera, Kgafela oa Magogodi, Keorapetse Kgositsile, Lesego Rampolokeng and Maakomele Manaka.
The Women in Reggae concerts, on 6 and 7 August, will present the I-Threes, a backing band - comprising Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt - formed by Bob Marley in 1974. The concerts will celebrate national Women's Day and 10 years of democracy.
All shows are at the Newtown Music Hall and start at 8:30pm.
The Urban Voices workshop programme, which will give artists and audiences a chance to share ideas, also forms part of the festival.
There will be two musical workshops in Johannesburg: the workshop on 21 July, on the pressures of being a recording artist, will involve Kidjo and representatives of the South African music industry; the workshop on 5 August will focus on the global influences of reggae.
A special poetry workshop for professional and emerging poets will take place on 29 July. Poets participating include Rampolokeng, Johnson, Moore, Blackman and Kgositsile.
All workshops are free and will start at the Newtown Music Hall at 3pm.
Book for concerts at www.computicket.co.za or call 011 340 8000. Indoor venues have limited capacity and patrons are advised to book early to avoid disappointment.
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