August 8, 2006
By Ndaba Dlamini
The Women in Arts Festival reaches a crescendo on Women's Day, Wednesday, 9 August, with South Africa's leading divas performing at the Women in Music concert in Newtown.
This year's Women in Arts Festival marks the fifth year since its inception and coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Women's March on Union Square. It is being held at various Newtown venues from 4 to 13 August, as part of Joburg's Arts Alive programme.
The Women in Music show, a good outing for the whole family, will start at noon and entrance is free. The following artists will take part in the celebrations:
Labella Dani
Dani will kick off the show at noon. This Cape Town-born performer started singing in church at the age of 10. In 1995 she met well-known artist and producer, Joe Nina, who auditioned her with Fancy Galada. In 1996 they formed a duo called La Fancy and recorded an album entitled 'Jazzino'. In 2001 Dani released a jazzy R&B album produced by Gabi Le Roux. Her album and music video entitled 'Still Lonely' was well received by the South African audience. In 2002 her album was nominated for best English contemporary album and best R&B album at the South African Music Awards. She has collaborated with some of South Africa's well-known artists like Mandoza, Ringo Madlingozi and Judith Sephuma, amongst others. Though she is Xhosa-speaking, this versatile songstress also sings in Sepedi and Sesotho.
Swazi Dlamini
Swazi Dlamini will follow Labella's act at 1pm. Dlamini's professional career started with gospel group Joyous Celebration. Dlamini, who started singing from an early age, has worked with divas like Sibongile Khumalo, Judith Sephuma, Gloria Bosman, Hugh Masekela and Busi Mhlongo. She says that though her music has elements of jazz, she is uncomfortable with the label jazz, "because someone who doesn't necessarily listen to jazz would probably give my album a miss because of the inaccurate label whereas my album has what they are looking for - soul". She prefers to call her music contemporary soul.
Phinda Mtya
Phinda Mtya, who played Rafiki in the Lion King stage production, will belt out 45 minutes of her best songs at 2pm. A member of musical group Mahube, the Southern African concept band featuring Steve Dyer and Oliver Mtukudzi, Mtya recently released her new solo album entitled 'Mbeka Phesheya' (the Xhosa name given to the traditional and ceremonial pipe that ladies from that culture smoke). She has been compared to the likes of Sibongile Khumalo and Miriam Makeba. Mtya has been singing for more than 15 years. She released her debut solo album 'Intoyam' in 1996.
Dudu Manhenga and Color Blu
Zimbabwean sensation Dudu Manhenga and her backing group, Color Blu, recently performed at the Grahamstown Arts Festival in South Africa, where she gave a sterling performance and won the confidence and faith of the organisers who then invited them to the Women in Arts Festival. As Color Blu, Manhenga says she is honoured to perform alongside big names like Sibongile Khumalo, Gloria Bosman and Dorothy Masuku. Her show starts at 3pm.
Zamajobe Sithole
One of South Africa's leading female voices, Sithole made an impact on the local music scene with her debut album
Ndawo Yam (My Place). She represented South Africa at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Lisbon in November 2005 - one of five African artists to be nominated. She was the only South African as well as the only woman to compete in the first ever "Best African Act" award category. She will take over the stage from Dudu Manhenga at 4pm.
Gloria Bosman
Closing the show will be Mofolo-born Gloria Bosman, who began her musical career in a church choir. Her debut album
Tranquillity was produced and arranged by pianist Paul Hanmer, who along with Bosman and McCoy Mrubata, was partly responsible for the compositions. Bosman was a South African Music Award finalist in three categories for
Tranquillity - Best Female Artist, Best Newcomer, and Best Contemporary Jazz Album. Her new album, entitled
Nature Dances, is a bold new step for this accomplished artist.
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