July 21, 2006
By Ndaba Dlamini
NOW in its fifth year, the 2006 Women in Arts Festival promises a humdinger programme of dance, photography, music, theatre and poetry – from some of the country's top women artists.
This year the Women in Arts Festival, on at various Newtown venues from 4 to 13 August, is part of the City's Arts Alive programme.
The festival, sponsored by the Transnet Foundation, is a platform for women artists "to express themselves and speak on behalf of millions of voiceless women", according to organisers.
Women in Arts is "a part of the continuum of women using art to celebrate, offer their perspective, protest, commemorate, mourn, laugh and generally assert themselves."
City of Johannesburg's director of arts, culture and heritage services, Steven Sack, says the City will nurture the partnership with Transnet Foundation.
"To be able to provide Johannesburg residents with an artistic programme of this calibre is a firm part of our mandate, and we look forward to transforming the Newtown Precinct into a site of female-focused creativity, expression and imagination during the Women in Arts Festival – All roads lead to Newtown."
Arts Alive 2006
This year's event also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Women's March to the Union Buildings. "Fifty years ago, South African women stood solid like rocks in the face of oppression – today, our women artists are still solid like rocks making sure that their voices are heard," says the head of the Transnet Foundation, Eunice Maluleke.
The programme line up includes a thought-provoking drama Flipping the script, a dance piece inspired by Sarah Baartman and performed by Nelisiwe Xaba, They look at me and that's all they think, and a vast range of music performances, as well as a photographic exhibition.
Some of the programme highlights are:
Flipping the Script
Written by Zubeda Dangor, Nonzi Bogatsu, Catherine Mlangeni, Dorothy Brislin and Bobby Rodwell, the play delves into the lives and experiences of four women of different ages, cultures and races. Violence against women is the central theme of the play. The play has performed at the Market Theatre Laboratory, the Grahamstown Arts Festival and also for the 16 Days of Activism campaign against woman and child abuse in 2004 and 2005.
Strangelove Fashion Show and Photo Exhibition
A fashion exhibition dubbed Selvage will be the main attraction at Afronova studios in Newtown. The exhibition is about "the constructive role of women in society". Using the analogy of a selvage of cloth as the element which holds the entire piece of cloth together and preventing it from fraying and disintegrating, the production refers to the pivotal role women play in keeping the fabric of society together.
Nontsikelelo Veleko and Crispian Plunket will present a fashion photo exhibition at Afronova from 25 July to 19 August. A result of documentation and construction of urban street fashion culture in Johannesburg's city centre and surrounding townships, the portraits express aspirations of wealth, power and individuality through experimentation with dress.
The fashion exhibition is co-ordinated by Strangelove, a design partnership between Carlo Gibson and Ziemek Pater.
Dorothy Masuka
This afro-jazz diva is set to wow crowds with her sultry voice. She brings with her an impressive musical curriculum vitae spanning over 50 years and her decades-old songs like Hamba Nontsokolo, Pata Pata and Kolala still ring freshly in most music lovers' ears.
Thandiswa Mazwai
Ever since she burst into the public consciousness as the lead vocalist and songwriter of award-winning group Bongo Maffin, Mazwai has been an indelible part of the South African cultural landscape.
Thandiswa Mazwai
After joining Bongo Maffin, the band became known as one of the founding members of kwaito, and went on to release scorching albums and became widely recognised as the voice of South Africa's youth.
After almost eight years Mazwai began work on a solo project and her first album, entitled Zabalaza, took South Africa by storm.
Zamajobe Sithole
One of South Africa's leading female voices, Sithole made an impact on the local music scene with her debut album
Ndawo Yami(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.
Gloria Bosman
Gloria Bosman
Born in Mofolo, Soweto, Bosman 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.
Harris Tweed
Cherilyn MacNeil and Darryl Torr make up the group Harris Tweed. Their debut album features a collection of songs brimming with guts and heart. Though it has a pop sensibility, 'The Younger', the first single from this talented boy/girl duo has emotional integrity and is strikingly delivered.
Kwani Experience
Kwani Experience is an eight-piece band hailing from the inner city of Johannesburg. A diverse and groundbreaking outfit, their sound is as hip as their name derived from the Zulu "okwani". They create a unique, almost indefinable, fusion of jazz, soul, funk, hip-hop traditional and modern African flavours with some experimental touches.
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