October 19, 2007
By Millicent Kgowedi
A TWO-HOUR explosion of song and dance is performed by the multi-talented cast of Africa Umoja, a production that celebrates the African culture.
Classic tracks from superstar South African musicians such as Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela and Ladysmith Black Mambazo welcomed theatregoers on Tuesday, 16 October as they waited for the curtain to rise on Africa Umoja, now on at the Victory Theatre Centre in Houghton.
Lights dimmed, faint sounds of drums began beating on the background - it was on. A marathon of song and dance took over the darkened stage. Girls energetically shimmied forward from backstage, beautifully dressed in multicoloured, beaded African costumes. Guys complemented the girls, with their animal skin garb, spears and shields reliving the times of Shaka Zulu.
The cast was amazing; though there were more than 20 people on stage at any one time, each person smiled and maintained eye contact with the audience. Not once did the performers simply go through the motions - everyone was on the mark and dancing their hearts out.
Africa Umoja showcased traditional dances of years gone by, moving through the journey made by rural people to the cities and, finally, reaching society today, all through dance and music.
Penuel Bhekizitha Ndaba narrated the history of African music and dance. As the dancers move from one sequence to the next, the progression in dance styles was clear. Each influenced the next, until at the end all the styles were shown to have come from the same place: the music and drums of Africa.
In the flowing movements of the Venda Umashona (snake dance), the precision of Zulu stick fighting was mirrored; the sangoma chanted like he was possessed by spirits and the women shook their hips like no other nation. Coming towards the end, the more modern dances, like kwaito and pantsula, had the audience clapping in glee.
Throughout the show, the drummers were well supported by the five-piece band and the passionate marimba-playing duo, who never got a note wrong. The singers didn't miss a beat, the choreography was slick, the costumes were spot on and the energy was amazing.
And the audience were soon in the mood, nodding their heads, tapping their feet. Now and again there was a spark of recognition of a style or the origin of a move. The production brought home the drumbeat as the heart of Africa, taking the audience on a musical and dance journey.
Africa Umoja is now on at the Victory Theatre in Houghton
Africa Umoja has been performed in 28 countries, boasting two casts, each with 50 members. It won the Best DVD Award at the 2005 South African Music Awards (Samas).
Africa Umoja is playing at the 470-seat Victory Theatre Centre, on the corner of Woodlands Road and Louis Botha Avenue, in Houghton Estate, its home. There is a jazz bar and a 250-seat restaurant serving a wide range of traditional dishes.
Performances are from Tuesdays to Saturdays at 8pm and at 3pm on Sundays. Tickets are available through Computicket or on the Computicket website or through the theatre's box office on 011 728 9603. Ticket prices range from R60 to R223. There is secure parking available.
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