BY PHUMZILE NDLOVU
MBABANE: Indigenous attracting Africa.
This year’s African Music Festival will see the launch of collaboration between the Eswatini Creativity Platform and Fitness and Health Magazine from Johannesburg.
The third edition of the Indigenous African Music Festival this year will be held on May 18. The venue is yet to be confirmed.
The festival, which started two years ago, is hosted by the Eswatini Creativity Platform. This is a cultural event that celebrates the beauty of African music and dances. It is hosted every year in the African month of May. Last year the festival was held at Bethel Court.
According to Nerville Johnson, the director of Creativity Platform, this year they have special activities like launching a collaboration between the organisation and Fitness and Health Magazine from Johannesburg. The magazine will also be hosting a tour event where it will launch the magazine in September in the country. Prince Munkuli, the founder of the magazine, will be in the country to prepare for the coming events. Furthermore, the organisation will also launch a local movie that is set to be shot in March.
The organisation is also expecting visitors from other countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Togo, and Botswana. “We also expect Khethabahle Mthethwa from KwaZulu Natal. Mthethwa runs a production company called Iziqwe Production,” said Johnson. The company promotes indigenous African music artists. Mthethwa is currently working with Matshitshi Ngema, a brother to the late Mbongeni Ngema, Madala Kunene, Victor Sithole, and other artists who do Ingoma, which is another interesting genre of music like sibhaca. Mthethwa is the brain behind the Matiwane Manana Festival, which ran for 15 years. He was also the chairperson of the theatre club for quite some time.
Mthethwa also highlighted that he will link the Creativity Platform with an organisation that hosts Indigenous Music Awards in Botswana but is planning to reach out to the world. Traditional music awards from Botswana might also grace the auspicious occasion.
In Zimbabwe, the organisation is negotiating with Sunduza Dance Theatre Group and Sithantaze Dube, the poet. The organisation is scouting for sponsors to help cater for the expenses of these artists, like accommodation.
Creativity Platform has collaborated with the Republic of Togo. The NGO “ENVHAS-LOTUS TOGO” is expected to send a delegation to grace an indigenous African music festival event. Mr Johnson said there are still some negotiations taking place between the two parties. He further requested assistance from individuals and organisations to ensure the event was a huge success.
