ZINDALA ZOMBILI MUSIC & DANCE COMPETITIONS


05 August 2018

VENUE: NANCEFIELD HOSTEL HALL, SOWETO

START TIME:  10:00

Before 1994, hostels and township dwellers were embroiled in ethnic violence of epic proportions.  Not far from Nelson Mandela’s home in Orlando West Soweto, Nancefield Hostel was a no-go area.  Mr Mandela himself, had to personally intervene to calm fears.  But not anymore.  Hostels are now at the center of African cultural renaissance and social cohesion with their township counterparts.

South Africa’s premier indigenous cultural festival, the Zindala Zombili African Music & Dance Festival in partnership with the Soweto Theatre, are hosting 10 hostel events of dance competition events in and around the greater Joburg.  A minimum of 7 categories ranging from isiZulu sub-cultural groups, xiTsonga, Tshivenda, baSotho, isCathamiya, Mpondo, and isiBhaca subgroups are expected to compete.

The first of ten elimination competitions has already been held at the packed Bheki Mlangeni Park next to Jabulani Hostel on 1st July 2018.

The second round will be held at Nancefield hostel Soweto on 05 August 2018.    

Zindala Zombili Joburg will culminates in a massive two-day culture and heritage explosion at Soweto Theatre and Jabulani Amphitheatre in May 2019, where the winners of the elimination competitions will battle it out for honour and cash prizes.  The festival will also include visual art exhibitions, film screenings, educational exhibitions, a school programme, interactive public workshops and commercial trading space.

The ten elimination competitions take place on the First Sunday of each month and are being held at hostels. Participants will come from the hosting hostel and the surrounding community. The events are being filmed and will be broadcast on Soweto TV every Saturday from 5:30 – 6pm.

“Hostels used to be places where people gathered to practice and appreciate culture and now we are taking events back to the hostels.”  Said Mr. Qhuzulini Sithole, festival director and president of the African Cultural Heritage Trust (ACHT).

He went on to say that “Our culture is a very important tool to guide our people, especially the youth. That is why our theme this year is Say No to Alcohol, Drugs & Teenage Pregnancy.”

Zindala Zombili has established a strategic partnership with Soweto Theatre, Soweto TV, the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, and the Gauteng Department of Community Safety to produce a series of high-energy events that are not to be missed!

 

For more information please contact:

Media Liaison:   Mr. Mbulelo Sompetha 072 189 0083 sompetham@vodamail.co.za

Festival director: Mr. Qhuzulini Sithole 082 667 3409         zindala@iafrica.com