DURBAN ARTS

LUNCH-HOURS

Every Wednesday at 13h00, Durban Arts holds free lunch-hour concerts on the City Hall Steps. These provide a platform for new and often untried talent. The programme for April is:

Apr 3: OUZEE AND THE BAND. This group was formed in kwaMashu in 1985 and is named after its leader, Ouzee Msutu. Ozee and the Bank will perform reggae and disco music. Ouzee Msutu started his music career working in church choirs, school choirs and the police brass band. His band consists of Mntshontsho on drums and on keyboards are Ouzee Msutu, Ndumiso Dlamini, Waga Mjekevu and Nicko Khuzwayo.

Ouzee has worked with Boogaloo Carlos Djedje, Special Five, Mfazomnyama and Nkunz'emdaka and his recorded several albums including Isjokolo, Injury to One, Ma-Africa and Peace and Together. He is now busy with a new album which will be released at the end of April.

The group has performed in many African countries such as Botswana, Swaziland, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Lesotho as well as Namibia where he met Ziggy Marley and Trevor Halls.

Apr 10: MIGHTY CLOUDS OF PEACE (MCP). The gospel music group MCP consists of Leonard Ntombela and Sifiso Mhlongo on keyboards, K B Maphumulo on guitar, Brumy Ngwazi on drums and twelve vocalists.

Their new album, Wozani, will be released soon. MCP participated in the Playhouse Performance Tour and also appeared in several Durban Arts and University of Natal lunch-hour concerts.

Apr 17: JAZZ CO. & LASSCO. This entertaining rap music group from Newlands East performs to backing tracks.

Apr 24: KHOMBI ZIQUBU AND THE BAND. This disco Afro music band was formed in uMlazi by famous female vocalist Khombi Ziqubu. Her talent was discovered in 1990 and she has since recorded three albums. Now she is preparing to release a new album, Free at Last.

The band comprises Yoyo Skhosana on drums, Patrick Ndlovela (keyboards) and Mdu Mbatha (guitar). Khombi Ziqubu performs in many township night clubs and events.

For more details on Durban Arts regular lunch-hour concerts on the City Hall Steps phone Patrick Zungu on 23-1236.

TRUST FORGES AHEAD

Durban Arts paved the way for the KZN Cultural Arts Trust at its RDP launch in October 1994, the first organisation to give it human and material assistance - a move that has paid off handsomely.

At the time, the Minister, Dr Vincent Zulu, asked for evidence on the back-ground of the original intentions and to this end Durban Arts Chairman, Mi Hlatshwayo, called the Masisikume two-day conference of all voluntary arts projects in the province.

CRYSTALLISED

This crystallised into the twin KZN Cultural Arts Trust and Arts Council. Its primary aim is to receive and distribute state funds within the province and to advise the relevant provincial goverment departments on arts policy and other issues as well as to try to address the imbalances created by the past.

One of the achievements already has been the unity of all art forms and organisations in the province now working together under the KZN Cultural Arts Trust and Council.

FUNDS

The Trust holds the funds and these are distributed as the Trust sees fit. The Council is the talent scout and the channel through which voluntary arts projects make their pleas for cash.

It has to serve nine regions in the province of which Durban is only one. Durban Arts is fortunate in enjoying funding from the Durban Metro Council from this year onwards.

"We saw the creation of the Trust and Council as a way of easing the pressure on us as we are the only major organisation funding voluntary projects," says Durban Arts Chairman, Mi Hlatshwayo. "We have already invited people to apply for material assistance."

Send applications to The Chairman of the Trust, PO Box 30797, Mayville, 4058. Phone 207-5750.

FREEDOM DAY

All the Durban Arts community concerts and festivals are on hold for the months of March and April. These concerts and festivals, instead of being organised by the community arts co-ordinators within their own areas will be put together as a Durban Arts Freedom Day Extravaganza to take place on April 27 on the City Hall steps.

This will reflect Durban Arts's contribution towards the Freedom Day celebrations for Durban ratepayers.

"It's also a way of saying thank-you to the Metro Council for funding Durban Arts and also to present to the public what the community projects are doing with the DAA funds," explains Durban Arts project manager, Patrick Zungu.

DIFFERENT

More than 12 projects will present different activities in a programme scheduled to run from 07h00 to 18h00.

Among the guest speakers will be the Central Mayor and a national minister. Durban Arts chairman, Mi Hlatshwayo, as well as the director of Durban Arts, Noel Fairhurst, will offer comments as well as the chairperson of the Metro Council's RDP and Planning Committee. The closing speech will be given by the Metro Mayor.

FESTIVITIES

The festivities open with a parade of drum majorettes from Broad Street down West Street to the City Hall.

Other highlights will be the Maphumulo Arty Boys, WOZA Sikolethu, Ingoma Maskanda, Kusile and Siyethemba. Community groups from Ntuzuma, Ndwedwe, Glebelands, Dalton and the YMCA will also take part. There will be grassroots drama and choirs and the DAA video project will film the event which includes an art exhibition from Marianhill street children.

Details from Patrick Zungu on 23-1236.