PEOPLE

SIBUSISO NTULI

Sibusiso Ntuli walked into Durban Arts the other day and said: "I'm on your magazine!" And so he was - on the cover of the February issue. It was a study by photographic student Marc Fletcher that we liked so much we asked him if we could use it on the cover!

Now we knew who our penny-whistler was, we decided to find out more.

Sibusiso was born in kwaNtombi-hlulunina village in the kwaMaphumulo area, the seventh son of nine children.

He first started playing music when he was 11. He created his first home-made reed flute, taught himself how to play and this is how he occupied his time while looking after his father's herd of cattle in the valleys and hills surrounding his village. It was also a useful way of entertaining his friends, parents and neighbours!

"Sometime in 1988 a neighbour found a steel flute from an old hut," says Subusiso, "but this was later stolen."

Encouraged by good wishes and a strong belief in a higher power, Sibusiso did not give up: "I then bought myself another flute which was taken by a jealous girlfriend who said I did not have enough time for her because of my flute! Unfortunately, she lost it. But I bought another one in November 1955 which I am using now".

BUSKED

Sibusiso has busked several times at the beach front and at various flea markets. He has also appeared at a Durban Arts City Hall Steps concert and is now appealing to anyone who would like to join him or donate instruments.

"My aim is to have a band so that I can earn a living and teach young children to love and know the Khwela music which is an old African style".

If you can help, phone Durban Arts Association on 23-1236.

KEVIN VOLANS

Writing from her home in Cardiff, Wales, former Durbanite Joan Peirson gives news of the Pietermaritzburg-born composer and pianist, Kevin Volans.

Attending a recital by the well-known percussionist, Evelyn Glennie, Joan was interested to find in the programme of works specially composed for Glennie one by Kevin who lectured in composi-tion at the University of Natal's music department for two years from 1982 and is now known worldwide.

BLANKET

She Who Sleeps With a Small Blanket

is the title of the piece Kevin composed for Evelyn Glennie who, deaf from the age of eight, hears through vibrations. She always performs barefooted.

She Who Sleeps With a Small Blanket

is scored for four bongos, five drums and marimba. Joan writes that it was so ex-citing that the "She" of the small blanket obviously got no sleep that night!

MOSAIC FOR MADIBA

Deriving their name from the ability to fuse various music forms, Durban band Mosaic have gained the favour of Presi-dent Mandela and have been invited to play their unique blend of Indo-Afro-Jazz at his birthday celebrations in Durban this year.

PARK ART

Durban Botanic Gardens will host an art exhibition on July 7 from 10h30 to 15h30, weather permitting, with part proceeds to the Botanic Gardens Trust.

Interested artists to phone Jenny Toms-McDonald on 266-0943 or 701-4697.

HIGHWAY ART GROUP

The Highway Art Group's first major exhibition of the year will take place at Durban Girls' College on August 2.

PASCH WORKSHOPS

Several months ago British dance teacher Jasmine Pasch visited Durban and during her stay taught in selected schools in KZN, primarily conducting workshops for educators of children with special needs and disabilities.

Much of Ms Pasch's visit was hosted by the Playhouse Company's education and development department as well as the dance department and she was assisted by Gerry Samuel of the former.

Ms Pasch has worked for the Contem-porary Dance Trust in London. Her work with children with learning disabi- lities, emotional and behavioural pro-blems has taken her all over Britain where she pioneered the development on combined arts projects involving dance, sculpture, large scale drawing, painting, visual and sound installations, singing and song writing.

OCEAN ACTION

The Ocean Action Festival

takes place from July 12 to 21. Entertainment gets under way with a grand procession on July 12 with brass and pipe bands, drummies, a vintage car parade and the 12 Miss Ocean Action finalists.

Top rock band, Arapaho, take to a specially-erected stage on North Beach nightly from July 12 to 14. These concerts are free and all are welcome.

CALLIGRAPHY GUILD

Durban has a calligraphy guild that meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 19h00 (July 10). For more details contact Ingrid Lotter on 84-6328 or write to PO Box 201708, Durban North, 4016.