The National Arts Council (NAC), in partnership with the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC), The Joburg Theatre and Consolato Generale d’Italia (Johannesburg), is proud to be celebrating 100 years of Nelson Mandela in conjunction with Africa Month 2018. Celebrations are set to take place between 23 May and 8 June 2018.
The main event during the celebrations is the Liberation Concert, which will feature a unique collaboration by seasoned international musicians. The artists, among others, include Juan de Marcos (Buena Vista Social Club), South African legend Vusi Mahlasela, master kora player N’Faly Kouyate, Italian jazz singer Rossella Graziani, Cyril Neville (The Neville Brothers) and rapper Stilo Magolide.
The concert, which will be held in The Mandela auditorium at The Joburg Theatre on 25 May, forms part of the Liberation Project, which is driven from South Africa to celebrate, through music, the liberation struggles of people from various corners of the world.
Curated especially for Africa Month, the Liberation Concert is the first full-fledged South African production to involve artists from across the world. The concert also coincides with the launch of Songs That Made Us Free, an international collaborative album produced by Neill Solomon, Dan Chiorboli and guitarist Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music).
To honour the legacy of Nelson Mandela and celebrate his centenary, workshops will be held in Johannesburg by participating musicians prior to the concert to impart skills and share knowledge with the youth.
The Liberation Project Band comprises Giuseppe Cotumaccio (MD, keyboards and vocals), Neill Solomon (vocals, acoustic guitar and piano), Tebogo Sedumedi (vocals and bass), Dan Chiorboli (percussion), Peter Djamba (drums), Tony Cedras (accordion, trumpet and piano), Keeran Eshwarlall (vocals, harmonium and bulbul tarang), Zoe Modiga (vocals) & Pu2ma Tiso (vocals) as well as a horn section led by Dan Selsick. Ernie Smith appears as a special guest on guitar.
On the celebrations, NAC chief executive Rosemary Mangope says: “This is an exciting event, which is all the more special because it’s the first of its kind in South Africa. It is a true honour for the NAC to be involved, not only in partnering with the project and related events, but with celebrating something as important and meaningful as Africa Month in the same year we celebrate 100 years of our beloved Madiba.”
The Liberation Concert is conceptualised and produced by the NAC, the DAC, The Joburg Theatre, Consolato Generale d’Italia (Johannesburg), with Roshnie Moonsamy and Dan Chiorboli.
The concert starts 8pm, Friday 25 May 2018, The Mandela auditorium, The Joburg Theatre. Tickets R150. For more information, visit joburgtheatre.com or call 0861 670 670
