July is definitely a cultural month in Gauteng as we herald the 7th Education Africa International Marimba & Steelpan Festival.
This month we say goodbye to the World Choir Games and hello to the 7th Education Africa International Marimba and Steelpan Festival on 28 and 29 July 2018. This, the largest festival of its kind in the world, will welcome 2 000 participants and 80 institutions attending from all corners of southern Africa.
The Festival has two distinct elements: The Main Event which is a series of competitions in various ages and categories and the fringe events which consist of 90 workshops in a variety of music and dance disciplines, a flea market and a food court.
Unique to the festival is inclusivity, and this year the celebration will see a number of special needs schools attending, including one hard of hearing band and another, a completely deaf band.
“Social cohesion is never more evident than it is at this Festival where bands from all walks of life compete against each other in the various back to back competitions. At the 90 workshops that take place over the two days, they play and dance together as brothers and sisters of Africa,” says Joan Lithgow, director of the festival.
“There is a spirit of UBUNTU that is evident throughout the weekend activities, and this cannot be matched anywhere,” further enthuses Lithgow.
This year Joan Lithgow, the Festival Director, has written a composition for the massed marimba and steelpan event on Saturday afternoon to honour Madiba’s centenary. Two of his most famous quotes on music; “It is music and dancing that makes me at peace with the world … and with myself” and “Music will be the salvation of our people” are set to music.
The jam-packed two-day EDUTAINMENT event takes place at St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls, Kruger Street, Boksburg.
1-Day Gate Entrance to Main Event Only: R60 for adults and R40 for children and R200 for a full 2-day festival pass including all activities for both adults and children.
Times: 8am – 9pm on Saturday 28 July
8am – 6pm on Sunday 29 July
Replies
Good to see you here. Do the schools you trained in Botswana participate in the annual Marimba and Steelpan competiton in South Africa? I have not come across them since I have been participating. It will be very nice for you to suggest it to them. http://www.internationalmarimbafestival.org/background.htm
Regards,
Bowie (Nigeria)
Like this, Hollis?
Claude, That's far from finshed ooooooo! That is a duet. We had an Ensemble consisting of many more players
showcasing much more steelpans and marimbas working together.
Oh Boy! If only I was still teaching in Botswana, my group would have been participating in this event as I had loooong ago merged the steelpans ( the National Instrument of my beloved Trinidad & Tobago ) with the Marimbas since the turn of the century. A BIG Shout out to Marang Community Junior Secondary School and Rainbow High School of Gaborone.