On October 15, the Ikhwezi Community College of Education (formerly the Durban Music and Ballet School) will host a celebration in recognition of the “Halala Nonjabulo” Cultural Exchange Programme. This diversion programme, the result of a cultural bridge between Denmark and South Africa, has brought together South African and Danish actors, writers, musicians, philosophers, crafters, and visual artists in a spirit of sharing and mutual creation. The lively co-operation was initiated by the Danish Cultural Institute’s Lisbeth Manicus in Copenhagen and her South African counterpart Bruno Vandyk. It has forged new relationships between cultural practitioners, resulting in ongoing relationships and opportunities for collaboration.

Among the highlights of “Haklala Nonjabulo” must be , a musical theatre production dealing with the plight of KZN street children which involved 50 Danish schoolchildren with more than 200 school learners from the KwaMashu and Inanda areas. There were also performances by the Copenhagen-based Papaya choir which sings mainly traditional southern African songs in Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele. Another project saw three South African artists decorate large-scale murals at Europe’s most prestigious rock festival in Roskilde and a six-performance concert tour by the Paarl Valley Community Choir.

The “Halala Nonjabulo” celebrations on October 15 will feature the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir (recently returned from a tour of Denmark) and KZN dancers and musicians. For details on the celebrations as well as on the exchange programme itself, contact Pat on (031) 207-3770 or fax (031) 207-7228.