The Durban Arts free lunch-hour concert on the City Hall Steps tomorrow (November 19) at 12h45 will feature guest artists U-Turn.

U-Turn started their career in music in 1993 at Dumehlezi High School (Kwa-Mashu) when one of the teachers, Qunta Mbele, founded the group. Their early appearances included singing at functions such as weddings, churches, etc.

In 1995 U-Turn met Malcolm Largade from USA when they sang in the Miss Durban contest. They were one of the supporting artists when Peabo Bryson was in South Africa. In 1996 they met one of the top musicians in South Africa – Alex Rantselli of MarcAlex – who wrote a song that won them Shell Road to Fame. In 1997 they won the “Shell Road to Fame” competition and went on to sing at the Wild Coast Sun, Mabatho Sun and Venda Sun.

In 2000 they met Bongani “Bra Bongs” Mabizela who was impressed with their music and decided to assist them in recording their first album. Unfortunately things didn’t work out on their first album, but they never gave up. During 2001 they performed as back-up artists to top musicians in South Africa like Jabu Hlongwane, Vuyo Mokoena and Mthunzi Namba. Two of their members were part of the Joyous Celebration Group.

On April 29 2003, they released their second album titled Ullgugu kim’ uJesu which has 11 tracks in isiZulu.