Renowned artist Anthony Wakaba Mutheki has just completed the backdrop for the BCX Opera Concert featuring Mimi Coertse and the Black Tie Ensemble at the iZulu Theatre at Sibaya Casino & Entertainment Kingdom on November 16 and 17 as part of the much awaited Umdwebo festival.

Wakaba has been feverishly working on a stage backdrop for the concert since the end of his successful showing at The United Nations in Geneva and his involvement in the Satyagraha exhibition that was inaugurated by The President of India in New Delhi in September 2006.

Dubbed the “African Van Gogh” by respected art writer Alex Sudheim, Wakaba’s rise in the arts world has been nothing short of meteoric.

Henk Swanepoel, organiser of the Umdwebo Festival says, “I am delighted that Wakaba was prepared to take some time from his hectic schedule to take part in our festival. I see his involvement as a further vindication of the importance of a festival of this nature on The Dolphin Coast”

Wakaba says “Completing a backdrop for such a large area has its own challenges. I have attempted to create a typical moody African setting that will act as a sharp contrast and yet complementary visual to the wonderful opera that is to be showcased by The Black Tie Ensemble. The African landscape is so vast that it can threaten to envelop all who travel in it, and yet in this vastness lies much of its haunting beauty, a beauty that seems so complimentary to the power of the opera. Few things move me more than an African landscape, the sun burning bright and the vast distances with nothing but nature to detract the eye”.

Now picture this scene and add the spine chilling vocals of The Black Tie Ensemble hosted by the legendary Mimi Coertse and this becomes a must on any entertainment lover’s calendar.

More of Mutheki’s fine works can be seen on www.wakaba.co.za or at The Ballito Art Gallery at the Ballito Lifestyle Centre 032 9461937.

A combined project between Swank Projects, KwaDukuza Municipality, and the KwaDukuza-Dolphin Coast Publicity Association, the Umdwebo festival will cater for a broad variety of tastes and includes art exhibitions, art presentations, food and drink tastings, live theatre, music, a gala ball and a shoe and jewellery fashion show.

Tickets for the opera R133 booked through Computicket or phone 083 915 8000 or 011-340 8000. Umdwebo information at www.umdwebo.co.za