Black Umfolosi - preparing for 2000
Hugely popular a capella and dance group from Zimbabwe.
Black Umfolosi generate an insatiable appetite for their gorgeously close harmoned a cappella songs and astonishingly athletic display of southern African dance. Their soon to be released CD and brand new programe is sure to pack in the audiences and have them shouting for more.
Since their first shows outside Zimbabwe in 1990, Black Umfolosi, the country's star vocal group, have left a trail of sold-out concerts. In 1994 they were voted the most popluar artists at the Commonwealth Games in Canada. In 1996 they played to packed houses and festivals all across north America, Australia and Europe and their popularity grows each time they tour. In 1998 they delighted audiences at Expo 98 in Lisbon, at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and had marquees and concert halls throught out the UK, Europe and North America bursting at the seams. From mainstream jazz venues and concert halls, to festivals, arts centres and schools, everyone wants them back.
With exuberance, humour and dignity, the group perform a powerful mix of unaccompanied a capella songs, the a dynamic display of traditional dances from southern Africa. The music is based firmly in the Zulu township tradition of close, rich, deep, vocal harmonies and is about love and life. Like calypso in the Caribbean and the blues in America, the songs express ideas and concerns about life today; peace and cultural co-operation, social and enviromental issues as well as celebration, praise and love.
Aside from their concert performances, Black Umfolosi, who have been singing together sinces their school days, are committed to education work. Workshops, residencies and cultural exchange programmes have become a vital and hugely successful part of their work both at home and abroad.
'...a sensational night out which ended far too soon... more next year please'
Recordings:
Unity/World Circuit WCD 020
Umdlalo/World Circuit WCD037
Group: 9 artists and 1 tour manager
A proportion of their record sales (World Circuit) go toward the building of the centre.
Black Umfolosi sing their a capella pieces in both Ndebele and English, in a style known as imbube. Their songs address general human concerns - love, family, God, - as well as comtemporary problems - wars, apartheid, the environment and AIDS. Their music is fresh and surprising not only for the interesting texts and lyrics, but also for the typically intricate rhythms, unusual harmonies and interspersed clicking, clapping and shouting which combine to produce a natural, funky and rugged aura.
Black Umfolosi consider their music not just as entertainment or a route to renown, but as a means of reviving Zimbabwean - particularly ndebele - culture and introducing it abroad. They achieve this not just by singing their songs, but also by performing traditional dances on stage - including such modern additions as the miners' gumboot dance, which usually closes their performances. For several years now, Black Umfolosi have been collection funds to build a cultural centre in Bulawayo, to be called the Enkundleni Cultural Centre. This centre serves not only as a performance venue, but also as a training site for the documentation of Africa music and dance.
Extract by Norbert Schurer USA, taken from Rough Guide to Zimbabwe.
A collaborative workshop and performance based project between The Citadel, The Bluecoat and Southport Arts Centres to bring the Zimbabwean a capella dance group to schools and venues across Merseyside.
Contact the box office for further details:
Bluecoat: 0151 709 5297
Citadel: 01744 735436
Southport Arts Centre: 01704 540011
July 1999
Thu 1 Marycourt R.C. High School
St. Benets Primary, Bootle
Fri 2* Southport Arts Centre £7 / £5 (conc) 7.30pm
Sat 3* St Helens Town Centre
Sun 4 Rice Lane City Farm
Mon 5 Broadway High School, St Helens
Tue 6 Broadway High School, St Helens
Wed 7 Sutton Comprehensive, St Helens
Thu 8 Sutton Comprehensive, St Helens
Fri 9 Newton High School, St Helens
Sat 10* Gala Concert - Bluecoat Arts Centre, Liverpool £7 / £5 (conc) 7pm
Shows marked * indicate public performances
For further information please contact: Victoria Burns, Touring and Artists Manager
Arts Worldwide 0171 354 3030 / 0171 704 0002 (as of August 1999)
