Lira
Durban ICC Arena - May 25, 2013
DURBAN: The African Renaissance Festival and Conference have had to make an urgent change to their line up for the Africa Day concert on Saturday, with Zonke withdrawing from the concert following the unexpected passing of her sister, to be replaced by Lira who joins Mafikozolo and Professor on Saturday, May 25 at 6.30pm at the ICC Arena in Durban.
Zonke – who had been booked to perform – is disappointed to have to withdraw, but has to put her family ahead of her professional commitments at this difficult time. She is shattered at unexpectedly losing her sister, Busisiwe (Busi) Dikana, on Saturday evening, 18 May.
Zonke and her family are devastated at this sudden loss, but she wishes to extend her greatest apologies to the media and fans out there and thanks them for the continuous support.
Lira, known for her emotional ballads and uplifting songs about journeying and self fulfilment, didn’t hesitate to step in to support a fellow musician in her hour of need. Lira performed at the African Renaissance concert last year and is delighted to be back at this significant annual event. “The quest for unity in Africa is an important one. That music has been identified as one of the ways we can continue to engage with this concept, is hugely significant and an immense honour for us musicians,” said Lira.
Africa Day (May 25), marks the founding day of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963 and for many years has been a celebration of African unity. This was the first time that African Heads of State and Government got together in an effort to define Africa on its own terms and to be responsible for the continent’s shared destiny.
The African Day Concert takes place during the African Renaissance Festival, which began 15 years ago in an endeavour to reignite Africa’s own belief in itself and in its potential to develop its own resources. Joining Lira, the concert will feature some of the biggest names on the SA music scene: award-winning vintage-inspired Afro-Pop outfit Mafikizolo and Professor with Ukhozi Fm’s Mr Magic Linda Sibiya as the host and MC.
The concert will start at 6.30pm until late at the Durban ICC Arena and tickets are R100 and are available from Computicket. For more information and the full African Renaissance programme, contact reception@wozani.co.za or telephone 031-266 9792
(Source - African Renaissance)
Poetry
Two Phrases, Afternoon and Night
I
The garden seems to dream
As silent as the dawn air;
And while the soul flies dreaming
It seems the quiet composes you, there
In the moment still becomes silver.
The moonlight lies close to the sun,
Both filters of an everlasting sigh,
Leaves turn like the last day of the world,
Waters under the bridge of our understanding
Carries the glimpse, a moment, solitude…
Close to the songs
On this silver path,
Across the mouth of entrance,
That as stars in the morning
Bring us sentences of the lovely garden;
Happy exiles of joy, at home in laughter.
II
What wields the years, the distance
Between us, London or Dresden?
The years take us askance
A sun-dial reposes, refugees of when,
Surely as the bright moon goes
We are orphans no longer.
Forests of trees as stars bind; flows
Of circling ice, break till stronger,
The burgeoning: flowering of the will.
Being a response to Patrick Cullinan’s poem ‘Exiles’ from his volume “Escarpments: Poems 1973-2007”.
by Timothy Sparks (a freelance writer and teacher based in Durban)
email - tphwsparks@gmail.com
(Source - SA Print Gallery)
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