The North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Music is bringing top African music practitioners to share their knowledge and expertise as part of an African Music workshop series.

The first three workshops will be held during the first semester of 2023, and each of these will be open to all NWU staff and students, free of charge.

The first workshop – facilitated by Keitumetse Joyce Moholoagae – takes place on 4 March 2023 from 10:00 to 15:00 and will focus on vocals.

Keitumetse is a South African vocalist and educator and has extensive experience in using voice in African and diasporic contexts. She studied classical voice and performance at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the Royal Academy of Music in London.

She has performed across various music genres including opera, classical and South African jazz, and has worked with the likes of Darius Brubeck, Sibongile Khumalo, Hugh Masekela and Paco Peña. She performed in the world premiere of the African opera Princess Magogo, in Les Blancs at the National Theatre (UK), The Children's Monologue, directed by Danny Boyle, and Othello at the Globe Theatre, among others.

Taking place on 11 March from 10:00 to 15:00, the second workshop will focus on making your own southern African indigenous instruments, and will be facilitated by Mpho Molikeng, a Basotho instrument specialist, lesiba player and researcher.

Mpho is an esteemed musical collaborator, archivist and researcher. He has toured locally and internationally and is known to be one of the few people remaining who plays the rare lesiba, a stringed instrument from Lesotho. He has collaborated with local and international musicians such as uMadosini Mpahleni, Jonathan Crossley, Luca Forcucci and Matchume Zango.

The third workshop – on percussion and drumming – will take place on 8 April from 10:00 to 15:00.

It will be facilitated by Micca Manganye, a percussionist and performance artist based in Johannesburg. He has worked extensively with dancers, theatre producers and leading musicians such as William Kentridge, Jill Richards, Shane Cooper and Volley Nchabeleng. He brings to NWU his sensitive response to diverse percussion instruments and his ability to work across various genres and disciplines.

Interested individuals can contact Dr Cara Stacey, senior lecturer in the School of Music at cara.stacey@nwu.ac.za.

Photos – workshop images