Some members of Umkhathi
Bongani Ndlovu : Showbiz Correspondent
UMKHATHI Theatre Works will be joining comedian Carl Joshua Ncube in Cote d’Ivoire where they are slated to perform at the Market for African Performing Arts (Masa) festival that began on Sunday. The festival that will run until Saturday in Abidjan – the Cote d’Ivoire capital city, has over 2,000 artistes who specialise in storytelling, dance, music and theatre.Umkhathi director Matesu Dube said they were honoured to be representing Zimbabwe at the festival.
“Ivory Coast is a new frontier with new markets that we’re exploring. We’re hoping to seal lucrative deals to perform there more often,” said Dube.
The 15-member group which travelled to the Francophone country on Sunday will perform their production, Ja Hlako, that comprises a variety of Southern African traditional dances.
“Ja Hlako which in Setswana means, we’re dancing, is a 45-minute dance show which has a variety of dances such as shangara, isitshikitsha, muchongoyo, amabhiza, gumboot, chinyambera and setapa,” said Dube.
Masa performing arts festival chief executive officer – Professor Yacouba Konatey said more than 68,000 people are expected to attend the event.