The sounds of African dancing and acapella singing will fill the RH Channing Auditorium next week as Black Umfolosi takes to the stage.
The Zimbabwe-based group will perform traditional African music and dance on Nov. 19, with tickets now on sale at Northern Rainbow’s End.
Crystal Kolt, cultural coordinator of sponsor Flin Flon Arts Council, says the evening will be similar to the Memeza performance of 2012.
“Everybody just loved them,” said Kolt, recalling that the performance filled St. Anne’s Roman Catholic Parish. “This is similar. They are internationally recognized and known for their Gumboot dance.”
Based on the success of Memeza, Kolt expects to see a full crowd for the Black Umfolosi show.
“When we did Memeza, everyone showed up,” she said. “It was all age groups, male and female. This is really geared towards the general public and I think everyone will enjoy it.”
Next week’s show will feature a lot more dancing than the previous group had, as Kolt is paying particular attention to their traditional Gumboot dance.
“It originated from the South African mines where miners were stomping to communicate and entertain themselves,” she said.
The high-energy show is sure to be a crowd pleaser, as Kolt was able to watch a performance while at the Manitoba Arts Network Contact Showcase.
“The audience participates and dances along,” she said. “I remember that and it was really cool.”
Showcase
As Kolt toured to the Contact Showcase, she took in performances from potential acts to bring to Flin Flon.
Black Umfolosi was one of the groups that stood out not only for Kolt, but representatives from other councils as well.
The group will be touring the province, though she doesn’t know all of the locations.
