‘Dim-Dep’ – the sound of a beating drum
A South African musical addresses issues of the environment and heritage.
Dim-Dep is a new South African musical by Atlas Philani Duma with strong environmental and heritage themes, and is coming to The Playhouse Loft for a short season from 2 to 5 July.
The title, Dim-Dep, is inspired by the sound that is produced by beating an African drum, especially by hands. It is also an abbreviation of ‘Drum and Indigenous Music Development Project’ – an ongoing initiative run by Duma’s Sagiya Productions, and has been made possible by KZN’s Department of Arts and Culture and Ethekwini Municipality, and is supported by Izwi Lomzansi FM.
The cast comprises Nonkululeko Mchunu, Cherise Hlengiwe Filen, Ntokozo Ngcobo and Lee Ngamlana, with music by Atlas Philani Duma, Smanga DJ Sweet Bhengu and Thonbani Mbatha.
The story speaks of responsible, environmentally-aware living, reminding audiences of the need to be self-sufficient, nurture the environment, minimise pollution, limit use of power and look back to age-old skills such as agriculture, ’emasimini’ (crop fields), subsistence farming, responsible use of animal products and environmental sustainability.
Dim-Dep features a great musical score – denoting the changing historical landscape – from Afro blues to mainstream jazz, to bebop, to cool jazz, modern jazz, pop, hip-hop, Maskandi and house.
The project is the brainchild of Atlas Duma, the founder, author, director and producer of Dim Dep: Faces of Environmental Success. An experienced music facilitator and assessor of SAQA Units Standards that provide NQF Levels in arts education, he is registered with CATHSSETA and designs the arts curriculum with teaching material and assessment tools. Duma aims to introduce his tuition programmes to KZN DAC to be used in different arts centres.
The play will take place on Thursday, 2 July at 7pm; Friday, 3 July at 7pm; Saturday, 4 July at 7pm; and Sunday, 5 July at 3pm.
Tickets are R80 through Computicket or Shoprite Checkers, or The Playhouse Company. For more info, contact Sagiya Productions/Atlas Duma on 074 542 7305.
