Aweh! Find out what’s popping in Durban this weekend

ARE you looking for something to do this weekend? Well, look no further. From markets to family fun days, art exhibitions and films, we have got you covered. Here’s a list of fun events happening this weekend in Durbs and surrounds.

Friday, July 15

The Playhouse Company in Durban is hosting a musical Sarafina at the Opera Theatre on July 15 at 19:00. SARAFINA! The Broadway Hit Musical: SARAFINA, a proudly South African musical, set during the 1976 uprisings in Soweto, deals with the ‘radicalisation of a young schoolgirl who becomes embroiled in the riots and is tortured by the South African Police’.

The show will last two hours, starting from 19:00.

The musical is set in the Morris Isaacson High School against the backdrop of students revolting against racial domination because Afrikaans was being used as a medium of instruction, and the line, ‘English in Afrikaans, History in Afrikaans, Zulu in Afrikaans, Mathematics in Afrikaans,’ illustrates this.

Book your ticket through Webtickets: https://bit.ly/3aAyVSf

Saturday, July 16

The North Durban Honorary Officers will host an open morning on Saturday, 16 July at the Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve.

According to honorary officer, Brian High, gates open from 08:00 until 13:00. He explained that the open morning, which occurs once a month, is a way to raise awareness and celebrate the diversity of the 76-hectare reserve.

“Everyone is welcome to walk through the reserve on guided or self-walks. There is a guided bird walk which leaves at 08:15 sharp. We encourage everyone to bring their own binoculars and bird books. We have a number of bird species in the reserve, so for the birding enthusiasts, this is a must,” he said.

High said the open morning was a great way to see nature up close and on our doorstep.

There will also be refreshments available, and there will be a number of indigenous plants on sale on the day.

Monday, July 18

Bhambayi Project, a non-profit organisation (NPO), is set to use Mandela Day, July 18, to release its new hope-filled-message song called Iba Ushintsho, which means ‘Be the Change’.

Mia Venter of the organisation, said: “Every one of us can ignite hope. No matter how young we are or how little we think we have, we can change the world for good. Come and join us as we will be having fun.”

She said the organisation has a dream of this song’s message taking root in hearts across the nation. “We celebrate the many local artists and creatives who have come together with us to share in this dream and offer their gifts. We want every individual in South Africa to know their worth and their potential to bring change,” said Venter.

The video: The video features some of the children who have had hope ignited in their lives as part of the Bhambayi Project and who, out of extremely challenging circumstances, are looking to ignite hope in others.

It opens with a single child in the community of Bhambayi inviting others to join the change. As the video progresses, you will watch this message of hope spread within the community and then further afield, culminating in many participants creating a flash mob of the catchy dance on Durban beachfront, with the banner ‘Stand together, build together, be the change’. This message of hope is that much more powerful coming from a community in KZN struggling with a desperately failing infrastructure and massive levels of unemployment, crime, substance abuse and gender-based violence, all exacerbated by Covid, the July unrest and the recent floods.

The Artists: Some of the Bhambayi children and young adults lead the vocals, joined by local South African artists: Thee Legacy, Skye Wanda, Kyle Deutsch, Sandy B, Andrew Sutton, Lasandra and Qadasi. Andrew Sutton has played a key role in both the songwriting and music production of Woza Join Us, also adding his vocal talent to the song.

All profits generated by the song will go towards the Bhambayi Project’s work of transforming the lives of orphans and vulnerable children through relationships and empowerment.

The Mandela Day Challenge: A three-part Mandela Day Challenge links into the song. We invite all South Africans to take part in one or more of the challenges, none of which cost a cent.

Challenge 1: Share the Woza Join Us song and its message with 3 other people – even better, learn the dance and tag the Bhambayi Project when you post yourself doing it with your friends.

Challenge 2: Iba Ushintsho. Be the Change by igniting hope in someone else.

Challenge 3: Live on less than R15 per day for one day in Mandela Week.

Plenty of information, helpful hints and the video links can be found on the Bhambayi Project’s social media pages.

Friday, July 22 to Saturday, July 23

The Playhouse Company will be hosting a Durban Dance Movement Festival from July 22–23.

Durban Dance Movement festival (DDM), now in its ninth year, showcases the best of Durban dance talents with explosive performances in hip-hop, Amapiano, breakdance, contemporary, ballet, Bollywood and inclusive disabled dancing featured from studios, dance crews and professional dancers from KwaZulu-Natal. The DDMF brings heat to this winter, and it is where dance is celebrated through local, diverse cultures and great talents.

On July 22, the festival will be held at 19:00, the second session takes place at 15:00 on July 23, while the third will be hosted at 19:00 on July 23. The tickets are available at Webtickets and Pick ‘n Pay stores at the cost of R120 per person.

Book your ticket through Webtickets: https://bit.ly/3azJ1TA