Durban holiday fun? Try eNanda Adventure Park!

Durban: It has been a long tough grind for those in the tourism industry hard hit by the COVID-19 regulations and travel bans. So it is not surprising that one small exquisite spot in Durban has begun to capture the imagination of local tourists, and things appear to be on the rise. 

Nestled in a far corner of the expansive Inanda Dam is the Green Corridors eNanda Adventure Park – a 30-minute drive from central Durban, and an ideal spot to enjoy now that holidays are upon us. This is one of the many “green spaces” managed by this NPO, which has as its vision for people and nature to connect and thrive together.  And an ideal spot to enjoy

This particular spot, with secure parking, is easily accessed via the M25, which runs east to west from the N2. The park boasts a picturesque picnic site on the dam for day-trippers, with accommodation in either rustic cabins, glamping-style tented camp, or in the Ezweni Lodge self-catering establishment set up on the hill overlooking the park. There are many exciting activities to choose from with trained and experienced local guides, including hiking and MTB trails, canoeing, and birding-watching. There is also a fast-action bike pump-track for the die-hard cyclists wanting to test their mettle on a world-class developed tarred circuit. There is something for the whole family here.

The Inanda Adventure Park is managed by businessman and owner of Ezweni Lodge, Futhi Sibiya, who says he has been “surprised at how local tourists have been discovering the beauty of their back yards.”

“The Green Corridors ethos is to act as an enabler for people to work within green spaces, and this goes hand in hand with the development of local skills and businesses which key to the community’s well-being,” says Sibiya. 

Recently Sibiya has introduced a small craft market, which operates every Saturday from 8am to 2pm, where one can get takkies/ sneakers washed, buy locally made jewellery, clothes, and food, and even get a back massage.

Seeing a gap in the corporate market for authentic adventure team building in nature, Sibiya has introduced several packages in which companies and organisations can spend a day in a beautiful rural setting, learning team-work skills and bond, with everything from catering to the programme included.

‘We have seen an incredible increase in local visitors booking hikes and enjoying the park, much more than in the past. I think people have become tired of being locked away in their homes. This is great news for us - the more people that visit this community, the more the local economy in this rural heartland will benefit.”

There is a nominal fee of R30 for day visit to the site which is falls away when guests pay for any of the other activities in the park. Hikes, trails, and canoeing also attract a nominal fee. There is no bike hire, so bring your own bike, and helmets must be worn. All Covid-19 protocols are adhered to. 

For more information go to https://durbangreencorridor.co.za/ or to book contact 031-3226062 or 073 189 6780.

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Snakes in the City - have a snake you need rescuing?

Call 063 234 6932 - Greater Durban Area - until 4 November 2020

There is nothing that motivates an adventurous spirit more than being in lockdown for months during the COVID19 pandemic, and passionate reptile-lovers and conservationists Simon and Siouxsie of National Geographic Wild’s globally popular reality series Snakes in the City, are no exception.

Back in South Africa, after returning home to the UK just before international borders closing earlier this year, this dynamic, adrenaline-loving couple hope to soon continue with the filming and are on standby to rescue, remove, or relocate snakes in and around Durban.

“We are loving being back as the Spring rains start to turn the KwaZulu-Natal countryside a gorgeous green, and the weather is warming up, bringing out the incredibly diverse range of snakes,” enthuses Siouxsie. “It was quite difficult for us, with our adrenaline-filled lifestyle, to bunker down for all these months, but we are very blessed to have got through it, and are over the moon about starting the filming process again.” 

“We look forward to meeting the many different people in and around Durban, many of whom, have a fear of snakes, and have no idea what to do when encountering them,” says Simon. “Filming our rescues, removals, and relocations, enables us to educate people about snakes, and that they are a vital part of the eco-system and, for the most part, are harmless. It truly heartens us when we manage to convince a person that killing a snake is not an option and that they are not as terrifying as they think.”

The series, which reaches a global audience, is produced by local production house Earth Touch, will be filmed using strict SA government COVID-19 guidelines and regulations. “We have developed a best practice and protocol plan that the whole crew and cast have been thoroughly briefed on, to make filming safe for the team, as well as the members of the public with whom they will come into contact whilst filings,” explains Graeme Duane, Creative Director: Earth Touch. 

Simon and Siouxsie are available to attend to a snake that needs to be rescued, removed or relocated, from properties of people living in the greater Durban area, including as far south as Illovo Beach, inland to Botha’s Hill, and north to Tongaat. There is no charge for a call out, and depending on the circumstances, the caller may (with permission of course) end up on the international reality TV series. 

The number to call is 063 234 6932.

Artify is a brand new e-commerce site for - well - ART!

Artify is a brand new e-commerce site specifically designed for the sale of visual art.

It was created, initially, by the Hilton Arts Festival as a part of the Virtual Celebration which took the place of the Festival this year. It can be viewed on either www.hiltonfestival.co.za (click on Artify) or artify.africa

Artify is an ideal platform for visual artists of all genres to make their work available to the public.  Although only two months old, the 55 artists who have already joined are thrilled with the ease with which the site works, the quality of the art for sale ad – most importantly – that there have already been sales. Feedback from the public has also been positive, with buyers finding the site easy to navigate and very secure. It is possible to search for work by artist name, genre and medium – so finding your favourites is easy! Artify offers a door to door courier service between buyer and seller.  Nothing could be easier!

Artify is profiling many well-known names in the art world from internationally acclaimed potter, Andrew Walford, and KZN’s own much loved oil painter, Anton Benzon’s, iconic landscapes to many artists offering the public a great variety wildlife, portraits, botanicals, abstract, architectural  and still life work. Mediums range from photography to watercolours, pottery to charcoal, acrylic to sculpture.   Plans are afoot to include sections on pop, graffiti, anime, bespoke craft and contemporary African work.

Art is an everlasting gift to give. As we approach the festive season of this extraordinary year in the history of mankind, choose art to give friends and loved ones, support those who are trying to generate their own income rather than global conglomerates with mass produced goods.

Art is the soul of the nation – be a part of this creative soul.

Artify can be found on artify.africa and on FB, Instagram and Twitter. It can also be accessed via www.hiltonfestival.co.za

European Film Festival 2020 Goes Virtual - 12-22 Nov

European Film Festival 2020 Goes Virtual - 12-22 November 2020

This year’s European Film Festival goes virtual with an excellent line-up of twelve brand new films, all of which are premiere screenings in South Africa. Of these eleven films are screened free of charge and one will collect a fee towards a worthy cause.  

Emphasising her support for the festival’s continuity despite the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic, EU Ambassador to South Africa, Dr Riina Kionka, said: “Twelve films in eleven days shows the determination of this European partnership to overcome difficult circumstances. Since my arrival in South Africa this is my second European Film Festival:  I can tell you that it is a cultural highlight not to be missed. In addition, I invite you to participate in the various special events lined up during the Festival!”  

Old Worlds and New 

Invoking a moment of reflection, and the opportunity to reset our attitude to the world and our 2020 circumstances, this year’s 7th edition of the European Film Festival, is about Then and Now, with the films inscribing an arc from Old Worlds to New. 

Narcissist and Goldmund

Starting in the Middle Ages, this year’s Austrian film is based on the story of Narcissus and Goldmund, written by Nobel-prize winning author Hermann Hesse, and directed here by Oscar-winning Stefan Ruzowitzky (The Counterfeiters). It examines the powerful bond between two very different characters, amidst the dichotomy between religious monastic life and the passion and adventure of secular life. 

Moving forward a few hundred years, there are two reflections on wars of the 20th century.  

Homefront

After World War 2, when most countries around the world were focused on recovery and rebuilding, the small country of  Lithuania remained in a war situation as locals resisted Soviet occupation for about another 15 years. Sharanas Bartas’s film In The Dusk dramatically takes us into that desperate time and place.  From the same era, but focused in a different part of Europe and Africa, Home Front is a Belgian film directed by Lucas Belvaux, where painful memories of the time of the French colonial war in Algeria explode into the present, opening up chapters of a toxic past which is still not fully spoken of today.

In the Dusk

Marco Bellocchio's award-winning film The Traitor takes us into the 1980s when a whistleblowing  mafia boss-turned-informer triggers the largest prosecution of the Sicilian mafia in Italian history. A riveting insight into the operations of one of the world’s most notorious crime syndicates. 

The Traitor

The German film Curveball, directed by Johannes Naber, is a thriller that catapults viewers into the 21st century. In a sober warning about how terribly easy it is to slip into war, this is a fact-based story about how a lie regarding chemical weapons, sets in motion a chain of events that results in the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, forever changing the global political landscape.

Curveball

On a much lighter note, the Spanish film directed by Bernabe Rico, One Careful Owner, tells how a woman buys a new home with a certain ‘inconvenience’, namely that the 80-year old current owner will remain living in it until she dies. The two very different women in this story will form an unlikely friendship filled with tenderness, emotion and much laughter. 

Another film focusing on female relationships, and in this case a mother-daughter relationship, is the French film Proxima, by director Alice Winocour, about a French woman astronaut who is forced to consider her priorities of family versus career. 

There are two stories of unique emancipation and self-discovery – the first is the Dutch film, Becoming Mona, directed by Sabine Lubbe Bakker and Niels van Koevorden,  in which we follow, from childhood through to adulthood, Mona’s struggle to break free from the stifling constraints of a life lived in service of other people’s egos.  

Becoming Mona

The UK film this year is Bassam Tariq’s Mogul Mowgli, starring Riz Ahmed as a rapper on the verge of a big international tour when he gets cut down with a severe illness, causing him to confront his Pakistani/English culture, and himself. 

Mogul Mowgli

The Polish film Sweat by director Magnus van Horn focuses on a fitness motivator who has become a social media celebrity and influencer - it’s about how she wrestles with the nature of her popularity and what loneliness and intimacy mean in her world, all highly pertinent issues in this modern digital era.

Sweat

The festival also includes two powerful documentaries.   The Irish representative, The 8th, is about the highly emotive and divisive topic of abortion and women’s reproductive rights.  Here, three award-winning women directors, Aideen Kane, Lucy Kennedy, and Maeve O’Boyle, follow the grassroots activism of the campaign to repeal the 1983 8th amendment (which criminalised abortions) in a defining moment of Irish history. 

The 8th

Finally, bringing us right up to date, is a film which focuses our attention on one of the greatest crises humanity has ever faced, climate change. Nathan Grossman’s deeply personal Swedish documentary I am Greta follows the teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg from her one-person school strike to her astonishing wind-powered voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to speak at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York City. 

I am Greta

 “These films give us much to think about, a common theme in all of them being Relationship,” says Peter Rorvik, curator of the festival. “The wide range of relationships deal with antagonism, dominance, and dependency; with competition and conflict; with cooperation, friendship, and love; with class, race, and culture.  It is also about relationship with ourselves, and with our environment, and the eco-systems of which we are a part. We cannot always control our circumstances, but how we manage these exchanges will mark our place in the world.  This selection will not just entertain, but contribute to our awareness of relationships, guide our actions, and inform our ongoing journey of discovery of the world and ourselves.”

Free Screenings

The 2020 edition of the European Film Festival is virtual and accessible online across South Africa only.  The film screenings are free, except for I am Greta, whose entry fee of R50 serves as a fundraiser for a climate action group who will be awarded screening proceeds after the festival.

Look out for the full programme of screenings and special events on https://www.eurofilmfest.co.za/

Bringing the best of European film to South Africa’s home screens, the European Film Festival 2020 is a partnership project of the Delegation of the European Union to South Africa and 12 other European embassies and cultural agencies in South Africa:  the Embassies of Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and Wallonie-Bruxelles International, the French Institute in South Africa, the Goethe-Institut, the Italian Cultural Institute, and the British Council. The festival is organised in cooperation with CineEuropa and coordinated by Creative WorkZone. 

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Sharlene Versfeld

Versfeld & Associates

Public Relations and Communications

Email: sharlene@versfeld.co.za

Trailers:

Curveball: https://www.eurofilmfest.co.za/portfolio-items/curveball/?portfolioCats=52

Homefront: https://www.eurofilmfest.co.za/portfolio-items/home-front/?portfolioCats=52

I am Greta:https://www.eurofilmfest.co.za/portfolio-items/i-am-greta/?portfolioCats=52

In the Dusk: https://www.eurofilmfest.co.za/portfolio-items/in-the-dusk/?portfolioCats=52

Narcissus and Goldmund: https://www.eurofilmfest.co.za/portfolio-items/narcissus-and-goldmund/?portfolioCats=52

One Careful Owner https://www.eurofilmfest.co.za/portfolio-items/one-careful-owner/?portfolioCats=52

Proxima https://www.eurofilmfest.co.za/portfolio-items/proxima/?portfolioCats=52

Sweat https://www.eurofilmfest.co.za/portfolio-items/sweat/?portfolioCats=52

The 8th https://www.eurofilmfest.co.za/portfolio-items/the-8th/?portfolioCats=52

The Traitor https://www.eurofilmfest.co.za/portfolio-items/the-traitor/?portfolioCats=52

A Wilderness Park for People to Connect to the Planet - a project of Green Corridors

It’s been a long tough road for many people, during the Covid-19 lockdown levels and now as people are beginning to move more freely, community spaces are looking forward to welcoming visitors who are eager to be outdoors once more to enjoy fresh air and recreation after many months of indoor isolation.

The Inanda Wilderness Park, in Durban, an initiative of Green Corridors, is one such inclusive public safe space that offers myriad appropriate activities and educational programmes to entice people to venture outside and enjoy being in nature.

Inspired by Kinderwildnis (“children’s parks”) in Durban’s sister city, Bremen in Germany, and under the management of Green Corridors, the Park offers an authentic natural experience for urban dwellers of all ages. Situated on Inanda Seminary’s environmentally restricted open space, which was previously home to criminal activities, and illegal dumping, it now boasts a thriving ecosystem with indigenous plants, insects, and birds. The area was cleared of alien plants, rubbish was removed, and a pond and open spaces were created; a jungle gym and an obstacle course were constructed and ablutions and a kitchen were built.

Last year, formal programmes for the elderly and learners were initiated, and slowly the team at the Park, with strict protocols in place will begin allowing small groups under supervision to start outdoor activities once more.  

Green Corridors in collaboration with the Occupational Therapy Department from UKZN Westville, has established regular visits to the site by final year students, and they are now utilising occupational therapy as the intervention to promote health and well-being with the elderly and school children. Six full-time site assistants maintain the park, and three youth mentors implement the programmes.

They are involved in promoting health, wellness, and community-based rehabilitation. An enthusiastic qualified Occupational Therapist (OT), Danielle Le Brasse, is employed as the site manager for this project to manage and plan therapeutic nature-based programmes. 

“I am passionate about making a difference in people’s lives,” enthuses Danielle. “I am passionate about physical and paediatric intervention and community-based rehabilitation as well as investigating how our South African history has shaped our township communities and the role I could play in improving quality of life. I love working here at the Wilderness Park as it provides me with the platform to put these passions to work and see positive results.” 

Pre-lockdown, the park had on average about 400 visitors per month comprising school groups, elderly groups, and individual sessions with people with impairments: physical disabilities, stroke victims, amputees, children with learning difficulties, and developmental delays. 

COVID stalled the programmes which will be getting back on track soon: there is a designated area for the elderly at the park, with seating made from donated pallets. The students and OT trained the youth mentors on how to work with the elderly, health-related precautions, and how to implement a dance exercise programme which runs every Wednesday at 10:00 with 15 elderly clients from the nearby old age home. 

Together with the regular elderly folk, risen wheelchair friendly garden beds were created from wooden pallets. These “clients” can join the exercise class or do some gardening. They are encouraged to take care of the garden, and all harvested vegetables are gifted to the old age home where they live. 

There is an ongoing early childhood development programme conducted with two creches within proximity to the Inanda Wilderness Park where the OTs and mentors work side by side with the teachers, as well as a body movement programme implemented with two near-by primary schools and one high school, run by the park’s sports coach and mentors. Coming out of this programme, teachers requested that the park form an athletics group - which was in the process of being developed before the lockdown began.

Once the schedule of park programmes is fully back on track, there are plans to expand the vegetable garden and food security learnings; mental health through nature programmes; gender-based violence support groups; art through nature; stress management, upcycling projects; environmental education; and relaxation therapy. 

 The park is a pilot project, and Green Corridors aims to expand this model to other areas around Durban alongside the many Green Spaces Projects already in existence.

Green Corridors welcomes volunteers to work within its many programmes which aim to connect people to their natural environment and in doing so thrive. To become involved email danielle@durbangreencorridor.co.za .

For more information go to www.greencorridors.co.za

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The Art of Fallism Documentary @ Durban International Film Festival Online

The Art of Fallism

SA/Norwegian Documentary has African Premiere at

Durban International Film Festival Online

(From 10 – 20 September)

The Art of Fallism, a South African/Norwegian documentary, that teases out the nuanced, yet deeply complex stories of those who struggle for a voice within the collective struggle for equality will have its African premiere at the 41st Durban International Film Festival which takes place online from 10 to 20 September 2020. 

A debut film by Norwegian director Aslaug Aarsæther, and the second film for Icelandic/Norwegian co-director Gunnbjørg Gunnarsdóttir, with two womxn producers Cape Town-based Wisaal Abrahams of Pink Rock Media and Norwegian Ingvild Aagedal Skage of Isme Film. 

The film premiered at HOTDOCS in Canada earlier this year and has been nominated for ‘Best Documentary' at the Queer Lisboa Festival which takes place in September. It will also compete in the “New Filmmakers Competition” at São Paulo International Film Festival.

The Art of Fallism emerged and evolved from the Norwegian film-makers questioning the absence of debates around equality, race, and gender and how they relate, in their own country. The film uses the 2015 #RhodesMustFall movement in South Africa, as its point of departure, while using the voice of the artist as a metaphor for the desire for understanding, capacity, and change.

The #RhodesMustFall uprising began at the University of Cape Town, as a challenge to the presence of the statue of Cecil John Rhodes. Student, Chumani Maxwele, by throwing faeces onto the statue, protests against its presence and colonial representation and by extension its insidious manifestation in education in the country. This launches a student movement to topple the statue and the colonial education system entrenched within the establishment, which reaches other tertiary institutions around South Africa. 

In understanding this struggle the students realised that education is systemically flawed by its exclusions of those who are not financially privileged to access it. Enter the #FeesMustFall movement which targeted the concept of student fees demanding an increase in funding to tertiary institutions across the country. 

These events awakened a new generation of activists connected by a common cause, bringing together people from myriad backgrounds including young township men, feminists, and the trans community, all who wanted to revolutionize a racist and systematically unequal South Africa.  

“While the students marched, protested and staged sit-ins, political art practices, under the banner of “Fallism,” began to push the limits of critical thought,” explains co-producer Wisaal Abrahams. “The students began to question the hyper-masculine approach to the movement, and its expression through art to the exclusion of the queer, trans, and femme artists. The Art of Fallism, engages with some of these individuals who refused to allow the movement and its off-shoots to carry on without them.”

“What is evident is that this generation of youth is fatigued by apartheid legacies,” says co-producer Ingvild Aagedal Skage. “And what the students experience individually and collectively, within the context of the movement, is a representation of the vast inequality amongst South Africans - a place where voices are not heard and honoured, and people have to resort to acts of violence or disruption to make their point”.

The final act of disruption is dramatically illustrated, a year later as transgender activists, feeling side-lined and ignored, capture an art exhibition celebrating the movement to be consciously included, but instead, they are blamed for destroying it. The movement is left hanging in uncertainty, much like the future of a free and equal South Africa. 

“It is a highly complex space, where the collective goal remains the focus, yet the individual groups within this, experience exclusionary politics. The very thing they desire to dismantle,” says Wisaal Abrahams. ‘And the very thing we were incredibly challenged with when making this film.”

“As a black womxn producer it was essential for me to come on board this project, to support the process of the making of the film. As we all seek glory and recognition for our stories, we also need to understand that the colonial models on which we based this success on, haven't considered the imbalance of power when retelling them. Our stories must have guardianship that honours this, and we believe we have been able to do this in telling these stories.”

Producers Wisaal Abrahams and Ingvild Aagedal Skage will feature in an “Engage” session at the 11th Durban FilmMart virtual edition (4 - 13 September) where they will speak candidly about their experience and the notion of de-colonial approaches to storytelling which became a strong guiding tool for their production process. 

The Art of Fallism will be streamed from the DIFF online platform from 10 to 20 September. The DIFF films are free, with limited tickets available, and booking is essential.

https://www.durbanfilmfest.com/film/the-art-of-fallism/

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The Body Politics remembered during Women’s Month through Dance at JOMBA

Media Release

The Body Politics remembered during Women’s Month through Dance at JOMBA

South Africa honours and celebrates the role of women in society during this Women’s Month and on Women’s Day (9 August), in commemoration of the 1956 march of about 20,000 women to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to petition against the country's pass laws. In this remarkable show of solidarity, women gathered together in defiance to make change. 

“64 years later our annual JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, taking place in August, women’s social, economic, and political struggles, challenges, hopes, and joys, are exposed and expressed through their work and bodies,” says Lliane Loots, Artistic Director of JOMBA. “Dance is a visceral art form that gives space to a body politics and what better way to image defiant and powerful women than those dancing”. 

JOMBA! is especially pleased to feature some of Africa (and the world’s) most powerful female voices in dance and especially Senegal’s award-winning choreographer and dancer, Germaine Acogny, considered as the “mother of Contemporary African dance”. Her 2015 work Somewhere at the beginning will be streamed during the festival and is a remarkable solo featuring a 73-year-old Acogny dancing and narrating a journey of self-identity as black, female, and African.

Flatfoot Dance Company choreographer and dancer Jabu Siphika’s solo piece Ya kutosha, created for JOMBA, is an intimate and terrifying exploration of gender-based violence and what it means to be trapped in the home.

Twelve-year-old Lethiwe Zamantungwa Nzama teams up with her father Sifiso Kitsona Khumalo as she makes her professional debut in a piece called Walls, which is a deeply intimate exploration of a father-daughter relationship set against the separation imposed by COVID-19 and the lockdown.

Chicago, USA-based Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre, under the direction of Nicole Clarke-Springer will feature in Parallel Lives a dance narrative inspired by poor, working women who have shared life-changing events, both beautiful and tragic. Danced with robust power, this is a must-see of this year’s festival. 

From India Anita Ratnam, a highly respected as a performer, writer, speaker, arts entrepreneur, and culture mentor features in Stone ... once again that reveals the facets of gender through misrepresentation and misogyny. This work was made after Donald Trump’s election as USA president.  Ratnam’s main area of focus is in the re-interpretation of traditional tropes from myth and legend using a feminist lens.

Robin Orlin , a power-house dance-maker, known for her incisive wit and ability to confront issues head-on in the dance space, presents a work created for Johannesburg-based Moving into Dance Mophatong called Beauty remained for just a moment then returned gently to her starting position ...”

From New Orleans, Leslie Scott and BODYART Dance Company return to the JOMBA “stage” with several works, all of which show huge courage and bravery in pushing the boundaries of the dancer’s relationship with audiences.

Other women dance-makers on the programme include Kristi-Leigh Gresse, Leagan Peffer, Nomcebisi Moyikwa, Tegan Peacock, Zinhle Nzama presenting works on the opening night which have been commissioned by JOMBA.

Digital JOMBA will stream online from jomba.ukzn.ac.za from 25 August to 6 September 2020.

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First Encounters' Line-up Announced for Festival 20 – 30 August

First Encounters' Line-up Announced for Festival 20 – 30 August 

The new multi-platform Encounters International South African Documentary Festival is bringing you some of the globe’s greatest award-winning documentaries, available virtually.

Long-awaited political documentaries and an eye-opening look into the world of one of the most mysterious artists are just a few of the exciting releases due to open Encounters 2020. War documentaries, intimate portraits of great artists, and all-new premieres from Africa and South Africa are also among the first films announced for the all-new, online-platform edition of the festival. 

The Encounters 2020 festival premieres with the first South African screening of the highly-anticipated political documentary Influence — a profile of ‘morally slippery British reputation manager’ Lord Timothy Bell of British PR Firm Bell Pottinger. The powerful film, directed by South African investigative journalists and filmmakers Richard Poplak and Diana Neille, has been causing a stir at documentary festivals around the world. More great political documentaries include The Kingmaker by director Lauren Greenfield which unveils the shady political career of the notorious Imelda Marcos, the former Philippines first lady who, together with her husband, reigned over the country with an iron fist while pillaging its wealth. 

Highly-anticipated international releases will also take audiences on a journey around the world’s best documentaries. Banksy Most Wanted by directors Seamus Haley and Laurent Richard tells the story of the world’s most famous graffiti artist, beginning with the now-notorious Sotheby’s auction in which Banksy’s most iconic work, Girl with a Balloon, was instantly shredded by a mechanism in its frame just seconds after the auction hammer fell. Providing an account of the artist’s rise to fame, while documenting the various forensic investigations that have attempted to solve the mystery of Banksy’s true identity, the film is an art documentary at its most engaging 

In the Oscar nominated and BAFTA-winning For Sama (UK/Syria), journalist Waad al-Kateab & filmmaker Edward Watts give a powerful account of the war in Syria and the systematic destruction of Aleppo from a woman’s perspective. Gaza by directors Garry Keane & Andrew McConnel also focuses on  the region to document the richness of the culture that exists amidst that violence. And in Advocate by Rachel Leah Jones & Philippe Bellaïche the film looks at the inspiring life of Jewish-Israeli advocate Lea Tsemel, who has worked tirelessly for nearly 50 years defending Palestinians against charges laid by the Israeli state. 

Some of the world’s greatest artists and literary figures are being celebrated at Encounters 2020. Toni Morrison: The Pieces I am by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders explores one of the most important writers in modernity with a series of in-depth interviews. Commentary from the likes of Angela Davis, Oprah Winfrey, Fran Lebowitz, Hilton Als and others brings a different dimension to the film. Cunningham by Alla Kovgan looks at the work of avant-garde dancer Merce Cunningham by blending recreations of Cunningham’s landmark works with rich archival footage garnered from over three decades.    

Viewers can look forward to a diverse selection of some of Africa’s best films. In the Days of Cannibalism director Teboho Edkins reveals the expanding Chinese presence in poverty-stricken rural Lesotho. Kenyan director Sam Soko explores corruption in Africa in Softie, which premiered at Sundance, and illustrates the extent of political interference in Nairobi through the eyes of Boniface Mwangi — who is Kenya’s top photojournalist, anti-corruption campaigner and human rights activist.

Mother to Mother by Sara CF de Gouveia beautifully dramatises the novel of the same name written by Sindiwe Magona about the murder of Amy Biehl. Featuring South African singer, actress and playwright Thembi Mtshali, Mother to Mother is engaging, thought-provoking and deftly constructed cinema. The highly relevant Finding Sally tells the incredible story of a 23-year-old woman from an upper class family who became a communist rebel in the 60’s with the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party in a time when Ethiopia was on the brink of  revolution

Young director Pule Phokompe profiles political activist, lawyer, judge, teacher, University of Fort Hare chancellor, Desmond Tutu Peace Trust chairperson and Barloworld’s first black chairperson Dumisa Ntsebeza in The Art of Being Human. Ramadan Suleman in By All means Necessary explores the generally forgotten role of Algeria in the African revolution and celebrates African unity with rich archive material and compelling interviews. 

But these are just a small selection of the films coming to Encounters 2020 — Africa’s leading documentary festival. For the 22nd year of the beloved documentary festival, Encounters will be making almost all films on the program free-of-charge to view on virtual platforms from 20 -30 August.

But to stay up-to-date with the exciting developments happening at Encounters 2020, and get the program as soon as its released, head to encounters.co.za

Share :

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/EncountersDocFest/

Twitter handle:  @EncountersDoc  

Instagram handle:  @encountersdoc

The 22nd Encounters South African International Documentary Festival is funded by The National Film and Video Foundation, Kaya FM, Gauteng Film Commission, WESGRO, Embassy of Switzerland in South Africa, Consulate General of Switzerland in Cape Town, Swiss Films, IFAS - The French Institute of South Africa. Festival partners are: DOK.fest Munich, Refinery, Documentary Filmmakers Association, South African Guild of Editors, UCT Centre for Film & Media Studies

Watch and embed the trailers:

 Influence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czSZ9b1yipI

Banksy Most Wanted  https://cineuropa.org/en/video/389420/

The King Maker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udbf4xQwWag

Days of Cannibalism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phX22xcEXlU

Finding Sally https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U1BsYVOiZ4

Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8sUwXTWb4M

Media Enquiries

 Joy Sapieka

Publicist 

joyl@mweb.co.za

JOMBA! Goes Digital and Global ! 25 August - 6 September 2020

The Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal)

presents

22nd (DIGITAL) JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience

25 August - 6 September 2020

South Africa’s benchmark dance festival, the JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, presented by the Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal, celebrates its 22nd year with its first-ever digital edition, which will go online, and be available free to a global audience from 25 August to 6 September 2020.

“It is clear that we will not be able to deliver a festival in the same manner as previous years,” explains Artistic Director Dr Lliane Loots. “COVID-19 has shifted the arts world very significantly and in this fragile environment, dance - still defined as a full-contact ‘sport’ – remains separated from rehearsal spaces, from theatre venues, and various sites. The somatic, visceral body is absent right now we believe - as a holding block for future embodied work – that they can still offer dance-makers, dance-lovers, and audiences space to engage serious, beautiful, and important new dance making via a re-visioned JOMBA! 2020.”

This year’s JOMBA! is a carefully curated explosion of dance and conversions about dance-making, offering both a look back at some iconic dance works and dance makers, but it also significantly looks forward to exploring what dance can be in a digital space and a digital time. 

2020 JOMBA! offers 7 vibrant platforms for audiences to engage:

The JOMBA! Legacy (celebrating 21years of JOMBA!) programme features nine key dance-makers from all over the globe who have had a significant impact on making JOMBA! the premier contemporary dance festival in Africa. This is a rare opportunity to look back for a moment and to celebrate some of the world’s most iconic dance-makers who have shared their work on JOMBA! stages: From South Africa Gregory Maqoma and Musa Hlatshwayo are featured; dissenting and remarkable Robyn Orlin shares work she has made with Johannesburg- based Moving into Dance Mophatong; Africa’s two most illustrious voices Nigeria’s Adedayo Liadi and Senegal's Germaine Acogny who is often quoted as the ‘Mother of African contemporary dance’ shares an incredible and definitive solo work (“somewhere at the beginning”) danced at the age of 73. And the exquisite feminist artistry of India’s Anita Ratnam is featured in her challenging revision of Indian mythology. 

Long time JOMBA! guests, INTRODANS from The Netherlands, grace the festival with neo-classical work made before lockdown that never quite had a life on stage. In an on-going partnership with the US Consulate, two remarkable American dance companies that have had a huge impact on JOMBA! over the years are also featured; both hailing from Durban’s twin cities of Chicago and New Orleans. Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre from Chicago and Leslie Scott’s New Orleans BODYART Dance Company. 

The JOMBA! Digital Edge has provided grants to nine Durban dance-makers who continue to make waves on the local dance scene, to create short dance films that will premiere on the opening night of the festival, and will be available to view on the JOMBA! website for the duration of the festival.

The dance-makers were asked to work loosely around the theme of “Intimacies of Isolation” and there were interesting differences in modalities of filming, from cell phone to cameras. Feature choreographers are, Jabu Siphika, Kristi-Leigh Gresse, Leagan Peffer, Nomcebisi Moyikwa, Sandile Mkhize, Sifiso Kitsona Khumalo, Tegan Peacock, Tshediso Kabulu, and Zinhle Nzama

Continuing its partnership with the USA, JOMBA! has invited guest US-based curators Lauren Warnecke, Peter Chu, Rachel Miller, and Tara Aisha Willis to put together a collection of “Dance on Screen” films in an inspired and poetic one hour package of short dance films that explore the length and breadth of film dance in the USA. 

The Digital JOMBA! Fringe showcases 18 African-based dance-makers work from an open application process. JOMBA! will award prizes to the top three dance films in this section. 

Four globally significant dance-makers who have embraced digital dance making under lockdown will host a live conversation around their work and what it means to have made this shift in a programme called Conversations…Dance in a Digital Age. Featured choreographers/dancers are Vincent Mantsoe (South Africa/France), Jürg Koch (Switzerland), Themba Mbui (South Africa), and Ongiege Matthew (Kenya). Both Mbuli and Matthew will offer the world premiere of their new ‘lockdown’ dance works on this JOMBA! platform. 

Once again the JOMBA! blog and digital newspaper - JOMBA! KHULUMA - will involve the on-going support of dance writing and dance criticism through a series of closed webinars/seminars for graduate dance students. 

After years of photographing JOMBA, the fest photographer  Val Adamson will share her work in an exhibition - 21 Years of JOMBA! Through The Lens. This not only honours her extraordinary photographic eye, but it is also a moment of visually remembering the festival’s history through her evocative capturing of dance on stage with her Nikon cameras. 

Digital JOMBA! 2020 runs from 25 August to 6 September off the website, jomba.ukzn.ac.za. All platforms for 2020 are free of charge and a full programme is available via the website. 

For more information and updates on the programme visit Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Linda Vargas Flamenco Dance Company on the vFringe

DESERT FLOWERS

Linda Vargas Flamenco Dance Company on the vFringe

Available until the 31st July 2020 on www.nationalartsfestival.co.za

The Linda Vargas Flamenco Dance company has a special treat in store for lovers of dance and music around the world. We are very excited to join the vFringe programme of the National Arts Festival by presenting a never-before-seen recording of our 2018 performance “Desert Flowers”. Along with being able to watch a world-class performance we also offer the added incentive that by purchasing a ticket you will also help raise funds for our home province of KZN Dance Teachers who have (and will continue to have) their income affected by COVID-19.

“Desert Flowers”, choreographed by Linda Vargas, is a reworking of the much-acclaimed 2004 production of the same name for “Vida Flamenco” the 35 year anniversary celebrations of the Linda Vargas Flamenco Dance Company at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre in July 2018. Featuring special guests: Flatfoot Dance Company, Senta Duffield, Katherine Anderson and Kevin Ellis, it brings together a diverse range of dancers and musicians in a work that particularly locates Flamenco dancing and rhythm within the South African context.  With a compelling score arranged and composed by Demi Fernandez, it also features musicians Neil Gonsalves, Martin Sigamoney and Bryan Stone.

We had been thinking of a way during this global pandemic to help out our friends and colleagues who have had their income affected, and the vFringe of the National Arts Festival is a perfect platform to allow you to watch a recording of a production that we are very proud of and speaks to our current times and at the same contribute to a very worth cause.  Tickets cost only R25 and all proceeds will be distributed to teachers in need in the province.

You can access “Desert Flowers” on the National Arts Festival’s vFringe (as well as the full curated programme) through their website https://www.nationalartsfestival.co.za – vFringe content will be available for the whole month of July. Users will need to register their details and then be able to purchase a ticket through their secure online platform.

“Desert Flowers” acknowledges the sponsorship of the Spanish Embassy of South Africa & The KwaZulu-Natal Performing Arts Trust in supporting the production of “Vida Flamenco” of which “Desert Flowers” was a part of.

Ends

Issued by Wesley Maherry

on behalf of the Linda Vargas Flamenco Dance Company     

maherry@ukzn.ac.za

Artist Biographies:

LINDA VARGAS has performed for SABCTV, the Spanish Embassy in SA, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and been invited numerous times to perform as guest artist globally. She has choreographed various opera productions including, La Traviata and Carmen as well as her critically acclaimed “Desert Flowers” (2004). Recently Linda has explored the fusion of flamenco with Indian, African, Brazilian, Celtic, and Jazz musical genres and has presented numerous productions. She co-founded the international flamenco dance organization Alianza Flamenca in 1996 and is a member of its Board of Directors and Examiners. She facilitates corporate and educational workshops, performs, teaches and examines dance all over the world. Her qualifications include: Enrico Cecchetti Final Diploma: ISTD London (dance performance) and Licentiate Teachers: ISTD London Cecchetti Method (classical dance). She lectured at UKZN for over 8 years and currently lectures social cohesion and diversity at DUT. She is the founder and director of STAMP Dance and her educational workshops and performances at schools promote a better understanding of dance and culture.

DEMI FERNANDEZ is a Flamenco guitar maestro who was born in Brazil to Spanish Parents and spent many years living and performing in Flamenco Tablaos in Spain. He has also appeared as leading flamenco guitarist with numerous South African and international Spanish Dance Companies. He lectures music at UKZN and has composed musical scores for several SABC TV productions and also appeared in numerous productions including “Guitars for Africa” in Durban and at the National Arts Festival.

Dancing in a Digital Space - JOMBA 2020

Media Release

Dancing in a Digital Space

JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience Calls for Fringe Applications

For its 2020 Online Edition

In the wake of the COVID-19 global upheaval and its impact on live performance, the much-loved JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, hosted by the Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal, calls for Fringe Applications as it announces its move online for its 2020 edition in August/September.

“It is clear that we will not be able to deliver JOMBA! in the same manner as previous years,” says JOMBA’s Artistic Director Lliane Loots. “COVID-19 has shifted the arts world very significantly and we will remain one of the hardest hit sectors both now and even post COVID-19.  But as an artistic entity, which offers a time and space for artists to engage in serious and important new art and dance-making for audiences, we believe we must continue with our work and so have begun planning in an environment of fragile uncertainty for a re-visioned digital JOMBA! 2020. “

Loots goes on to explain, “The idea is to imagine JOMBA! to be a benchmark of what a dance festival could possibly be or become at this zeitgeist in our history. As we began to curate what will be a fascinating programme, we would like to reach out for digital submissions for the JOMBA! Fringe 2020.”

Professional, experimental and up-coming choreographers, dancers and dance companies are invited to apply for participation on the JOMBA! Digital Fringe platform.

As JOMBA! is a contemporary dance festival, works that are located within the broad spectrum of contemporary dance will be considered, and preference will be given to South African and African submissions. 

For the JOMBA! Digital Fringe, works that are specifically conceived, and created for film and for a  digital platfom, and that develop interesting dynamics between dance and screen/digital/film disciplines will be considered.

A panel of experts (local and international) will adjudicate the works presented as part of the JOMBA! Digital Fringe, and our “Pick-of-the-Fringe” works will be announced publically.   

Application forms which outline all the submission criteria can be requested via e-mail from jombafestival@gmail.com with the subject line “Request for 2020 JOMBA fringe application form .

Applications close at 4pm on Friday 10 July 2020.

SA Film - Days of Cannibalism - Nominated for Best Documentary Award at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival (Copy)

Media Release

SA Film - Days of Cannibalism - Nominated for Best Documentary Award at the 

70th Berlin International Film Festival

South African filmmaker Teboho Edkins’s crossgenre documentary Western, Days of Cannibalism has been nominated for a Best Documentary Award at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival which takes place in February.

Days of Cannibalism, which has its World Premiere at the Festival, is set in the rugged terrain of a remote rural region in the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, Southern Africa. Here modern-day pioneers are met with unease by local communities, and self-made Chinese merchants negotiate their place alongside traditional Basotho cattle breeders.

‘The film, like a classical Western, takes place in a universal frontier space in which the laws of society are in a state of flux,” explains Edkins. “I am fascinated by the notion of settlers moving into new spaces, and what this does to the status quo, especially within the context of globalisation and capitalist forces. The arrival of new settlers in Lesotho  – economic migrants from China – has upset the balance of power. Old laws and old gods are being called into question. Against the backdrop of a newly emerging China-Africa relationship Days of Cannibalism explores the complexities and the latent tensions this encounter gives rise to.”

Teboho Edkins - director of Days of Cannibalism

The film avoids central characters or an overarching plot; instead strained moments and small gestures between the newly arrived pioneers and local communities unfold against a vast and harsh landscape.

Produced by KinoElektron, Day Zero Films, Kepler Film Days of Cannibalism the world sales rights have been picked up by Paris based Indie Sales.

The film will be screened on the following dates, venues in Berlin:

22.02.2020 16:30 Kino International (PREMIERE)

23.02.2020 16:15 Cubix 7

24.02.2020 13:30 CinemaxX 6

28.02.2020 19:15 Cubix 7

Berlinale Talents Programme

25.02.2020 14:00 HAU - Hebbel am Ufer theatre

For more information go to:

https://indiesales.eu/days-of-cannibalism

http://www.kinoelektron.com/en/project/days-cannibalism-teboho-edkins/

https://www.screendaily.com/news/indie-sales-boards-berlin-panorama-title-days-of-cannibalism-exclusive/5146715.article

https://www.berlinale.de/en/press/press-releases/films-panorama.html

https://www.berlinale.de/en/press/press-photos/current-press-photos.html#lb1546111-4

https://www.berlinale.de/en/festival/awards-and-juries/berlinale-documentary-award.html

 -ends

Flatfoot dance Company presents - Seeing Red

Media Release

FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY presents BUSY SEEING RED

KZNSA GALLERY: 21 February 2020 @ 6.30pm

Durban’s Flatfoot Dance Company celebrates its 17th anniversary this year as one of South Africa’s leading contemporary dance companies with a new dance theatre work, Busy Seeing Red at the KZNSA Gallery on Friday 21 February.

With an international touring reputation for excellence and a host of national awards under its belt, Flatfoot’s arrival at this momentous 17th mark is a testament to a dedicated team of dancers and administrators.

In keeping with its reputation of creating and performing edgy, controversial, beautiful and intelligent dance, Flatfoot partners with the KZNSA Gallery to offer a site responsive dance work that ask the audience to engage all the different space of the gallery. In a fluid display of exquisite technical training, Flatfoot’s 7 resident dancers dive heart first into the inner politics of ‘seeing red’. Asking questions that are on all of our lips as South Africans, Busy Seeing Red, negotiates the personal politics of anger. From exploring remembrances of colonial race and current gender violence, this dance theatre work offers a surprisingly gentle embodied encounter with dance that will leave audiences breathless.

Embracing a collaborative creative process of making this performance, the three senior Flatfoot dancers (Sifiso Khumalo, Jabu Siphika and Zinhle Nzama) have jointly collaborated in the choreography with Artistic Director of Flatfoot, Lliane Loots. “As a dance maker I am increasingly interested in the power of multiple voices to tell stories and what better way than to encourage the profound dance voices of the senior Flatfoot dancers to bring their vison to this work”, says Loots. She continues, “it is and has been a remarkable journey making this collaborative dance work and seeing what we share and where we differ as South Africans – I remain deeply humbled by the power of our dance/art to allow dialogue – especially at a time in history when there is so much rage and anger”. 

Also featured in Busy Seeing Red is Flatfoot junior company dancer, Mthoko Mkhwanazi stepping into his first professional choreographic role in the company. “Seeing this young Flatfoot dancer in the role of choreographer in this work is a testament to not only his own talent and drive, but to the nurturing role that Flatfoot had played in offering this space to our up and coming practitioners”, says Loots.

Dancing in Busy Seeing Red are; Sifiso Khumalo, Jabu Siphika, Zinhle Nzama, Sbonga Ndlovu, Ndumiso Dube, Siseko Duba, and Mthoko Mkhwanazi. Lighting and sound design by Wesley Maherry and Clare Craighead.

The Busy Seeing Red  will be performed at the KZNSA Gallery is on Friday 21 February at 6.30pm. Tickets cost R60 and seating is limited. Tickets can be pre-booked via flatfootdancecompany@gmail.com or on a first come first serve at the KZNSA Gallery on the night. Door sales and Gallery open from 5.30pm. The KZNSA restaurant and coffee bar will be open for pre/post show meal and drinks.

This dance work will travel onto the Hexagon Theatre in PMB in early May 2020.

-ends

Results - SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge PMB North and Centrals Results

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Pietermaritzburg Central and North Regionals

St Anne’s College: Saturday 14 March

On Saturday 14 March, two more teams earned places at the Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge. First to secure their place was host school, St Anne’s College who were victorious in the Pietermaritzburg Northern Regional followed by Epworth School in the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional.

In a repeat of their round robin clash, St Anne’s met Howick High School in a 7-nil victory for the Pietermaritzburg North title. The two teams faced each other in their first game of their regionals. Howick High then knuckled down and dusted off their loss, going up against Voortrekker High School and Grace College. 

Howick ran out of steam after playing a pearler against one-time winner, The Wykeham Collegiate in the last game of the round robin. Howick defended like pros letting in an early Wykeham goal, midway through the round robin game, they had an opportunity down the other side which they made sure they knocked in to equalize. The remainder of the game they held strong, not allowing Wykeham any space giving them a chance to have a run in the final against St Anne’s.

St Anne’s opened their account with a spin and slot in from Lusanda Mtshali, who netted the first with less than 2 minutes on the clock. Racking up the goals after Mtshali started the ball rolling, Gabbi Benkenstein scored two, Storm Veenstra added one to her teams tally and Georgie Romer-Lee knocked in a magnificent hat-trick of goals.

In the Central Regional, Epworth kept a clean sheet in their six games. The second team to make it to the regional final was decided on goal difference. Both Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High and St John’s D.S.G. had near-mirror image results. With wins for both against Russel High School, Alexandra High School and Carter High School. Both went down to Epworth 1 nil and drew nil nil in the game against each other. The goal difference was the decider with Girls’ High netting a total of 21 goals and St John’s 20.

In the second Epworth Girls’ High game, Epworth owned the territory with 90% of play taking place in the Girls’ High half. Epworth persevered with their attacks throughout the twenty minutes but the last line of defence, keeper Manelisi Gwala was defiant. Deflecting missiled flicks from short corners, warding away rockets with magnificent soccer skills, she held strong.

In a last gasp attack, Epworth’s Fia de Bruyn hugged the post as she deflected the ball from a determined pass from the right. On the whistle, Epworth managed to win the game and the regional title for the third time. The defending champs reactions were electric amid a brewing electric storm above.

Two umpires were acknowledged for their determined efforts with the whistle throughout the day, Solulwe Bless from the Central Regional and Lorimer O’Bree from Howick High for North Regional.

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram.

Results

Pietermaritzburg Northern Regional

1 St Anne’s College, 2 Howick High School, 3 The Wykeham Collegiate, 4 Voortrekker High School, 5 Grace College

Pietermaritzburg Central Regional

1 Epworth School, 2 Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High, 3 St John’s D.S.G., 4 Carter High School, 5 Alexandra High School, 6 Russel High School, 7 Maritzburg Christian School

ENDS

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge - Pietermaritzburg Central and Northern Regionals

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Pietermaritzburg Central and Northern Regionals

St Anne’s College: Saturday 14 March

St Anne’s College plays host to the upcoming SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge this coming weekend whereby both the Pietermaritzburg Central and Northern Regionals will be played on their two astro turfs.

With home turf advantage, host school St Anne’s College will hope that they can continue their dominance in the Pietermaritzburg Northern Regional. They will take on Howick High School, Treverton, Grace College, Voortrekker High School and The Wykeham Collegiate. The games will all be 25 minutes one way running time. 

Across the way defending champions, Epworth School will be keen to take their third title in the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional. They will meet Alexander High, Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School, St John’s D.S.G., Maritzburg Christian School and Carter High School. The games will be 20 minutes one way running time.

Both regionals will have a round robin format. The Pietermaritzburg Northern’s top two teams will face each other on in their regional final at 2.40pm. Ten minutes later the top two teams will take to their turf to duel it out for the honours in the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional.

Only two teams have represented the northern region of Pietermaritzburg at the Grand Finals. St Anne’s have raised the trophy eight times and The Wykeham Collegiate had their name engraved on the trophy in 2012. Three teams have travelled to Durban in July. Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High dominated the area for six times, with St John’s winning once, and Epworth hunting their third title this weekend. 

Both tournaments will award 4 points for a win, a draw with goals will earn 2 points and a goalless draw only 1 point. A loss will be logged as zero points for the losing team.

The two teams to win will join three teams that have already earned a spot at the Grand Finals that will take place in July at St Marys DSG. The first team to secure a spot is newcomers from Vryheid, Hoërskool Pionier from the Northern KZN Regional. Second team that will make an appearance at the Grand Finals for a tenth time is Durban Girls’ College representing the Durban Central Regional. The third team, back again after a year’s gap is Our Lady of Fatima from the Durban North Regional. 

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram.

ENDS

Disconnecting to reconnect. A techno-savvy American communications expert learns to unplug and connect with nature in the South African Wilderness. (Copy)

Disconnecting to reconnect. A techno-savvy American communications expert learns to unplug and connect with nature in the South African Wilderness.

Interview with Bo Wood By Sharlene Versfeld 

“For as long as I can remember, I had never been truly disconnected from technology until going on a Wilderness trail in the Imfolozi Game Reserve, in South Africa last year,” muses Bo Wood, a Communications Director from South Carolina, USA. “To be honest, it took some getting used to. I thought the fruit I was carrying in my pocket was my mobile phone a number of times – that cannot be good, right?”  

Bo who was sent to experience the African Wilderness through the Wilderness Leadership School in Durban, works for Black Knight International, the international company representing the legendary conservationist Dr Ian Player and celebrated SA golfer Gary Player brands. Dr Player was instrumental in ensuring the Imfolozi Wilderness in KZN (amongst many others wilderness initiatives) was set aside as a place for nature to exist without human interference, and he established the globally renowned Wilderness Leadership School that offers trails into the wilderness so that people can be reminded of its value to the human spirit. “When I first started working for Black Knight International, I quickly learned the organization was not just all about Gary Player. Several different entities fill the company’s umbrella, including all the intellectual property of Dr Ian Player. The Wilderness Leadership School is very much a part of Dr Player’s legacy. I went on trail to get a first-hand experience of what he left behind and to understand how we can help going forward,” explains Bo.   The Foundation has started formally archiving Dr Player’s legacy, to ensure there is a consolidated bank for future generations to access. Bo elaborates, “We are thinking big. We want to build on the legacy of one of the world’s most influential environmentalists so his legacy will extend through time and impact our global society years from now. Ambitious, we know.”  

“Going into the Wilderness in Imfolozi is quite daunting,” says Bo. “For five days, you are right there walking in a “Big Five” reserve with elephants, leopards, lions, rhino and buffalo. You sleep under the stars and keep watch alone at night. You carry in all your equipment and food, collect wood, make the fire, clean pots and plates and cutlery with sand, dig a hole to go to bathroom, and wash off in a river. No soap allowed. The idea is for us as humans to connect with nature, as we would have thousands of years ago. To become tuned in to the sounds and sights. To truly have time to think about what we have done to the planet.”   “No doubt I was out of my comfort zone, being from America. But it was more a feeling of excitement. Invigorating. On the other side of the “boundary” – as our guide called it –  escaping and disconnecting from the normal hustle and bustle of everyday life gave me a certain tranquility I had never experienced,” he says.  

Bo says that the trail helped him to recharge. “Even though I was exhausted from the physical burdens of being on trail, my mind came back excited,” he enthuses. “I have come to realize how connected the world is even without our modern technology we rely so heavily on for unnecessary convenience.”   While walking, Bo and fellow trailists came across the carcass of a poached rhino. “Our guides on trail explained how the entire ecosystem is affected if a rhino becomes a victim of poaching. Seeing that carcass lying there really hit that message home for me.”   

Night watch on one’s own for one to two hours, is always a little intimidating for first-timers, but Bo loved it. “I thrived under the responsibility of watching over our group. Some people had done the trail before, but I did not know what to expect. So, for me, developing the right routine was crucial - checking that no dangerous animals were in the proximity of the camp and tending to the fire. But I felt it also was important to take many moments during the watch to give gratitude to mother nature.”   And mother nature delivered for Bo. “There are no tents on trail. You sleep on a flat platform of rock and it was surprisingly easy and comfortable in a way,” he laughs. “Although it does make you more thankful for a mattress and clean sheets.

We named the one camp “Pride Rock” (like in the Lion King) overlooking a river. One afternoon, all of us huddled in the water under the rock’s shade to escape the blistering sun. Mindful that we were in shallow enough water not to be eaten by a crocodile. An elephant appeared out of the bush for a quick afternoon drink. This majestic creature put on a show. He strutted along the bank as we watched in reverence. A moment in time I will never, ever forget.”

The quiet yet driven 31-year-old, says that he was truly humbled and grateful for the experience. “At the end of the trail, as we exited the wilderness, I realized exactly why the Foundation wanted me to do this. It truly is a life-changing experience for the human spirit. By having this experience, I believe that I can now truly play an important part in keeping Dr Player’s legacy alive.”

ends

Note:

As director of communications travels to South Africa to lead the communication efforts for the Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player for Black Knight International. His most recent visit was for the November 2019 event as well as the Gary Player Invitational charity golf tournament at Sun City which raised money for the Gary Player Foundation. He went on the Wilderness trail in November 2018.

The Wilderness Leadership School offers 4 night, 5 day trails with experienced guides for individuals and groups (as well as corporates) in various areas aimed at reconnecting humans to nature. For more information contact 031-462 8642 or email info@wildernessleadershipschool.co.za. For more information about Wilderness Trails go to https://www.wildernesstrails.org.za/

(Sharlene Versfeld is a Durban-based nature guide and communications consultant)

Results of Durban North Regional Ashton International College: Sunday 8 March

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Durban North Regional

Ashton International College: Sunday 8 March

Reclaiming the title, Our Lady of Fatima were victorious for the fourth time in the Durban North Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge at Ashton International College on Sunday 8 March.

In a scorcher of a game, Fatima met Crawford La Lucia in the regional final, their second meeting of the day. In the previous encounter the result went Crawford’s way with a 1 nil victory but in the main game of the day, Fatima dug deep and after a tough encounter were triumphant.

In a fast, flowing game, Crawford La Lucia managed to open their account with a sterling charge in from Laiken Brisset with just over 5 minutes left to play. Brisset wasted no time as she entered the top of the circle and quickly rocketed in her attempt that flew past the keeper. Fatima didn’t let the late score get to them, and pushed hard at the Crawford defence. Their perseverance paid off as Emma Loftstedt found some space in a last gasp surge with just over 90 seconds left of play. She skilfully chipped the ball in, levelling the score at 1 all.

As the time ran out, 3 players from each side lined up for the deciding penalty shoot out. First to go was the 2019 defending champs, Crawford La Lucia – Alison Beck set off. Charging down Beck’s attempt was the young keeper Hannah Donkin, who deflected the ball out of reach. Fatima’s Caitlin Cotterell made a dash goal-wards, steering right and slotting in her shot neatly. In the second round, both Teneal Moriarty from Crawford and Paige Horn from Fatima veered right as they got into the circle and knocked in their strokes. The scoreboard was now 3-2 to Fatima. Brisset set off for the final round, weaving in both directions as she charged towards the goals but Donkin paid attention to the fancy footwork and stifled Brisset’s chance to keep Crawford in the game.

In the bronze medal game, Danville Park Girls’ High met the surprise dynamite package from Curro Mount Richmore. In their first appearance at the Durban North Regional, Curro held strong as Danville pounded down to the Curro goals with five Danville penalty corners being defended by the newcomers. With only a handful of minutes left, a shock shot hit the post and landed in free space in the circle. An alert Tayla Jansen pounced on the opportunity and netted her teams first and only goal, earning a third for Danville.

In the first semi-final, Crawford La Lucia took on Curro Mount Richmore and dominated the game, winning the game 4 nil. In the second semi-final, Danville – who had topped the pool log took on Fatima. Fatima managed to edge ahead with a run down the left, running along the baseline and finding the back of the box in the only goal in their semi. Both teams played superbly with some fierce duels mid-field seeing loads of long passes, plenty of turn-overs and not a lot of chances on either end of the field.

Umpire of the Day went to Danville Park High School’s Christy Gilmour.

Fatima is the third team to have a run at the Grand Finals in the tenth year of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge. In their three previous Grand Finals appearances, they have earned a respectable fifth place in 2011, 2017 and 2018. They join newcomers Hoërskool Pionier from the Northern KZN Regional and the only team with a 100% record at the epic conclusion of this tournament, Durban Girls’ College will be representing the Durban Central Regional. Next weekend two teams will earn their spots representing the Pietermaritzburg Central and Northern Regionals.

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram.

ENDS

Fixtures for Durban North Regional at Ashton College - Ballito - 8 March 2020

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Durban North Regional

Ashton International College: Sunday 9 March

Gaining momentum, the third tournament of the 10th SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge rolls out to Ashton International College this coming Sunday.

Nine schools take to the astro for the Durban North Regional, with the schools being divided into two pools. Heading up Pool B is host school, Ashton International College meeting Danville Park High School, Northlands Girls’ High and newcomers Curro Mount Richmore. In Pool A defending champs Crawford La Lucia take on Crawford North Coast, Durban North College, Our Lady of Fatima and Reddam House uMhlanga.

Having the honour of getting the tournament started, the first game gets underway with Crawford North Coast meeting Reddam at 7.30am and concluding the pool games, Danville takes on Northlands.

Following the familiar pool format for the SPAR tournaments, the 20-minute pool games will be wrapped up after 16 games, with the cross-pool games continuing the day and revealing the positional places. A win will earn the victorious team 4 points, a draw with goals, 2 points and a goalless draw only 1 point. A loss sees no movement to the points.

For the semi-finals and finals, in the case of a tied game – shootouts will be used to determine the winners with only three players from each team heading to the spot. After 22 games, this year’s winner will be the tenth team to have their name engraved on the regional trophy.

Four teams have represented the Durban North Regional at the Grand Finals since the tournament’s inception, most recently Crawford La Lucia who won the 2019 title for the first time. Fatima and Ashton have made three appearances and Danville twice.

One team has secured their place at the Grand Finals, Vryheid’s Hoërskool Pionier from the Northern KZN Regional earned the first spot in Vryheid last weekend. Hot on the heels of the Durban Central Regional which takes place the day before, the third Grand Finals berth is reserved for the winner of the Durban North area.

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram.

ENDS

Durban Girls' College Wins Durban Central Regional - 7 March 2020

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Durban Central Regional

Durban Girls’ College: Saturday 7 March

Maintaining their 100% record, Durban Girls College was crowned the Durban Central Regional winners of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge for the tenth time on Saturday 7 March.

College is the only team in the tournament to have a 100% appearance at the Grand Finals, which takes place later this year at St Mary’s DSG. College has an illustrious history in the ten years of the SPAR tournament notching up three golds, three silvers, a bronze and two fourths in their ten runs at the Grand Finals.

The victorious defending champs were made to work for their success in the regional final, meeting the lioness Durban Girls’ High School team. It was the second time the two teams met each other at the regional, with the first meeting going College’s way with only a solitary goal scored by Olivia Sharratt for the host school. Durban Girls’ High School’s defence stood solid only allowing 2 goals in with a barrage of attempts. Led by Girls’ High’s keeper, Nkazi Cele who commanded her troops tirelessly from the back. The first was on a back-to-back short corner, with the clock ticking past 2 and a half minutes played. The first short corner was awarded, with a heroic charge down by Girls’ High giving College another shortie attempt. The ball got pushed to the castle and Jenna Stichelbout’s shot deflected twice before slotting neatly into the goals.

Their second goal went in near mid-time. Livewire, Bulelwa ‘BB’ Mzimela pierced Girls’ High School’s circle and quickly passed the ball to a perfectly placed Amanda Holmes who easily tapped the ball across the line, giving her team a 2 nil advantage.

With endless surging into the DGHS circle, the visiting team managed to turn the game around and get into College’s circle as the clock ticked down with 2 and a half minutes remaining. The strong College back line didn’t allow the last minute breaks to amount to anything.

Leading up to the final College defeated St Henry’s. Early in the game, College earned a short corner and capitalized with a low flick finding the back of the box in the only goal in the first semi-final. In the second semi-final Girls’ High took on a determined Maris Stella. In a level pegged game, the score was nil nil. The game rolled into a penalty shoot-out, which Girls’ High secured in their third round. Scores remained unmoved for the first 5 attempts taken by both teams, but a determined run in by Tameka Pillay, followed by a quick release saw her shot fly into the net and earning an opportunity to dethrone Girls’ College.

In the bronze game between St Henry’s and Maris Stella. The game ping-ponged between the two 22s. The first time a team got into a circle, 7 minutes of play had ticked away. St Henry’s were the first team to take a crack at the goals after 12 minutes of play. A minute later Maris Stella had their first shot on the opposite end, with their chance being halted by a diving keeper.

With just over 3 minutes left, play was sent down the right with a number of crisp, sharp passes finding Sarah Proctor camped out mid-circle. Proctor calmly cashed in directing the pass neatly into the St Henry’s box scoring the game winning goal and securing third place for Maris Stella.

Umpire of the Day was awarded to the young Melissa Calitz from St Henry's.

College is the second team to secure a spot at the Grand Finals, first to earn a place are newcomers Hoerskool Pionier from Northern KZN. On Sunday Our Lady of Fatima from Durban North Regional were the third team to gain a berth at the Grand Finals that will take place at St Mary’s DSG in July.

ENDS