Human rights in spotlight with Slave Church performances

‘Our theme speaks to the need to put the concept of human rights under the spotlight’

IT’S all systems go for the Cape Cultural Collective (CCC), which aims to put human rights under the spotlight when it gets under way at the Slave Church Museum tonight.

The event, organised in collaboration with the SA Sendinggestig Museum, boasts a powerful line-up of performances comprising music, dance and poetry.

Singer Roeshdien Jaz, musicians Didi and Jules and the band Azanian Aesthetics, as well as the much-loved Rosa Choir, will perform, along with poets Roche Kester, Pro-Found and Allison Claire Hoskins.

A diverse cultural group, the CCC promotes ideals of unity, inclusivity and equality. It draws a link between history and the social challenges of modern day.

“These monthly programmes are incredibly powerful and are attracting growing numbers of arts and culture lovers from across the Cape,” according to Kay Jaffer, founder member of the CCC.

“It is always inspiring when we manage to bring together such a diverse range of performers and audience members from all over Cape Town. It shows that we can break down artificial barriers,” added Jaffer.

“Our theme speaks to the need to put the concept of human rights under the spotlight and to give it real meaning in a time of uncertainty,” said the programme organiser, June Knight.

No CCC event would be complete without the Rosa Choir.

This diverse group of choristers – now in their sixth year – sing a range of songs in Afrikaans, Xhosa and English.

The CCC drummers, headed by Mbulelo Mapila, with their stirring rhythms and sounds will open the event.

The number one songs of Roeshdien Jaz aka Mr Jaz, as well as the spellbinding original compositions of Didi and Jules, a guitar, violin and vocal duo, will be something to savour by the audience.

Azanian Aesthetics are fast becoming a favourite of CCC audiences with their amalgamation of old traditional and Pan African instrumental storytelling.

Three powerful no-holds barred performance poets Roche Kester, Allison-Claire Hoskins and Ziqu Pro-Found Ndabezitha will also grace the stage.

CCC chairperson Mansoor Jaffer said: “The Slave Church Museum, with its deep-rooted connection to our slave history and wonderful acoustics, is the ideal place for thought-provoking and entertaining programmes of this nature.”

The CCC has several other projects including multilingual and diverse choral group, the Rosa Choir and junior Rosa Choir that consists of children and a poetry anthology that incorporates the work of nine poets.

Entry to the Slave Church Museum is free and donations are welcome. The event starts at 7pm.

For more information, email capeculturalcollective@gmail.com or call the SA Sendinggestig Museum on 021 423 6755.