When Dumza Maswana left his rural Peddie home more than 10 years ago to answer his calling in music, he had no idea that one day he would get the opportunity to perform at one of the largest arts festival in the world.
Maswana will be travelling with the Mzantsi Music Ensemble to take part in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in the United Kingdom. The festival runs from August 3 to 25.
The Mzantsi Music Ensemble, which features singers such as Maswana, award-winning praise singer Jessica Mbangeni and Nosisi Mavela, will be performing at the Mandela Centenary Celebration – a proudly South African music extravaganza of traditional African sounds, African jazz and township big band.
The Sama-nominated singer said he was honoured to be among musicians who will be paying tribute to Nelson Mandela.
“This is my first time going on an international tour.
“I am truly grateful for the opportunity. The Mzantsi Music Ensemble are the same guys who did the Victor Ntoni tribute, which I was a part of, and I am happy they invited me for this,” he said.Maswana said they had one show a day during the festival. “In between the Nelson Mandela celebrations show, we will be allowed to do our own thing. I am hoping to use that time to showcase my work.
“The festival has a lot of potential – there will be music promoters from all over the world and I’ve been asked to also showcase my work while I am there,” he said.
Maswana recorded his first live DVD at the Guild Theatre in East London last month.
“I would have been happy if I was going there with a copy of my live DVD because people like visuals. CDs don’t really show an artist’s singing abilities because the recording can be manipulated. A live recording tells the real story,” he said...