Durban, KZN – Gcinamasiko Arts and Heritage Trust will present National Storytelling Day taking place at the Bluff Showgrounds opposite Bluff Towers Mall on 24 October 2019. Featuring and hosted by Dr. Gcina Mhlophe, the director of GAHT, whose birthday celebration is combined with the event. Also featuring, Madala Kunene – musician, Thandi Swaartbooi from Women Unite Cape Town, Bongiswa Kotta from Freedom Park, Mala Gounden – Indian storyteller, Bavikile Ngema – traditional instrumentalist, Victor Sithole – musician, Njabulo Shabalala – musician, Umlazi Com-tech jazz band, amongst others.
GAHT in partnership with eThekwini Library Services, Department of Parks & Recreation are proud to bring National Storytelling Day to the Bluff Showgrounds for the first time. African Stories Under the Storytelling Tree has been a monthly event held since August 2019 at the Bluff showgrounds under the large wild fig tree, showcasing music, storytelling, poetry, history-telling and more for the entire family. Now it is celebrating South Africa’s first National Storytelling Day, declared to be on the 24th October of every year on Dr. Gcina Mhlophe’s birthday, South Africa’s leading storyteller. People will be honouring this day by telling or reading stories in classrooms, libraries and the workplace in all 9 provinces of South Africa at 11am. At the Bluff Showgrounds there will be storytelling, music, dance, book displays, indigenous music and other artistic forms that celebrate our diverse cultural heritage. Learners from various schools will be present to watch and participate.
The National Storytelling day event will be free of charge. People are encouraged to bring their book displays. There will be a tent and chairs for special guests and adult audiences but there is also enough space to bring picnic chairs or blankets should there not be enough chairs.
Time: 11am – 3pm.
“A people without the knowledge of their past, origin and cultural heritage, is like a tree with no roots” – Dr. Gcina Mhlophe – from a Zulu saying.
Gcinamasiko Arts & Heritage Trust Presents National Storytelling Day
