Manyano “The Spirit of Ubuntu”

To kick-off the Artscape Heritage Festival, Elvis Sibeko Studios in association with Artscape presents MANYANO “The Spirit of Ubuntu”. MANYANO “The Spirit of Ubuntu”, premiered at the China Xinjiang International Dance Festival in July 2023, is a South African Afro epic musical dance production that resuscitates the spirit and power of Ubuntu.

The production is directed and choreographed by the internationally award-winning producer, choreographer, theatre maker, dance aficionado Elvis Sibeko with co-choreography by Nkosinathi Mngomezulu and the dancers. Musical direction is by the award-winning soundscape and original music designer Zimbini Makwetu.

The programme showcases dances from different cultures within South Africa namely: Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Tsonga, Venda, Swati, Pedi, Khoisan, Tswana, and Sotho, which later culminates in the never-before-seen Manyano dance celebration, where all the different cultural groups come together in unison to create one dance. Also featured in this showcase are South African social dances such as pantsula, gumboots, Sophia Town, street dance, and amapiano.