More international dates for July / August

We are in negotiation for two tours in the coming months. The nightmare process of visa applications is underway. This is a particular problem for African artists.
More news soon .....

International travels for 2019 start

As is often the case, the arrival on the northern hemisphere summer means Dizu hits the road. Today Dizu and four members of the Ibuyambo touch down in Taipei for 2 concerts in a special musical format. This is a percussion project as part of the Taiwan International Percussion Convention.

The first show is in the prestigious National Concert Hall in Taipei.

Dizu in no stranger to Taiwan having performed there several times with his first group Amampondo.

He was also there 2 years ago for the Taipei World Music Festival.

2019 Dates firming

As announced Dizu will be returning to Taiwan this year. The deal is done for shows with his percussion ensemble - an adapted line-up from the usual Ibuyambo set up. The machine is rolling with the paperwork for visas and work permits.

Dizu live in Taipei 2017 (c) Songwrights Publishers

He has also got a couple of offers for dates in the European summer in Germany and Scandinavia.  If promoters would like to book the group in the month of July from the second week to the end of July, please get in touch.

Finland 2018

For 10 days from the 3rd of November 2018, Dizu and Ibuyambo are in Finland for concerts and workshops.

We will post more stuff, but here what our hosts tell us is a great review from the first show on the 6th in Helsinki.

https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000005891393.html?fbclid=IwAR3iE9sGo3Fapp0cSH05BHOiWSPEzfQZRz4Q_GoHOm2rI1KF6BB-4pDxyX0

Quick update

There have been a couple of high points since the last post on these pages.

One of these was the short concert tour to Taipei. It was a return for Dizu to the island where he last played with Amampondo in the 1980s. We are happy to say the the reception was as warm as ever and resulted in an invitation to go back in 2019!

Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZf2L4hdoEk










Although several offers to perform have been made, the location of an essentially cultural act at the tip of Africa has limited the ability to take the opportunities. Nevertheless look out for Dizu and the band in Brazil in September and Finland in November this year.

30/8/2018
A complete nightmare dealing with the lack of professionalism and respect that comes from the Dept of Arts and Culture of the South African Government.

Dizu honoured with Achievement Award

Dizu Plaatjies has been honoured with an award by this year's Moshito Music Conference.

The annual South African music conference, Moshito took place in Johannesburg in September 2017 and featured Dizu as panelist and performer as well as giving him their lifetime achievement award for his contribution to traditional music.

Dizu in his office at the UCT College of Music this week, with his trophy. Pic Annagret Mason

Dizu is a founder member of Amampondo, the marimba group from Langa, Cape Town, that put traditional South African music on the international map in the 1980s.

He went on to establish his current backing group, Ibuyambo with whom he has toured throughout the world for the last 10 years. Together with Ibuyambo he has also won two SAMA Awards for this albums, African Kings and Ubuntu-the common string.

See -
https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/south-africa-moshito-conference-goes-back-time

Update

We have not blogged about Dizu's activities for a while but here is a brief update. He has been busy in the last year or so, mostly in SA.

Since we last posted Dizu has won a SAMA award for his album, Ubuntu-The Common String. https://www.facebook.com/ibuyambo/photos/a.431552583610777.1073741825.192402654192439/1271737562925604/?type=3&theater

 Here is a link to a clip from the album - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKQgLtCWUkA . The track was also nominated for an AFRIMA award at an event held in Nigeria.

The recognition of the SAMA released lot of demand for his services at concerts in southern Africa.
Here some pics - https://www.facebook.com/343106412474697/photos/a.1315609695224359.1073742339.343106412474697/1315610098557652/?type=3&theater

A noice tribute piece - https://warrenludskimusicscene.wordpress.com/interviews-3/dizu-plaatjies-his-heart-beats-pure-african-music-on-the-world-stage/

Due to taking off time for a sabbatical from his teaching at UCT he is able to fulfil some of that demand. This includes an artists residence at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town. The residence includes a number of events, see these shows -

On the international front there have also been a few highlights, notably a trip to Moscow and Brazil. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154552249986284&set=a.10151958130326284.1073741828.651556283&type=3&theater

 Following the events above he will fly to Asia with his band. Details soon.