Music student in Mandela Shuffle
on October 31
Music Crossroads Academy student Phalyce Kumdana, has been selected in a prestigious intercontinental music project called the Mandela Shuffle.
This is a project of United Cultures for Development (UCD), a network of cultural and development organisations from Asia, Africa, South America and Europe, aimed at enhancing the sustainability of partner organisations through cultural and social entrepreneurship.
Music Crossroads Malawi (MCM) is a partner organisation in the network; hence, its involvement in the project.
The 22-year-old bassist emerged top among eight other participants who applied.
In an interview, Kumdana could not contain her happiness and said she was very happy with the development.
“It is not an easy thing to be the only one to represent your country in such a prestigious project,” said Kumdana.
“The project aims to honour the legacy of Nelson Mandela, late former president of South Africa. Applicants were asked to send in a three minute video of themselves showing a skill that best describes what Mandela means to them,” said MCM communications officer Elizabeth Karonde.
“She will represent the Malawian people on an artistic level and form networks with other artists that will help improve our arts industry,” said Karonde.
While there, Phalyce, who is also a bass player for the all-female Daughters Band, will join other participants to work on an artistic production.
“Selected participants from Malawi, Kenya, South Africa, India, Ghana, Bolivia and Ghana will then create a production in form of a mixture of acts like music, theatre, dance and poetry, among others, will be done as a best way of honouring the memory of the icon.
“Once it is complete, they will record the material and post it on YouTube to raise publicity about the project. The group will then go on tour in 2015, performing the production in some of the participating countries,” she said.
Kumdana leaves the country for Auckland Park, Johannesburg on October 31.
She will be there until December 8 during which time she and other selected participants will
be working on the production.
