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Gcinamasiko Arts & Heritage Trust presents National Storytelling Day

Gcinamasiko Arts & Heritage Trust presents National Storytelling Day

Date: 2019-10-25

Gcinamasiko Arts and Heritage Trust will present a free morning session to commemorate National Storytelling Day taking place at the Bluff Showgrounds opposite Bluff Towers Mall on 24 October 2019.

The event features and is hosted by Dr. Gcina Mhlophe, the director of GAHT and one of South Africa's leading storytellers, whose birthday celebration is combined with the event. She has a strongly held belief: "A people without the knowledge of their past, origin and cultural heritage, is like a tree with no roots" which is taken from a Zulu saying.

The programme also features 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.

Thursday's event celebrates South Africa's first National Storytelling Day, on 24 October - which is also Dr. Gcina Mhlophe's birthday. People will be honouring this day by telling or reading stories in classrooms, libraries and the workplace in all nine 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.