Showbiz glitz for Zuma swearing-in
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma's inauguration is shaping up to be as star- studded as this year's SA Music Awards, with many big stars lined up to perform on the south lawns of the Union Buildings tomorrow.
It will be as much about celebrating Nelson Mandela and 20 years of democracy as it will be about fêting Zuma.
Rehearsals have been going on all week, at different venues, including the Market Theatre and the Vuyani Dance Theatre.
Gregory Maqoma, executive director of the Vuyani Dance Company, has been tapped for the senior choreographer role.
Under his directorship, the company has worked with musicians including Hugh Masekela, Salif Keita and John Legend.
It is believed the Mzansi Youth Choir will perform Asimbonanga, which calls for the release of Nelson Mandela, teen poet and 2012 SA's Got Talent winner Botlhale Boikanyo will follow, and then multiple Samas winner Zahara performs Nelson Mandela – which she wrote and performed for a frail Mandela three years ago. Party starters Mafikizolo will tackle Miriam Makeba's Pata Pata, before delving into their impressive catalogue to perform Happiness, Khona, Emlanjeni, Udakwa Njalo, and Ndihamba Nawe.
Other performances will include:
- Yvonne Chaka Chaka, who hosted Madiba at her home on more than one occasion, and will perform her songs, Amazing Man and Motherland;
- Matthew Mole who will sing Take Yours, I'll Take Mine off his album The Home We Built, before he is joined on stage by Selaelo Selota to sing Umkhaya Lo;
- Crowd favourites The Soil, who will perform their hits Joy, Inkomo, and even Mannetjies Roux;
- Gospel veteran Rebecca Malope, singing Umoya Wam and Ngegazi Lemvana, followed by Claire Johnston with Home Talk, and Dance Sum More; and
- Kurt Darren, who will perform Kaptein and Vulindlela.
