Important Dates
Thandeka Mfinyongo: Concert & Pop-up Exhibition
Thursday 13.03.2025, 6.30 pm
Iwalewahaus, Bayreuth
Concert & Pop-up Exhibition
THURSDAY, 13.03.2025
IWALEWAHAUS
6:30 pm
Public performance by all participants of the instrument making workshop.
As part of the Ingoduko (Homecoming) project, join us for a captivating evening of music and cultural celebration on 13 March 2025 at Iwalewahaus, Bayreuth. Experience the evocative soundscapes of traditional Xhosa instruments as Thandeka Mfinyongo weaves powerful narratives of resilience, identity, and cultural pride, bridging past and present through her artistry.
This special concert will also feature performances by participants of the Instrument-Making and Music Workshop Series, showcasing instruments they handcrafted using beating sticks from Bayreuth’s forests and shades from South Africa - a beautiful synergy of tradition and innovation.
In addition, we invite you to explore our Pop-Up Exhibition, highlighting the self-made uhadis and documenting Thandeka’s journey in Bayreuth.
- Concert starts at 7:00 PM
- Doors open at 6:30 PM
- Admission free of charge
Don't miss this unforgettable celebration of music, craftsmanship, and cultural storytelling!
Thandeka Mfinyongo
Thandeka Mfinyongo is a musician born and raised in Nyanga East, Cape Town. Mfinyongo specialises in two Xhosa instruments, uhadi (gourd/calabash bow) and umrhubhe (mouth-bow). In 2020, she graduated with her Master’s in Music Performance at SOAS University of London, majoring in kora (an instrument from West Africa). Mfinyongo is doing her PhD in Ethnomusicology at Rhodes University.
Mfinyongo’s musical contributions extend beyond performance; she has collaborated with renowned artists such as the late Dr Madosini and Dumza Maswana. Her dedication and talent have earned her recognition and awards like the Rhodes University Top 100 Award for Arts, Media, Culture & Society. And opportunities to perform at prestigious events like the Joy of Jazz, the National Arts Festival, the Folklore Festival, the Oluzayo Festival, Resonance presented by NewMusicSA, and the South African Strings Foundation.
The concert is the finale of Thandeka Mfinyongo's artist fellowship with the Cluster of Excellence where she held instrument workshops and worked on her project creating a platform for the participation, performance, and consumption of indigenous music.
Thandeka will also perform: