South Africa

Music and Culture in Durban, South Africa
(May 7 - May 25, 2012)

May be taken for MUSIC 355 credit either in Winter or Spring.

Experience the live music, creative arts and cultural life of the South African coastal city of Durban, with its local Zulu, Xhosa, East Indian, Afrikaner, (and other) peoples. Attend concerts of jazz/traditional music, visit art workshops, see plays, attend lectures, and visit distinctive cultural areas in and around Durban.

Program description

South Africa’s coastal city of Durban is the highly acclaimed centre of Zulu culture, as well as home to a wide variety of other ethnic populations, including East Indians, Xhosa, racially mixed people (referred to as “Coloured”), Afrikaner, English, and others. Rich cultural blends between these groups have yielded some of the most exciting musical and artistic creations from the entire continent. Besides the throbbing African markets and art centres, downtown music venues, township areas, world-class business sector, mosques and Moslem sections, busy harbour, and scenic coastline, sits the world famous University of KwaZulu Natal, renowned for its arts, cultural studies, jazz and African traditional music, housing one of the world’s finest collections of African instruments and recordings. Participants attend musical/cultural events throughout the city, visit museums and sites of importance, and tour segments of the city not often frequented by North American tourists.

Features

Participants will be involved in events such as these:

• Attend all-night isicathimyia male
• Choral competition (Ladysmith Black Mambazo–style music)
• Visit traditional Zulu village
• Visit Zulu township school and tour township areas within Durban
• Spend time with an African sangoma, learning about her practices
• Tour Valley of 1,000 Hills and visit a lion park
• Visit Gandi Settlement near Durban
• Visit BAT Centre where local artists create their work
• Visit the Islamic Juma Mosque and tour Moslem sectors of Durban
• Visit Durban’s Art Gallery and Local History Museum
• Attend 6 lectures on African music and culture by University of KwaZulu Natal professors - in total
• Attend Afro-jazz concerts at the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music (UKZN) and at other Durban Afro-jazz venues
• Attend concerts of traditional African music
• Have discussions with workers in HIV AIDS awareness and peace/conflict issues
• Attend local “African” churches
• Spend time at University of KwaZulu Natal -libraries, museums, collections
• See a play at Durban’s Playhouse Theatre
• Visit Botanical Gardens and other nature reserves in Durban area
• Spend time on Indian Ocean beach

Facilities/materials

• Lodging and accomodations at Glenmore Pastoral Centre near University of KwaZulu Natal
• Recommended reading and listening list

Travel

Within and throughout Durban, travel will largely be via public transportation, including bus and taxi.

• Excursions to outlying areas will be by van
• Walking will be mostly a daytime activity, due to night-time security

Note: participants should be prepared for a considerable amount of walking, hill climbing and stairs. Elevators are not always available.

Course credit

Students who wish to receive credit for MUSIC 355 - Music and Culture in Durban, South Africa, should contact Dr. Leonard Enns, Undergraduate Music Advisor. Transfer credit to your home university, if other than University of Waterloo, is often available, and should be arranged through your home university. May be taken for MUSIC 355 credit either in Winter or Spring). An outline of the course requirements is available on request.

Registration

The program is designed for 12-14 participants. Each registrant should complete the MUSIC 355 Registration Form (PDF).

Please mail the completed form (one for each person), with a cheque for $200 payable to Conrad Grebel University College, to:

Itinerary

South Africa Itinerary May 2012

Costs and cancellation policy

Estimated fee: no more than $3,800.

Estimated fee includes: airline transportation, accommodations including breakfast, admissions, lectures and special excursions.

The programme may be taken for credit or as an audit. No requisite.

Not included: lunches/dinners, local travel, medical insurance, tuition fee, and personal expenses.

Plan to spend approximately $350 to $400 for lunches/dinners/local travel and approximately $200 for personal expenses.

Payment schedule

• Deposit of $200 is due at the time of registration.
• Firm prices will be set January 23, 2012.
• The balance is due February 6, 2012.

No refunds after February 6.

Note: it is possible to register after February 6, 2012 depending on flight and accommodation availability. However, after February 6 prices may increase from those set on January 23.

Brochure

Download the 2012 South Africa Brochure (PDF).