Hot acts for World Aids Day concert
Tuesday, November 29th, 2011iol.co.za
In commemoration of the 23rd World Aids Day, the well-known annual gala concert produced and directed by Professor Jimmie Earl Perry will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Thursday.
Now in it’s seventh year, the event will be presented by funnyman Soli Philander with a line-up of guests that includes Perry himself (the first UN Aids Special Goodwill Ambassador to South Africa), Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Vicky Sampson, Dutch X-Factor winner Sharon Kips, as well as many other artists.
This event has, in the past, been hosted by The Africa Centre for HIV/Aids Management at Stellenbosch University in partnership with the Western Cape Government Health, honouring individuals and organisations who have contributed to the fight against HIV/Aids.
The centre has developed the largest HIV/Aids management training programme in the world and the Educational Theatre and Arts division does education, awareness, prevention and voluntary testing across the country under the leadership of professors Jan du Toit and Perry.
Other artists who will make an appearance include Vuyiseka Dubula, Nombeko Mpongo and Toni Zimmerman, three HIV-positive women who are living healthy lives; Janelle Visagie and Arline Jaftha (opera); a group of young jazz artists that includes Sandile Gonstana, Chad Zerf, Amy Campbell, Spha Mdlalose, Vuyo Sotashe and others; a 20-voice strong youth choir directed by Lynette Petersen and Larry Joe who is well-known for recording his debut album Crazy Life in Douglas Prison, US, a year ago.
This programme of classical, pop and adult contemporary works is also a platform for committed artists to perform in a professional environment in support of this cause.