Entertainment scheduling for 2013 is underway! As always - we’ll bring back some of your favorites and introduce you to some talented performers new to the festival. Check back for updates as we get closer to September.  In the mean time - check out last year’s lineup of amazing talent!

Based in New York City, JUXTAPOWER is a production company that celebrates and promotes the rich talent, culture and history of South Africa. With a mission to keep the dialogue about South African history, politics, people, and culture fresh within the minds of the global community; JUXTAPOWER is a project of pride, power, and culture of a people of Africa in the USA. JUXTAPOWER takes pride in bridging gaps between the cultures of the US and Africa through dance, song, and dialogue. 

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Sduduzo Ka-Mbili - choreographer, radio producer, JUXTAPOWER director.  Sduduzo Ka-Mbili is a radio producer (WBAI 99.5FM/SAR FM), former dancer, and current choreographer and director of JUXTAPOWER (South Africa's Song & Dance) in New York City. Before he came to America, Sduduzo Ka-Mbili was a member of Jackie Semelaâ’s Soweto Dance Theater, and Adele Blankâ’s Free Flight Dance Company with which he toured the world extensively. Sduduzo is also a former student at Alvin Ailey School in New York and he is proudest at his culturally diverse troupe members, who represent the face of South Africa.

Omar Edwards - dancer.  Omar Edwards is a world class tap dancer. Born in the USA, he is the original member of Bring in the Noise, Bring in the Funk, a Broadway show. He travels around the world teaching and performing tap dance. His entire family performs tap on Broadway and around the world. He has performed at the White House with his old colleague and Cousin Savion Glover.

The Band TUELO LE BADIMO

Badimo is a  Southern African, Tswana word that means The Gods/The Ancestors -€� a word that Tuelo Minah calls her band members. As the composer and music director of both Juxtapower and her own band Badimo, Tuelo was inspired by the tremendous talent that all her band members possess, individually and collectively. Tuelo le Badimo have played venues such as the Queens Museum of Arts, Desmond Tutu Center, Tavern on the Green, South African Food and Wine festival, MIMA Academy, Russell Simmons' Diamond empowerment fund to name a few. She continues to exchange ideas with these featured world class musicians. Badimo is Tuelo's wildest dreams come true.  Read more about the band members below.

Tuelo Minah - Vocals, Guitar  Tuelo Minah is a unique musician who brings her native South African sound to the pace of rock, and blues. She is accompanied by her guitar, and belts out songs that remind her of her childhood. She started her career as a backup singer for Hugh Masekela, Lebo M(Lion King composer), in New York city, and she is now one of the voices heard in Angelique Kidjo's current album OYO. She was also music director for Juxtapower S.A. Dance and Song and has recently undertaken the task as music director of her own band, writing, singing and playing her own music. As a soloist together with her band “le Badimo” she has played venues such as the Queens museum of Arts, Desmond Tutu Center, Tavern on the Green, South African Food and Wine festival to name a few.  Her main influences are from South African Choral and gospel music, and classic rock. Though she writes and sings primarily in English, a whole show cannot go without Tuelo singing in her native tongue the trance-like songs in Tswana.

Tsholo Mokubung - Vocals.  A native of Kimberley South Africa, Tsholo Mokubung's musical journey began with her tagging along to her mother's choir rehearsals as a child. This led to her later joining the prestigious Kimberley Childrens' Choir and was awarded a scholarship by the St Cyprians Cathedral Choir also in her hometown of Kimberley .In more recent years, Tsholo has worked as a backing vocalist for Angelique Kidjo on her Grammy Award winning album Djin Djin, and her latest release OYO, and has also performed at shows which include Central Park Summer Stage, Prospect Park, Carnegie Hall and an appearance on the David Letterman Show.

Daniel Dolgin - Bass. Daniel Dolgin is a bassist from New York City. He is currently the Development Director at MIMA , a non profit organization that uses music improvisation as a tool to engage and enrich communities. Danny has been playing bass for over 20 years with a variety of artists from jazz to folk to rock. He is influenced greatly by the music he has discovered during his travels throughout the world. Danny's eclectic and unique style has enriched the songs of Tuelo Minah.

Yahoteh Kokayi - Drums.  Yahoteh Kokayi is one of today's premiere debut artists Serving as both front man and sideman, he is a percussionist drawing heavily on his roots derived in African rhythms, creating music and sound that can be best described as 'Unyielding Groove.'  His performance is genuine; He is undeniably a 'must see' artist.

Kevin Wenzel - Acordian, Flute, Mandolin.  Kevin Wenzel specializes in adolescent music education, songwriting and audio production. He is the Executive Director of MIMA Music, an educational non-profit that uses music improvisation to engage and enrich communities. Kevin is a multi-instrumentalist from classical piano to bluegrass mandolin. Based in New York City, Kevin has taught and performed across America and  internationally as a US Cultural Envoy in Argentina, Brazil, El Salvador, Greece and England.

Dominique Joseph - percussion.  Dominique is a spirited and highly motivated individual who finds this passion in drumming. Dominique Hails from Brooklyn via Tampa Fl, where he feels his love for community and strong Connectedness to the Haitian culture, naturally lead him to study west African folk music. Dominique soon found his calling and turned his passion into a career. Dominique is now a featured percussionist with the reggae band Judah Tribe, and also works with other New York based artist the likes of Tuelo Minah, Nomsa Mazwai and South African dance group Juxtapower to name a few.

Mark Anselm -  lead guitar.  Mark Anselm is from Annapolis, Maryland and has been playing guitar since he was 13 years old. His first experiences were playing reggae music in his hometown. When he moved to Brooklyn in 2002 to study Illustration, he also began studying jazz and music theory. Currently Mark is the lead guitarist, composer and vocalist in his own bands; City Billie’s (NYC)  and the funk band All State Choir Soul and navigates a broad spectrum of music genres such as R&B, Bluegrass, Reggae and Folk music and has performed at such renowned venues as The Bitter End, Highline Ballroom, the Desmond Tutu Center, 92Y Tribeca and Southpaw. A lover of almost ever style of music, Mark seeks every musical opportunity in order to further his palette and continuously expand his horizons.

Lesedi Ntsane - Trumpet.  Lesedi was born and raised in Kwa-Thema Springs, Gauteng Province, South Africa. He started playing music at The Salvation Army, Kwa-Thema as a kid and continued to develop his musical talent throughout his youth. After graduating with a National Diploma in Music with distinctions from the Tshwane University of Technology, he moved to New York to continue his studies at the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music. 

Other musical guests...

Benstof is the stage name of South African musician, Ben van den Heever. After picking up the guitar at age 18, he started entertaining fellow high school friends around the fire.  When he moved to the States along with his family in 1999, music became a way to stay connected to South Africa and as a result his songs transformed into a longing for home and a celebration of memories. As time went by the importance of the "moment" became evident and his topics turned into an excitement for the future of South Africa and its people all across the world. His sound is a mix of English and Afrikaans accompanied with backing vocals by his American wife over an acoustic guitar with echoing electric leads.  Visit Ben’s Web site to hear his music...