The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) School of Arts (Music) and African Music Project will mark three decades of African Music and Dance (AMD) with a special AMD@30 Lunch Hour Concert on Monday, 12 October 2026, at the Howard College Theatre.
Held under the theme Iminyaka Engu-30: Sigubha Amagugu, Sakha Ikusasa (30 Years: Celebrating Heritage, Building the Future), the concert will celebrate the rich legacy of the AMD programme while looking towards its future.
The lunchtime performance featured AMD students enrolled in Performance Skills modules, from Foundation to Third Year level, showcasing their talents through music, dance, storytelling and praise poetry.
The recent AMD Lunch Hour event was a resounding success, marking an epic celebration of the organisation’s 30th anniversary milestone.
The performance seamlessly wove together rich cultural storytelling and ancestral reverence, captivating attendees from the opening scene.
The showcase opened with a visually arresting scene set by the river, introducing three princes from Queen Opondo’s royal house.
Tasked with finding three village girls to marry, the narrative followed their journey as the young women were brought into the grand gates of Queen Opondo’s royal palace.
A pivotal moment of the production took place in the sacred realm of Umsamo—the ancestral sacred space.
Here, the three women were formally introduced and initiated into the AMD family.
The profound ceremony served a dual purpose: welcoming the new members while also invoking the guiding spirits of the old AMD teachers to bless the path ahead.
The 30-year milestone represents three decades of artistic excellence, cultural preservation and creative innovation, while recognising the contribution of educators, artists, alumni and students who have helped shape the programme over the years.
Through its focus on African performance traditions, the AMD programme has provided students with opportunities to develop their artistic skills while engaging with cultural knowledge and forms of expression that remain an important part of South Africa’s heritage.
The concert also demonstrated how African performance continues to evolve, bringing together traditional forms and contemporary creative expression.
Directed by Thabiso Zondo, Matshitshi Ngema, and Mfundiseni Ndwalane, the concert was an energetic and inspiring celebration of African music and dance.
“The Lunch Hour show was an absolute triumph and a fitting tribute to AMD @ 30. We didn’t just perform; we invited the ancestral spirits of our foundational AMD teachers to stand with us as we ushered in a new generation. It was an unforgettable experience that bridged our rich history with our bright future,” said Zondo.