Collective Amnesia Under African Skies is a creative collaboration between award-winning poet & author Koleka Putuma and the Mkizwana Ensemble. Featuring readings from Putuma's collection of poems, Collective Amnesia, and accompanied by the music from the Mkizwana Ensemble's debut album, African Skies, Collective Amnesia Under African Skies promises to deliver the product of a creative cocktail. The production includes an opening performance by indigenous jazz ensemble The First People. 

More about the collaborators:

Koleka Putuma: Award-winning poet and theatre practitioner Koleka Putuma has taken the South African literary scene by storm with her debut collection of poems. Described as “survival poetry”, Collective Amnesia has sold over 2000 copies in less than 5 months and is prescribed for study at tertiary level in South African Universities. 

Putuma is the winner of the 2014 National Poetry Slam Championship and the 2016 PEN South Africa Student Writing Prize. She has been named ‘One of Africa’s top 10 Poets’ by Badilisha Poetry; one of the ‘Young Pioneers Who Took South Africa by Storm in 2015’ by The Sunday Times; one of ‘12 Future Shapers’ by Marie Claire SA and, recently, one of the ‘100 Young People Disrupting the Status-Quo in South Africa’ by Independent Media. 

The Mkizwana Ensemble: Following the successful release of their debut album, African Skies, the Mkizwana Ensemble are fast becoming a household name amongst jazz enthusiasts and claiming their place amongst the stars. Formed by double bass player Viwe Mkizwana, the six piece ensemble of musical heavyweights boasts the talents of Thandi Ntuli (piano), Sphamandla Mdlalose (vocals), Malusi Masia (saxophone), Lungile Kunene (drums), Ntsikelelo Mcwabe (trumpet), Lebo Mabe (trombone ) and often collaborates with Tsepo Pooe’s Poe-tic Strings members Tsepo Pooe (cello), Neo Phambuka (cello), Lebogaang Ledwaba (violin), Kabelo Monnathebe (violin) and Sipho Sibiya (viola), to form a thirteen piece musical marvel to be reckoned with. 

The Mkizwana Ensemble, formed in 2014, has made major strides since its inception, having performed at the Moretele Jazz Festival, Standard Bank Joy of Jazz and boasting sold-out performances at The Orbit and the State Theatre, to name a few. The album, African Skies, has been well celebrated by local audiences and media alike, receiving rave reviews which led to an invitation to tour Germany and Switzerland with the MIAGI Orchestra. 

Mkizwana, who is no stranger to taking the lead, has served as the Principle Bassist in the Gauteng Philharmonic and MIAGI Orchestras. This performer’s illustrious career has seen him perform internationally in Sweden, Amsterdam and London and attend masterclasses under the tutelage of Leon Bosch, Marike Prins and Mark Duby. He has featured alongside celebrated musicians Rodolfo Maderos of Argentina, Gilberto Gil of Brazil, Anders Paulson of Sweden and Camille Favre-Bulle of France. In 2011, Mkizwana was part of the South African Legends Project which featured the likes of Grammy Award winner Wouter Kellerman, John Fresk, McCoy Mrubatha, Paul Hanmer and Khaya Mahlangu. 

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