eThekwini auditions aim to open doors for women in Maskandi

By Lebone Rodah Mosima

eThekwini Municipality will host the Women in Maskandi Festival auditions this weekend, providing young women with a platform to showcase their talent in a genre that has historically been male-dominated.

The Municipality said on Thursday that the auditions would take place on Saturday, 22 August, and Sunday, 23 August, from 09h00 to 16h00, at the Stables Theatre in Durban.

“The auditions are open to female Maskandi musicians and singers, as well as amagidangoma and omasigida, aged between 18 and 35,” the Municipality said.

“Performances will be adjudicated by a panel of respected names in the genre – Phuzekhemisi, Dr Buselaphi, Talent Mbatha, and Zimdollar – who will be looking for musical talent, originality, dance, stage presence, and potential for growth.”

Dr Buselaphi, a veteran Maskandi musician who has worked in the industry for more than three decades, told Inside Politics that the auditions will consider women’s