In the year 2000 South Africa‘s «Grand Old Lady» Miriam Makeba opened our festival – and in 2001 the great multi-cultural nation from the Cape of Good Hope provided us with a highlight. The high art of Zulu choir singing is represented by the a-cappella group «Ladysmith Black Mambazo», world famous through their cooperation with Paul Simon on his album «Graceland».

The global radiance of African music is also documented in the «African-Indian Fantasy» of the Indian Percussionist and band leader Trilok Gurtu, who, with his then most recent project and singer Sabine Kabongo of «Zap Mama», brought jazz, Indian tradition and African modernity to a common denominator.

Martin Schäfer