Air travel to faraway destinations is so commonplace these days, people tend to get a bit blasé about it. However, for a significant section of the population, it is only a pipedream, and for the Imbalenhle traditional dance troupe at Summerhill Stud in Mooi River, it is about to become a reality with an invitation to perform at the planet’s greatest festival of its kind, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Summerhill CEO, Mick Goss, recalls that 17 years ago at the opening of their Hartford House boutique hotel on the farm, he was approached by the team leader with a request for an audition: some of the dancers were just 7 and 8 years of age, and they wanted the right to entertain the hotel guests on weekends. Having grown up in faraway Lusikisiki, Goss had seen just about every traditional dance there was to be seen, and reluctantly gave up a precious Sunday to attend the audition. The troupe arrived with five drums strapped with cattle hides and they beat them with garden hoses, to such effect that they’ve been on duty, weather permitting, ever since. Some years ago, they emerged among the top traditional dance troupes in South Africa, and a small core of this crew distinguished South Africa at the world championships in Tokyo and Hong Kong respectively.

Seventeen years on, and their renown has reached the other end of the world, culminating in the Edinburgh invitation.

That these traditions are maintained among our rural communities is a rare gift in a world where technology and the internet have thrust cultural pursuits to the margins; the tiny metropolis of Mooi River, a slow town with a sleepy railway station left behind by the Anglo-Boer War, is abuzz with anticipation at the imminent departure of this troupe, thanks to the help of the Department of Arts & Culture and the recently appointed MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development in KZN, Mr Cyril Xaba.

The Summerhill team is beavering away at assembling the remaining funds to ensure the dancers get aboard an aircraft later this week, in the hope of wrapping that up in the next few days. They debut in Scotland on the 3rd August under the nom de plume, Ngobamakhosi, the name of the regiment which struck such fear in to the hearts of the British soldiers at the Battle of Isandlwana in 1879; they will perform the ritual dance the Zulu impis undertook at the Royal kraal on the eve of their departure for major military expeditions.

This was not Mooi River’s only accolade this month. Four years ago, Summerhill opened its School Of Management Excellence in Equine studies, the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, where half of its graduates annually travel abroad on scholarships.

The best of them proceed to further studies at the English National Stud in Newmarket, where they join 25-30 students from around the world. In a matter of three years, two graduates of the Summerhill school have provided that venerable institution with its Top Practical Student of the year, the first of whom, Thabani Nzimande headed the list in 2012, and again last week, John Motaung exalted Mooi River with the same achievement. “Having been to most of the leading stud farms of the world, we’ve long held that South Africa is home to some of the finest naturally-skilled stockmen anywhere, and these results by our local people have vindicated this view completely”.

Yet another graduate of the class of 2013, Hazel Kayiya, who works in the financial administration division of Gold Circle in Durban, is currently on scholarship with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which operates international racing’s most-envied jurisdiction. Just six months out of her graduation at the School Of Management Excellence, she has been nominated a CEO designate of Gold Circle.

CAVERSHAM Mill Restaurant in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands to host a concert featuring the legendary Oliver Mtukudzi on May 24 in the Midlands. Performing alongside the Zimbabwean guitarist will be Shabalala Rhythm and maskandi singer David Jenkins, aka Qadasi.  Mtukudzi began performing in 1977 when he joined the Wagon Wheels, a band that also featured Thomas Mapfumo. Their single Dzandimomotera went gold. He sings in Shona, along with Ndebele and English, and incorporates elements of different musical traditions, giving his music a distinctive style, known to fans as Tuku music.  Maskandi stars Shabalala Rhythm, led by Sibongiseni Shabalala, son of the legendary Joseph Shabalala of Ladysmith Black Mambazo fame, was formed in 1998. Since then, Durban guitarist Maqhinga Radebe has joined the group. Jenkins, who hails from Eshowe, appeared at the first Nelson Mandela Sport and Culture Day last year and was also the support act for maskandi legend Johnny Clegg. With the release of the album Uhambo Olusha (A New Journey), Jenkins and the Qasadi band’s quest to revive traditional Zulu maskandi music is well under way.
The concert will take place at Midlands Forest Lodge, which is three kilometres up the road.

The KwaZulu-Natal Midlands its Midlands Meander set this gorgeous and gentle part of South Africa apart from the rest. The Natal Midlands has been made famous by the quaint little towns, friendly farm-folk and exquisite landscapes. Nottingham Road is the heart of the Midlands Meander in an area has some of the best restaurants, stalls, hiking trails, souvenirs and antiques stores in South Africa. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly what it is about Nottingham Road that is so appealing and maybe its just that it seems to have a slower pulse. Perhaps it is the various side streets and somewhat convoluted road system that is the hiding place of enchanting nurseries and decadent spas. Or its the numerous restaurants, coffee shops and pubs are also tucked away, and offer everything from famous award-winning coffees, chocolates and blueberry smoothies to locally brewed beer and the famous pizzas at the legendary Notties Hotel.

Between mealtimes you can browse the assortment of shops offering anything from antiques and mohair blankets to homemade candles and chocolates. Mountain biking, horse riding and hiking are just some of the other options, or simply take a drive — explore the nearby Kamberg towards the Drakensberg mountain range and seek out the best bushman rock art paintings in South Africa. The KwaZulu-Natal Midlands are always worth revisiting. It may just be that the locals make Nottingham Road so welcoming, from the waiter at the pub, or the bed and breakfast owners, to the mechanic at the local garage.

But what is clear is that Nottingham Road is worth a visit if you pass though the Natal Midlands. Actually its areason to make the Midlands your next holiday destination.

Sponsored by Tourism KZN, the 25^th Splashy Fen Music Festival is coming up over the Easter long weekend from 17 to 21 April and is once again set to rock the southern Drakensberg with an awesome line-up of the very best in South African music.

Guaranteed to be one of the highlights at this year’s festival is the legendary Vusi Mahlasela.  Celebrated for his distinct, powerful vocals and poetic lyrics, Mahlasela has toured the world and performed alongside the likes of Alicia Keys, Dave Matthews and Josh Groban.

Other must-see acts include the likes of Jeremy Loops, Matthew Mole, Gangs of Ballet, ISO, Arno Carstens & Francois van Coke, Shortstraw, The Black Cat Bones, Chris Chameleon, Dan Patlansky, Nibs van der Spuy, Ant Cawthorn-Blazeby & Nick Pitman, The Guy Buttery Band, Paige Mac, Haggis and Bong, Bittereinder, Habit To, DJ Ready D, The Kiffness, Yesterday’s Pupil, Das Kapital, Veranda Panda, Sibot & Toyota, among others.

“This is a big year for Splashy and what better way to celebrate our milestone quarter-century than by presenting a line-up jam-packed with some of the biggest acts ever to come out of South Africa,” says festival organiser Pedro Carlo.

“There’ll also be an element of nostalgia with the return of several of the bands and artists that have really wowed audiences and brought the house down in the past.  Acts like Just Jinjer, Squeal, WONDERboom and even Tree63, whose former members will be flying in from Canada and the States to reunite at Splashy for the first time since 2008!”

In a nutshell, festival-goers can expect non-stop entertainment, top-class sound and lighting, side-splitting stand-up comedy, loads of exciting food and drink outlets, plus a vibrant craft market and retail area.  South Africa’s longest-running annual music festival, Splashy Fen has something for everyone; in fact there’s nothing else quite like it!

Tickets are available at Computicket and include camping for the entire four-night, five-day festival.  For the full programme and to find out more about the new tented accommodation options available this year, visit www.splashyfen.co.za