21 - 27 May 2012

IT'S going to be a music-packed week. Follow LUCILLE DAVIE'S selection of the coolest events in Jozi this week.

Surfing Soweto
Over the course of 3 years the lives of three of the most notorious train surfers in Soweto, Bitch Nigga, Lefa and Mzembe, were documented on camera. They were followed on to the top of trains hurtling through Soweto, into the heroin dens of Hillbrow, and jails with names like Sun City – all in the hope of understanding their frustrations and documenting the lives of the new generation of youth in Soweto. Surfing Soweto is the story of this forgotten generation. Born too long after the demise of apartheid to have anything worth fighting for, but, at the same time, they are also born not long enough after it to reap any of the benefits of freedom. The film runs this week at The Bioscope. Time is 7.30pm, cost is R40. Book online.

Sex, genes & rock n roll
Get to a presentation by prof Rob Brooks entitled "Sex, genes & rock n roll. How evolution has shaped the modern world", also the title of his book. Brooks is from the University of Sydney. Evolution might be the most important idea anyone ever had, but outside of biology the awesome power of evolutionary theory remains under-appreciated and under-used. Brooks explores some very modern phenomena, including obesity, Asia's missing women, decisions about children's schooling, the links between sex, inequality and violence, and the appalling mortality rates among rock stars, to show that evolution can sit comfortably with other explanations in helping us understand our lives and our world. It takes place on Wednesday, 23 May at 6pm in the Life Sciences Museum and Biodiversity Centre; Oppenheimer Life Sciences Building, Wits East Campus. Cost is R50. RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 011 717 6404.

Lucas Senyatso
Catch the next Sophiatown Jazz Encounters show with Lucas Senyatso, on Saturday, 26 May. Born in Mafikeng, he attended the Mmabana Arts Centre as a bass guitar student and studied music through the London Trinity College of Music.  In 1998, he joined Hugh Masekela's band, touring Europe and the US.  He has worked and performed with legends like Sibongile Khumalo, Themba Mkhize, Gloria Bosman, Judith Sephuma, Ringo Madlingozi, Patty Austin (US) and Keiko Matsui (Japan). In 2006 he released his debut album 'All Of Me' through EMI Records. Lucas continues to write and produce music for himself and other artists. Time is 7pm, place is the Sophiatown Heritage & Cultural Centre (73 Toby Street, Sophiatown), cost is R70. Take along your own drinks. Book with Khosi on 011 673 1271 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

Picnic blanket fundraiser
The Bag Factory Artists' Studios and the Community Based Development Programme invite you to their Picnic Blanket Fundraiser on Sunday, 27 May. For R500 or less (with block bookings) you will spend an event-filled afternoon at the Nirox Foundation's sculpture park in the Cradle of Humankind. The ticket includes a handmade picnic basket filled with a gourmet picnic lunch and a bottle of wine; a performance by SA actor, comedian, writer and voice artist Rajesh Gopie; Nobel laureate Nadine Gordimer reading from her latest book No Time Like the Present; an auction of works donated by David Goldblatt, Sam Nhlengethwa, Penny Siopis, Pat Mautloa and Tshepo Mosopa; a walkabout of land art at Nirox by artist Hannelie Coetzee; and live musicians. The event starts with registration at midday and will run to around 5pm. To book contact Aysha at 011 834 9181 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Organ concert
St George's Anglican Church is presenting a series of concerts featuring four internationally acclaimed organists over the next 10 months on its new organ with 1 984 pipes. On Sunday and Monday, 27-28 May, Gordon Stewart, one of the UK's most popular and versatile organists, who performs periodically at Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral, will play a blend of lighter pieces alongside a more serious repertoire. Tickets are R175, from Computicket. The concert is at 7.30pm. The church is at 7 Sherborne Road, Parktown.

Stargazing in the kloof
Get to the Kloofendal Nature Reserve for the annual Stargazing in the Kloof event at the Kloofendal Amphitheatre, on Saturday, 26 May at 6pm. Apart from the knowledgeable members of the West Rand Astronomy Club, the well-known historian, architect and night sky observer Lance Kinnear will be telling stories about space. There will be a variety of telescopes to give you an opportunity to view craters on the Moon, the rings around Saturn and more. There's also a Galileo telescope and other prizes up for grabs in a lucky draw competition plus entertainment by pianist Neal Robertson from 5pm. Entrance is R60, kids R30. Bring along your picnic, blankets and a torch.

Zahara
Zahara's song Loliwe is SA's favourite sing-along for all occasions. Born in the Eastern Cape, Zahara's music is rich and mature. Though her lyrics are sung in her native Xhosa they appeal to diverse cultural tastes. Catch her on stage at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden in Roodepoort on Sunday, 27 May at 1pm. Tickets are R80 through www.ticketbreak.co.za or R100 at the gate.

Long walk
Test your fitness with a 20km walk at the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve's annual long walk, on Sunday, 27 May. The trail stretches along the most testing trails in the reserve. The walk starts at 8am from the JCP Entrance Precinct, Peggy Vera Road in Kibler Park. For those who do not want to do the 20km walk, there will be "escape" routes at various points along the trail. KNRA guides will be on hand to assist hikers and drinking water will also be supplied along the route. Hikers are requested to bring additional water and snacks. Cost is a donation of R20.

Why printmaking?
Attend a panel discussion as part of the exhibition "Coming of Age: 21 years of Artist Proof Studio", on Saturday, 26 May, entitled "Why printmaking?" It takes place at the Joburg Art Gallery and panellists are Bongi Dhlomo, Kim Berman, Bronwyn Law-Viljoen, Tiffany Mentoor, Phillemon Hlungwani, and Nontobeko Ntombela. It happens from 11am to 1pm.

The Aids Conspiracy
Nicoli Natrass, internationally recognised expert on the political economy of anti-retroviral treatment and author of The Aids Conspiracy - Science fights back, will be in conversation with Mark Heywood, AIDS activist and director of the AIDS Law Project, looking at questions such as "Why is AIDS denialism so persistent? and "What has been the role of the internet in the rise of anti-science sentiment?" It takes place on Thursday, 24 May at 6pm in the Professional Development Hub at Wits, 92 Empire Road. RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Enchanted Westcliff
Go on a walking tour entitled "An enchanted part of Westcliff", with the Parktown & Westcliff Heritage Trust, on Sunday, 27 May. There will be a visit to Glenshiel, originally designed by Sir Herbert Baker and now the Priory of St John's. This will be followed by a visit to a place of fantasy, the home of international architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens.  There will be a look-in at the Princess Alice Adoption Home and finally a visit to the original Schumacher mansion, another masterpiece by Baker, which overlooks Zoo Lake from the Westcliff ridge. The tour starts at The Ridge School at 10am sharp. Cost is R100 – book through Computicket or the office on 011 482 3349.

Beethoven tango
Fancy a blend of Beethoven, Piazzola and Sting and new arrangements of some popular jazz favourites? Get to Glenshiel on Sunday, 27 May for a concert by pianist Charl du Plessis and violinist Zanta Hofmeyr, entitled "Beethoven tango". Cost is R120, which includes refreshments. Glenshiel is at 19 Woolston Road, Westcliff. Book with Saul on 083 414 0041 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

Lessons in Husbandry
When Amal vanishes without a trace, Malak not only inherits her sister's wedding but also her fiancé and her house. It is an inconvenient convenience, which Malak and Taj endure as if they are keeping the slot open for the day Amal walks back through the front door. Amal, however, keeps them waiting. But everything changes when Malak steps into a lift one day. She discovers that she isn't made only of grief for her brilliant sister, and a risky double life with another man ensues. A life that leads inexorably to a new question – one just as burning as the question of what has happened to Amal: can a Muslim woman not have two husbands? Get to the launch of the book Lessons in Husbandry by Shaida Kazie Ali – she will be in attendance to discuss her book at Love Books in Melville on Wednesday, 23 May at 6.30pm. RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 011 726 7408.

Gender, livelihoods and migration
The Wits African Centre for Migration and Society in Africa presents a lunchtime seminar by Dr Justina Dugbazah, Project Manager, Gender and Parliamentary Affairs Division, Nepad, entitled "Gender, livelihoods and migration in Africa". It takes place on Tuesday, 22 May at 12.30pm in the Seminar Room 10, Humanities Graduate Centre, Southwest Engineering Building, Wits East Campus. RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 011 717 4047.

Wouter Kellerman
Wouter Kellerman is regarded as one of the country's most musically adventurous world-music proponents, who keeps his sound fresh and progressive by incorporating a fusion of influences and styles into his songs. A true crossover artist, he thrives on experimenting with the shades, textures and colours that his magic flute is capable of painting, and creatively blending this with other instrumentation and sounds. He will give a concert at the Atterbury Theatre in Pretoria on Sunday, 27 May at 4pm. He will be supported by bass player and vocalist Phresh Makhene, percussionist David Klassen, guitarist Luke van der Merwe, vocalist Busisiwe Monareng, backing vocalist Nomso Tollie and Jaconell Mouton on keyboards. Tickets are R110 to R130. The theatre is at 4 Daventry Street, Lynnwood. Book by phoning 012 471 1700.

Evolution, molecules, bugs, elephants and vaccines
More than 170 years after Charles Darwin visited SA we are still trying to figure out how evolution works. Dr Marc Creus, a biochemist at the University of Basel in Switzerland, is fascinated by the implications of Darwin's description of evolution at all scales of life, from tiny molecules to whole organisms. Besides enjoying sailing and Swiss chocolate, he likes to observe bacteria evolving in the laboratory and finding connections between apparently distant fields of knowledge. He'll be talking at the next Speak 2 a Scientist talk at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown, on Thursday, 24 May. Time is 7pm. RSVP to Refilwe Pico at 011 639 8448 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

JPO
The JPO's second season has begun, so get ready for some glorious music with the orchestra on Wednesday and Thursday, 23-24 May. They'll be playing Strauss's Wind Serenade TrV 106, op 7, E-flat major; Prokofiev's Sinfonia concertante, op 125 (Solo Cello); and Elgar's Enigma Variations, op 36 (Variations on an Original Theme). The conductor is Gérard Korsten; the soloist is cellist Alexander Ramm. The concert starts at 8pm at the Linder Auditorium on the Wits Education campus in Parktown. Tickets from Computicket.

Note: events received after Monday will appear on .

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