As soon as the Celtic Dancers had retreated through the dark-green double doors of the residence, we were treated to a riveting song-and-dance performance by the SA Army Band of KwaZulu Natal.
The SA Army Band of KwaZulu Natal
In their rehearsals with the other bands, all of the band members had been dressed in their normal brown Army tunics, and I’d missed their dress rehearsal performance… so on opening night, I was most surprised to see some of their band members attired in traditional Zulu costumes, as they played some decidedly non-military African pieces, including the song ‘Impi’ by Johnny Clegg, complete with an acrobatic Zulu dance performance by some of the band members. They also sang a duet version of Louis Armstrong’s “What a wonderful world”, with the male singer mimicking perfectly Armstrong’s own deep, gravelly voice.
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Gallery of Photos
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- The SA Army Band of KwaZulu Natal
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- They are not just *any* military band
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- The dancers have a LOT of energy!
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- They have their own Zulu singers
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- As well as “Zulu-Indian” dancers
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- The other band members cheer them on!
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- The leg-lift-and-stomp made famous by Johnny Clegg and his band Juluka
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- High-action Zulu dancing!
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- Ouch!
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- Whoa! That leg-lift-and-stomp was a little over-energetic!
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- Ohh! Will he throw it?!
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- Phew…
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- Incongruity…
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- The singer holding the microphone for the trumpet solo
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- A final circle dance, before they leave the arena to appreciative applause
Grains of Sand 