AFRICAN DEVOTED ARTISTS


African Devoted Artists started out in 1989 as a drama group, incorporating dance and music into their performances. In 1995 the group changed its focus to become a nine-piece marimba band. They infuse their performances with traditional Zulu dance and collaborate with gumboot dancers, pantsula dancers and youth, incorporating drama and dance into the act.

The band plays marimba, djembe drums, African drums and western drums. There are seven backing and two lead vocalists. They performed in Israel in 1995, in Germany in 1998, at a Festival in Sydney Australia in 1999, for a cultural exchange in Indonesia in 2001 and in the Seychelles for an Africa Festival the same year.

Amongst the numerous venues they have performed at the Sun City Super Bowl, The Market Theatre, Mabula Lodge, Johannesburg Art Gallery, Caesars Casino, The Parktonian and Sandton Sun. They have performed at corporate functions for Walter Sisulu's Child Care Centre Anniversary, Ma-Africa Competition, the opening of the African Craft Market in Rosebank, Gauteng Provincial Legislature Youth Project, Old Mutual Marathon, Michael Mount Organic Market Launch, IDCS, and SATOUR.

In 2001 African Devoted Artists released their first album Buyela Khaya through Sheer Sound. In 2002 they won a South African Music Award for Best Instrumental Band.
The band is based at the Diepkloof Centre where they perform, rehearse and teach local youth acting, marimba, dance, poetry and story telling.