As part of Arts Alive International Festival, the City of Joburg will be honouring the living legend, Letta Mbulu with a special tribute.
The tribute will coincide with her 75th birthday on Heritage Day.
A heritage blue plaque will be unveiled at her family home, followed by a tribute concert at Orlando Communal Hall with performances by friends from the music industry, together with rising young talents.
The tribute is in line with one of the diphetogo programmes of the department to honour legends of the City while they are still alive.
“The City is rich in culture and talent as witnessed by legends such as mama Letta and all the other legends who kept the South African entertainment flag high during the most difficult period in the history of South Africa. We owe them a debt of gratitude”, stated the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Community Development, Cllr Nonhlanhla Sifumba.
Going back to her roots, the public celebration will be held in Orlando East at the neighbourhood where she started her singing career and first gained recognition. Mama Letta Mbulu began her career at the age of 13, performing with the Swanky Spots at the Donaldson Hall.
A heritage blue plaque will be unveiled at the home of Letta Mbulu by the MMC. The blue plaque is an internationally recognised heritage symbol that will be presented by the City of Johannesburg together with the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation.
Festivities will then move to the Orlando Communal Hall, which was historically a major community centre and performance venue in Orlando East. The tribute concert will take the audience down memory lane with renditions of many of mama Letta’s hit songs.
Mama Letta Mbulu says she is honored and humbled by the tribute to be conferred to her during Heritage Month by the City of Johannesburg.
“I thank God for the gift He gave me, and how my mother nurtured it. I’m also indebted to James Mabena, the man who discovered me as a singer. There are a lot of people who played a role in this gift, but it is the people of this country who made me aware that I had something special, because every time I performed they applauded, approved, and gave me the confidence. The Americans just put on a stamp, but it’s my people at home who saw me grow up and bestowed the confidence”.
The event is open to all, and entrance is free.
Details of the celebrations are as follows:
Date: Monday, 24 September 2018
Venues and Times:
Community Fun Walk:
Time: 8:00
Venue: Orlando Communal Hall
Heritage Blue Plaque Unveiling:
Time: 11:00
Venue: 1670 Molahloe Street in Orlando East
Tribute Concert:
Time: 14:00 – 17:00
Venue: Orlando Communal Hall
For information and media queries, please contact:
Ms Jacqueline Jacobs
Cultural Officer: Arts, Culture and Heritage
Cell: 071 482 8288
Tel: 011 373 7506
Email: Jacquij@joburg.org.za
Or
Ms Karabo Tledima
Stakeholder Manager: MMC for Community Development
Cell: 061 794 3819
Tel: 011 407 7208
Email: Karabot@joburg.org.za
