African Footprint

African Footprint is a song-and-dance musical featuring text by Don Mattera.

Original text

The show is a non-stop, 90-minute musical story of Africa’s emergence onto the world stage, linked by the poetry of Sophiatown legend Don Mattera, and fusing Kwela-jive, traditional gumboot, tap, contemporary ballet and hip-hop pantsula to tell the story of the people of Africa.

Performance history in South Africa

1999/2000: The show had its inaugural performance before Nelson Mandela and other international dignitaries on Robben Island on Millenium Eve on 31 December 1999, and thereafter had a World Premiere at Gold Reef City’s Globe Theatre on the 11th May 2000. The Globe Theatre at Gold Reef City Casino became the home of the show where it played for some 6 years. Produced and directed by Richard Loring (Producer/Director), with Debbie Batzofin(Associate Producer/Production Director); choreography Debbie Rakusin and David Matamela; Music and lyrics Dave Pollecutt; Poetry Don Mattera; set design Anthony Farmer; costume design Lindy Ann Joubert (Lindy Grindlay); lighting design Denis Hutchinson and Declan Randall; studio production Ron Brettell.

On tour

During the show's run in Johannesburg, up to 3 companies were in existence and they toured worldwide. The production was invited to participate in the Royal Variety Performance in the presence of HRH Prince Charles in London in December 2000 and then in 2004 for the Duke of Edinburgh at St James’ Palace in London. By 2012 it had seen some 4000 performances across the globe, including countries such as the USA, Canada, China, Australia, India, Monte Carlo, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Morocco, Ghana, Israel, Mexico, Lebanon and France.

Awards

Among the many accolades received by African Footprint are: In 2000: Vita Award for Best Ensemble-Best Musical Production-Best Lighting and a Royal Variety Performance for HRH Prince Charles; in 2005 a Naledi Award for Best Choreography and one for Best Lighting; in 2006 a South African Tourism Award and a performance for HRH Duke of Edinburgh World Foundation at St James Palace; in 2008 Paris Match Certificate of Excellence and Professionalism and in 2009 a performance at the Presidential Inauguration.