Traditional music + dance in South Africa?
 

Hello,
Could you recommend me where to go to see a performance of traditional music and dance? Maybe in Johannesburg or Cape Town?
I have not found out anything on cultural music or dance performances while researching South Africa on the web.

Thanks,
B

You probably won't find any. There are a few "cultural" towns that do fake Zulu dances and are filled with underpaid actors.

At some private safari lodges, if they hire local people, there may be occasions to enjoy fun and singing with the staff. The community owned lodges have the most local staff - and the most genuine "performances", in my experience. Some raise money for their schools and projects by doing tribal dances in camp. It can be fun if it's done well and not icky.

I can't think of any "traditional performances" in NYC or anywhere in the U.S. I don't even know what that would be, except for the exploitative Native American dancing, but they are rare in big cities.

You can maybe consider Lesedi Cultural Village: https://www.tripadvisor.co.za/Attrac...g_Gauteng.html

If you're looking for a different kind of experience I can recommend Mangwanani African Spa (http://www.mangwanani.co.za/). The treatments are great, the food is delicious and they have some beautiful traditional singing and dancing in between. Unfortunately they only sing a few songs, it's not really the main focus, but if you're interested in the spa as well this is an added bonus. There is a shuttle that leaves from Montecasino in Joburg to their River Valley branch, so very convenient if you stay there and you can do a full day spa or night spa. I'm not sure if they have the singing at their smaller/satellite branches.

Actually, we had a charming experience, staying at Isibindi Zulu Lodge, this past May. The Isibindi properties are part-owned by the local communities. We found, as a result, that the people we met were sincere and committed to sharing their Africa. There is a local troupe of teenagers (well a wide age range, I'd say 10-20) who have learned and perform traditional music and dance. They take themselves very seriously, and it comes across better than any "professional" group could probably show you.

http://wild-wings-safaris.com/accomm...di-zulu-lodge/

This is my trip report - go towards the end, and there is a link to a youtube video of our experience that includes some of the performance. http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...uth-africa.cfm

Some friends took me to Moyo "African" restaurant in Melrose Arch once for game and some music. It was OK, but not something I would seek out for traditional music.