Audiences at The Welfare Ystradgynlais can look forward to a high energy evening of Southern African music and dance next month.

Legendary group Black Umfolosi visits the Swansea Valley venue on Friday, June 28, sharing imbube music and gumboot and Zulu dancing with fans old and new.

For more than 40 years, Black Umfolosi has been entertaining audiences worldwide, sharing Zimbabwean culture with the world and delighting audiences with their high energy, pitch perfect performances.

Black Umfolosi is a self-taught a cappella singing and traditional dance group, formed in 1982 by the then school age members who wanted to develop themselves and contribute to their community. Specialising in Imbube music, gumboot dance and Zulu dance, Black Umfolosihas toured extensively nationally and internationally - including across Europe, USA, Canada, Australia and Asia. Such is their energy and the worldwide demand for the group’s live shows that they even managed to tour internationally in the immediate wake of Covid to celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2022.

Based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second city, the group take their name from the Umfolosi River that flows through the Natal province of South Africa. This name was chosen as a means of remembrance to their forefathers who lived along the banks of the Umfolosi River before they migrated north to Matebeleland in Zimbabwe. 

The group began as a means of entertaining themselves while still at school in 1982, and since then the self-trained, original six members have developed their skills and organisation into an 18-member musical group.

Their performances are energy driven and completely engaging, mixing a great gentleness of spirit and song with an exuberance in dance. Harmonies mixed with intricate rhythms, clicking, clapping and shouting are highlighted with some leaping, stomping and the odd high kick!

Tickets for the performance are available now from the venue’s website https://thewelfare.co.uk/Shows/black-umfolosi/, in person or by telephone 01639 843163.

Audiences at The Welfare can take advantage of their pay what you can tiered pricing structure; no proof of concession is needed, customers choose which of the prices available suits their budget best.