Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA – In addition to feeding us, the GOLD restaurant’s evening entertainment offered us a spectacular showcase of African culture.
When we stepped into the beautiful rooms of the restaurant, we were immediately greeted by a giant yellow puppet, waving at us enthusiastically. This was a Mali puppet, greeting guests with enthusiasm.
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This puppetry tradition has its roots in West African folklore, where puppets are used to tell stories and convey messages. We wondered how the person operating it could see behind the flowing robes and yellow mask.
This was just the beginning of the evening’s magic at Gold.
At our table, West African djembe drums awaited us and we were told to keep them ready for the first entertainment of the evening.
An interactive drumming session on the djembe followed. An energetic host guided us through a series of rhythmic beats on this traditional rope-tuned goblet drum.
He would shout out a pattern and we followed immediately. What was most impressive was how easily he got the crowd to listen to him. When he said to be quiet, we were quiet. When he said to drum, we beat our hands till they ached.
His instructions were both simple and efficient, producing an amazing display of communal sound.
After the interactive drumming session, the performers took to various vantage points throughout the restaurant, showcasing their talents in a series of solo performances.
They appeared at different tables, corners, or walkways, surprising and delighting the audience with their skills. This unique approach added an extra layer of excitement and energy to the evening, as guests never knew where the next performance would pop up.
Eventually, the performers converged on the main stage for a group dance.
Our next entertainment was a mix between dance and fight, as male and female performers each tried to best each other onstage. These performers were extremely skilled, able to balance – seemingly effortlessly – singing and dancing simultaneously.
The performers’ costumes and choreography were influenced by various South African dance styles, including traditional Zulu and Xhosa dances.
The evening wrapped up with a lively finale, where the audience was invited on stage to dance and perform with the host to a popular song called “Jerusalema.”
Even as we struggled to follow the performers’ instructions, jostling each other, stepping on toes, we were all laughing together.
Strangers and friends bumped against each other as we all enjoyed the music and the night came to a joyful close.
Anya Farooqui is a Reporter with Youth Journalism International from Pakistan. She co-wrote this story and recorded the audio.
Maya Opare is a Reporter with Youth Journalism International from Ghana. She co-wrote this story.
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