Arts & Events
Masakela, Mandela Featured at U.C. Berkeley this week
Great South African trumpeter-fluegelhorn player-vocalist-bandleader Hugh Masakela will split the bill with Sotho singer-songwriter guitarist Vusi Mahlasela, "the Voice of South Africa," for a program of music to celebrate "20 Years of Freedom" this Wednesday at 8 in Zellerbach Auditorium, near Telegraph and Bancroft on the UC campus. Masakela, the former husband and collaborator of the late, great singer Miriam Makeba, is in particular no stranger to Berkeley audiences: 45 years ago, leading his band The Union of South Africa, he mounted an ecstatic, unforgettable nighttime show at the Greek Theater for the UC Jazz Festival to wild audience and critical acclaim. Tickets are selling briskly. $19-$64. 642-9988; calperformances.org
In conjunction, the Pacific Film Archive will screen 'A Letter to Nelson Mandela' (South Africa/Germany, 2013) with director Khalo Matabane present, at 7 pm, Thursday, March 12 ($5.50-$9.50) and the Townsend Center will present a symposium, South Africa After Mandela, Friday March 13. bampfa.berkeley.edu & townsendcenter.berkeley.edu
