Zakhele members pass on words of wisdom

A group of performers from South Africa have been passing on words of wisdom to young people across North Somerset.

Members of Zakhele, all from the Nkomazi region where HIV is prevalent, are taking part in a five-week tour of the district, funded by the Portishead-based charity Za Foundation, to share messages about HIV and to teach people about their culture.

As part of the tour, the group has visited Gordano School in Portishead to run workshops with pupils in years seven, eight and 10. The members educated them about HIV/AIDs, both in the UK and South Africa, and also put together a number of dance performances with the pupils which will be performed during a Zakhele concert at Bristol’s Colston Hall on June 27.

So far, the group has also visited High Down Infant and Trinity Primary schools in Portishead plus Winford and Northleaze primary schools and Ravenswood Special School in Nailsea.

While in secondary schools the focus is on educating students about HIV/AIDS, for the younger children the group teaches them a gumboot dance and also carries out storytelling.

Tickets for the Colston Hall concert, priced £8.60-12.90, are available at www.colstonhall.org