Sithuniyiwe: We have been sent

Barbican Concert Hall, London
April 26, 2026

Sithuniyiwe: We have been sent, was a joyous evening of South African music, song and dance at the Barbican Concert Hall. Working on the shared concept of Ubuntu (‘I am because you are’) and the thread that binds the Bantu people and their culture together, it was a rare meeting of talents working across the globe to come together to share the love.

The Sunday night concert was the culmination of a music packed weekend and the only evening to included dance. It afforded the welcome opportunity to see Mthuthuzeli November and his brother, Siphesihle, dance together. Born in Zolani, a township near Cape Town, they had the good fortune to meet an inspirational ballet teacher who introduced them to ballet without denying them their roots in African dance. Siphesihle was sponsored and had his ballet training at Canada’s National Ballet School and is now a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada. Mthuthuzeli started his formal training later at the Cape Academy of Performing Arts, later joining Ballet Black in London. His award-winning choreographies can be seen in major ballet companies across the world.

Sithunyiwe was commissioned for the Ancestral Memory Weekend. The brothers were joined by Sarah Chun, principal dancer from Northern Ballet and freelance artist, Somer February. As a choreographer, Mthuthuzeli has developed a contemporary African style with balletic influence, but this evening’s work lent more to the African, both in structure and in movement as he took traditional dance to a new and exciting place.

Each of the four dancers had their solo moments and there were also male/female duets but the most exciting moment came in seeing these two exceptionally talented brothers, closely linked in blood, but working in distant lands come together in a powerful piece of choreography.

The stamina that the dancers showed was exceptional. Traditional dance, especially at religious festivals will continue for hours with dancers taking turns to keep the rituals alive. This obviously is adapted for staged performances, but the fierce energy displayed showed the four dancers working to their limits in a most impressive display.

The musicians were on stage throughout. Abel Selaocoe, who like Mthuthuzeli links Western and African traditions, played cello, while Mbuso Khoza a vocalist of great power led the song. Also providing vocals but predominantly piano was Nduduzo Makhathini and Gontse Makhene on percussion was pure magic.

It was an exceptional gathering of internationally acclaimed talent and so sad that it was for one night only and poorly promoted. However, for those of us who fortunately got to hear of the concert and were there to enjoy it, it was a night of very special memories.