In spite of what the posters and title suggest, Umoja - The Spirit Of Togetherness is more than just tribal drums and chants. The show's idea originated 10 years ago in Soweto, Johannesburg's working-class southwestern townships, when friends Todd Twala and Thembi Nyandeni started a school to train young people in music and dance.
Umoja stays true to that vision and is a two-hour crash course on the vibrant rhythms and music of South Africa, from tribal music to the more contemporary Ladysmith Black Mambazo, jazz, hip-hop and kwaito.
The audience is taken on a musical journey with the help of a narrator who explains the significance of the songs and dances, with a bit of history and humour thrown in.
The show starts with traditional singing, drumming and dancing - a reflection of life in the rural villages in South Africa - with the stage exploding in a kaleidoscope of colour and dance as singers shimmy across the stage in traditional costume.
From the villages, the journey takes the audience to the gritty urban setting of Soweto and a city pulsating with life and rhythm. The infectious 'spirit of togetherness' is evident in the well-choreographed dances, excellent footwork and the breathtakingly harmonious a cappella numbers. The vocals, especially the solos, were to die for.
This pulsating musical odyssey leaves you breathless and your heart pounding for more.