What’s On: March 18 – 24

Music

• Itai Hakim, Book Lounge, 71 Roeland Street, Cape Town, March 18, 5:30pm. Folk-soul singer Itai Hakim will share the stage with musician Siya from the band The Brother Moves On. Itai is known for his haunting sounds that can be heard in his singles Ni Songo Xela and Ntodeni. Tickets R50 from the Book Lounge or pre-book at 021 4622 425. 

• Nicki Minaj, Grand West Casino, Cape Town, March 22, 9pm. United States hip-hop star Nicki Minaj is currently in South Africa as part of her Pinkprint tour. To date the Grammy-nominated rapper has sold over 50 million singles and 5 million albums worldwide. Tickets R490 – R990 from ticketpros.co.za 

• Major League Gardens, corner Nasrec & Rand Show, Jo’burg, March 19, 12pm until 2am. This social festival features outdoor activities and live music with a line-up that includes, Major League DJs, Big Nuz, Cassper Nyovest, Zola 7, Heavy K, Shimza, Emtee, Fifi Cooper, Riky Rick, Naak Musiq and many more. Tickets R200 – R650 from Computicket.     

• Patterns Sunday Sessions, Kitcheners, corner Juta and De Beer Street Braamfontein, Jo’burg, March 20, 2pm until 2am. Metro FM’s T-Deep will be playing a soulful house set this weekend, alongside QB and Bubbles. Free entry before 8pm and R20 thereafter.  

• Francofête, Sutton Park, Morningside, Durban, March 21, 4.30pm until 9.30pm. The fifth annual Francofête is a family event that consists of an evening sundowner music concert with an array of francophone world music. The concert line-up includes jazz musician Louis Mhlanga, Madagascar accordion player Regis Gizavo, Tricopdo, Les Fantastique / Fantastic Guys and Zisamo. There will also be a youth stage with music and storytelling by the legendary performer Gcina Mhlophe. Festivalgoers can also enjoy some French gastronomy at the various stalls. Free entry. Alliance.org.za 

• eThekwini Pride of Africa Fest, Moses Mabhida People’s Park, 44 Isaiahntshangase Road, Durban, March 19, 11am. This first ever music festival will feature performances by Thandiswa Mazwai, Thokozani Langa – Somnandi, Shwi Nomtekhala, Thobekile Mkhwanazi, Dreamteam and many more. Legendary playwright and actor Mbongeni Ngema will share the stage with Solomon Willy (Nigeria), Unity Band (Mozambique) and Hubert & Band (DRC). Tickets R65 (general) and R300 (VIP) from Computicket. Mmstadium.com. 

Fine Art

• Untitled (Bruise/Blue) and Photomontages, Stevenson Gallery, Cape Town, until April 2016. Untitled (Bruise/Blue) is a neon installation by New York artist Glenn Ligon, that was presented at his exhibition at the Camden Arts Centre in London in 2014. Cape Town-based artist Jane Alexander’s selection of black-and-white photomontages made between 1981 and 1995 will is also on display at the gallery. The montages were constructed by cut and paste, re-photographed and printed as silver gelatin prints on fibre-based paper. Stevenson.info

Photography

• We See You, Constitution Hill Women’s Jail, 11 Kotze Street, Jo’burg, 2017, until April 6. We See You is a photographic essay exhibition hosted by the collective I See A Different You. It features a selection of photographs that document the lifestyles of young people in the United Kingdom and South Africa. Constitutionhill.org.za 

Theatre 

• Chemumba’s Last Breath, South African State Theatre, 320 Pretorius Street, Pretoria, March 23, 24 & 26, 8pm. Written and directed by Mduduzi Nhlapo, Chemumba’s Last Breath is a fictional thriller that deals with themes such as bigotry, hegemony, corruption and basic human rights. The play tells the story of a Ugandan activist who has to deal with political popularity, the fight for civil rights and sexual freedom. Tickets R80 – R100 from computicket. Statetheatre.co.za 

Dance 

• Fire, South African State Theatre, 320 Pretorius Street, Pretoria, March 18 & 19, 8pm. Fire is a dance production that explores the various emotional phases that humans experience in circles of lives. These phases include suffering, destruction, depression and deprivation. The show aims to reignite a sense of purpose in the audience. The piece was choreographed and conceptualised by Lesego Baloyi. Tickets from computicket. Statetheatre.co.za