4 min readPuneFeb 12, 2025 07:57 PM IST
First published on: Feb 12, 2025 at 07:56 PM IST
It was from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the anti-apartheid activist and Nobel Laureate from South Africa, that most people in other countries first heard the term Ubuntu, signifying an African philosophy that is difficult to translate into a Western language.
Ubuntu refers to an intricate interrelationship of a person with others. One of the highlights of the Ruhaniyat festival in Pune’s Empress Garden on February 15 is ‘Ubuntu: The Spirit of Togetherness’ by musicians Dumza Maswana and Volley Nchabeleng.
Maswana says that Ubuntu is at the heart of African culture. “Despite our diverse backgrounds and traditions, Ubuntu unites us. For Volley and me, who come from different places and ethnic groups, music and Ubuntu have become the threads that weave us together. That’s one common value we also noted in India,” he says.
Nchabeleng adds that theirs is a collaborative performance that merges the sounds from the Northern province of South Africa and the Western Cape province. “Dumza is known as an Afro Jazz artist, and I am a percussionist and specialist in African indigenous instruments. Together, we encourage unity and peace,” says Nchabeleng.
Ruhaniyat, organised by Banyan Tree Events of Mumbai, is a music festival that draws from the treasure trove of works of saints, mystics and spiritual traditions worldwide. Most of these count as “intangible cultural heritage” that have been passed orally through generations and over millenniums. The line-up at this year’s Ruhaniyat in Pune includes Sivasri Skandaprasad, a versatile personality whose achievements include proficiency in Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam.
In January 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X that a rendition by Sivasri “beautifully highlights the spirit of devotion to Prabhu Shri Ram. Such efforts go a long way in preserving our rich cultural heritage”.
Another renowned artist at Ruhaniyat is Mir Mukhtiyar Ali, a folk and Sufi vocalist from the semi-nomadic Mirasi community of Rajasthan. Singer Nandesh Umap invokes the feminine force through his performance, while the Nizami brothers bring their quintessential qawwali to Pune.
The African troupe has been listening to some of this music on their travels in the country. Maswana and Nchabeleng have been visiting India for the past few years.
“The experience is always the same – warm, welcoming and friendly. It will be my first performance in Pune, though,” he says.
Musician Volley Nchabeleng.
Nchabeleng grew up in a musical family so it is not easy to tell when he started playing. In 2000, he decided to become a professional musician. “The colonialism and oppression that South Africa experienced, has affected the value of our indigenous musical instruments and music in general. I try my best to be an ambassador of African instruments,” he says.
Maswana, too, started performing at a very young age, at his grandmother’s hut. “She taught me to sing, dance and tell stories, and the importance of it all. I never studied music formally, but learning from elders and artists who loved and respected the craft is a blessing,” he says.
“I’m thrilled to be performing in India, as it presents a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with local artists. This aligns perfectly with the spirit of the Ruhaniyat festival, which celebrates creative exchange and collaboration. For every show, we share ideas and create something special and memorable for the audience,” says Maswana.
Musician Dumza Maswana. (Express Photo) 
Musician Volley Nchabeleng.
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