The Sound of a Beating Drum

The title, Dim-Dep, is inspired by the sound that is produced by beating an African drum, especially by hands. It is also an abbreviation of Drum and Indigenous Music Development Project - an ongoing initiative run by Duma's Sagiya Productions.

Dim Dep: Faces of Environmental Success, has been made possible by KZN Department of Arts and Culture, Ethekwini Municipality and is supported by Izwi Lomzansi fm.

The cast comprises Nonkululeko Mchunu; Cherise Hlengiwe Filen; Ntokozo Ngcobo and Lee Ngamlana with music by Atlas Philani Duma; Smanga DJ Sweet Bhengu and Thonbani Mbatha.

The musical is classic "edutainment" - an engaging story with a strong environmental message. The story, crafted through a blend of dialogue, poetry, music, dramatic prose and monologues, is told over two time periods - contemporary urban and Stone Age. The narrators are two women, Sindy and Mpume, who meet in the rainforest near Drakensberg Mountains in KZN. Through flashbacks we reflect on the life of early men and women living in the mountains.

The story talks to responsible, environmentally-aware living, reminding audiences of the need to be self-sufficient, nurture the environment, minimize pollution, limit use of power and look back to age-old skills such as agriculture; 'emasimini' (crop fields); subsistence farming; responsible use of animal products and environmental sustainability.

"The story is a reminder to us all to take care of the environment," emphasizes writer / director Atlas Duma. "We are reminded that we cannot survive on digital devises alone! Other issues which are touched on, include awareness in cultural development and our rich heritage".

"I created Dim-Dep as an edutainment production that deals with community empowerment with regards to the conversation of natural resources as stipulated on the White Paper of Sustainable Development," says Duma.

The project is the brainchild of Atlas Duma, the founder, author, director and producer of Dim Dep Faces of Environmental Success. An experienced music facilitator, assessor of SAQA Units Standards that provide NQF Levels in arts education, he is registered with CATHSSETA and designs arts curriculum with teaching material and assessment tools. He possesses POE and all necessary templates for learners' assessments. Mr. Duma aims to introduce his tuition programmes to KZN DAC so as to be used in different arts centres.

The production runs at 1h30 no interval, and is perfect for school learners of history, geography, life-sciences; music, drama and English.