The Flames - Historic recent shot of a band of musicians who've been around since the mid 60's - The Flames - Steve Fataar, with brothers Blondie Chaplin & Ricky Fataar at the recent Durban's Metro Mayor the Hon. Obed Mlaba's Honour Awards ceremony - 22 September 2000 at the Awesome Africa Festival. Blondie has been with the Beach Boys' Brother Records for almost 30 years, in LA. Ricky still produces some major American & Australian artists & tours (on Drums and as producer) for the great Bonnie Raitte. Steve as we all know, has been a music landmark in Durban forever.... in the background chatting up the back-stage staff are Theo Bophela, Roger Lucey & Dan Chiorboli.

The Durban Mayor's Music Honour Awards will be an annual event - presented to Durban musicians who have contributed to local music. From Left to Right: Neill Solomon, Roger Lucey, Steve Fataar, Sandile Shange, Blondie Chaplin, Patti Nokwe, Ricky Fataar & Theo Bophela. Other than early Neill Solomon or 60's Flames hits, you will not hear any of these legends on your local supporting regional Radio Station - and the Arts & Entertainment media in Durban hardly even mentioned these awards. We tried to contact them but they were out to lunch - a record company meeting.

East Coast Radio - whose directors, incidentally include Johnny Clegg, Anant Singh & Anton Harbor (ex Mail & Guardian editor) - promoted the Awesome Africa Festival - through advertising the event; but the station will not play the 'world music' featured at this Awesome African Festival? Is this making any sense? Wait for it - "this music doesn't fit our format!" they say! "We love that music but our listeners wouldn't understand." Is this not a patronizing & arrogant music media philosophy? We wonder what the directors will discuss at the next bored meeting - transformation & Development of SAfrican Music? Well, let's see or hear what happens.

Last year's festival of The Awesome Africa Festival (ex Festival of Living Treasures) at the St. Lucia estuary celebrated the wetlands as an international heritage site (produced for the Lubombo Spatial Development - initiative by 3rd Ear Music - photographs courtesy of Steve Hilton-Barber).

14 Shabalala

Bob Brosman

Vice President Jacob Zuma - rickshaw to the stage

Jeremy Taylor & Manie Erasmus on stage

John Gcaba on the St. Lucia boat - photo by David Marks

Johanes Kerkorel on stage

Richard Nwambo (SAfm) with 3rd Ear Music's David Marks & Christopher Faya

Ray Phiri & Nico Carstens

Ndlamu Dancers gather - St. Lucia stage - photo by David Marks

David Marks (festival producer) & Andrew Zaloumis (lsdi director & festival promoter)

Sifiso Mngomezulu from the Zamani zulu dancers with Vice President Jacob Zuma

Madala Kunene - Drums across Denmark

David Marks and the Rickshaw planning the Living Treasures Festival

Lead Singer Nomti from Simba-Morri Band