By: Nosipho Ntombela

Dim-Dep is a South African theatre production, by Atlas Philani Duma. Duma is the founder, author, director and producer of the production.

The name was inspired by the sound of the African drum, played with hands.

“As a drummer I take the sound that comes out when playing an African drum with hands as Dim- Dep,” says Duma.

“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,” he added.

The story talks about the 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.

Duma’s second project that he established is called Drums and Indigenous Music Development project. It involves learners doing grade 11 and 12 in Dramatic art music. In this project Duma worked with different high schools like Kwesethu high school, Sibonelo high school and Reunion High school.

Duma introduced Dim-Dep Faces of Environmental Success, theatre Production as a marketing tool for a music tuition program (Drums and Indigenous Development Project).

He works with Ntokozo Ngcobo, a niece of the Durban Municipality Mayor James Nxumalo, Cherise Hlengiwe Filen from Izwi lomzansi, Nonkululeko Mchunu and Lee Ngamlana who are growing in the industry. He is also working with a pianist by the name of Thobani Mbatha, one of his own students he taught as a Music director at Bat Centre and Smanga ‘DJ Sweet’ Bhengu.

The production is sponsored by KZN Department of Arts and Culture, Ethekwini Municipality and is supported by Izwi Lomzansi fm.

Dim-Dep features unlimited musical groove representing the changing historical landscape: from Afro Blues to mainstream Jazz, to Bebop, Cool Jazz, Modern Jazz, Pop, Hip-Pop, Maskandi, Afro Jazz and House.

The group will be perfoming at Ekhaya Multi Art Centre, KwaMashu on 14 to 20 September.