Betsie Greyling interviews author, activist and politician Mewa Ramgobin at the Phoenix Settlement as part of the oral history component of the Ulwazi Programme. He provided insight into the ‘forgotten’ history of the 1960s and 1970s at the Settlement, where people like Steve Biko, Alan Paton and Rick Turner congregated at work parties to discuss the politics of the day and strategies of resistance.

This month’s new submissions from our volunteer field-workers:

• Adams Mission‎
• Modern day Phoenix, Durban‎
• Water Development In Mpandwini Area, Umbumbulu‎
• Zulu supernatural powers‎
• A soccer star born in Durban‎
• Umlolozelo‎
• Founder of nozincwadi‎
• UMzinyathi Community Library‎
• 2010 World Cup Soccer Stadiums at uMzinyathi‎
• The Sledge (Isihlibhi)‎
• Impepho (Incense)‎
• Nkanyiso and Young Pirates‎

Sona Singh shares stories from her remarkable life with Betsie Greyling. As a singer, entertainer, race driver and world-traveller, Sona has experienced more in her life than most people will in several.

At 77 years old she’s still going strong, planning her next trip to India, teaching yoga and choreographing and producing her latest show.

Daring, innovative and controversial films and filmmakers from around the world will take the spotlight at the 31 st Durban International Film Festival which takes place from 22 July to 1 August. The festival programmers have scoured the globe for films that excite, thrill, raise awareness and provoke. These films will be presented in over 200 screenings at venues across Durban and in surrounding communities. Alongside the screenings of films, the festival offers an extensive workshop and seminar programme, as well as training and industry events. The festival is particularly pleased that, in a difficult funding climate, the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) has come aboard as a principal funder.

The festival will open with the world premiere of Khalo Matabane’s State Of Violence, a powerful tale of revenge, history and memory. The closing film is Josh Appignanesi’s hilarious comedy, The Infidel, about a British Muslim who discovers that he was born Jewish. Between these two outstanding films, film-lovers will find daring films from new talents, superb new works by established masters, award-winners from around the world, and an unprecedented number of world premieres of new South African films. Including State Of Violence, DIFF will present 9 World Premieres of South African feature films, as well as the African Premiere of Life, Above All, the recent Cannes hit directed by Oliver Schmitz (Mapantsula, Hijack Stories). South African feature films making their debut at the festival are Jahmil XT Qubekas’ stylish and original A Small Town Called Descent, starring Vusi Kunene and Hlubi Mboya, Jann Turner’s much-anticipated follow-up to White Wedding, Paradise Stop which features Rapulana Seiphemo and Kenneth Nkosi, the hilarious Attack Of The Indian Werewolf by Masood Boomgard, Jyoti Mistry’s striking experimental film The Bull On The Roof (Le Boeuf Sur Le Toit), Regardt van den Bergh’s charming The Incredible Adventures Of Hanna Hoekom (Die Ongelooflike Avonture van Hanna Hoekom), the gangland action film Jozi Kings by Jonathan Boynton-Lee and Jamie Ramsay, the inspirational Machansa by Muntu Zwane, and the quirky romantic comedy Visa/Vie by Elan Gamaker.

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