DKMS Africa hosts Dancing Out of Cancer concert at Soweto Theatre

The event saw talented musicians, dancers and poets coming together to spread joy and promote healing through art.

According to the organisation, musicians like Maleh, Billy Monama, Ayanda Khumalo and Omega Khunou serenaded the audience, moving hearts, minds and bodies with their performances. Dancers from the Nomsa Manaka Dance Studio dazzled the crowd by transforming themselves into canvases for storytelling, conveying the emotions and narratives of the music.

A powerful accompaniment to the expressive dance and music performances was the poetry by Mak Manaka, Tsoana Nhlapo and Amantle. Together, these poets illuminated the power of language as a vessel for solace and inspiration, and their contributions served as a reminder of the therapeutic potency of art in the face of adversity, says DKMS Africa. 

Zweli Radebe, a blood cancer patient in desperate need of a transplant from a matching blood stem cell donor, also addressed the audience.

"Music, poetry and dance are so important during hard times. They have helped me to stay calm and happy despite my situation," Radebe says. 

With a donor from the same ethnic group being a patient's best chance for a match, DKMS Africa recruits donors of diverse ethnicities. But Black, Coloured, Indian and Asian patients are at a distinct disadvantage as there are few blood stem cell donors from among these groups, DKMS Africa says. 

"Our goal is to give every patient a fighting chance against blood cancer, but we cannot do it alone; we need partners, like Dancing Out of Cancer, in communities across the country to help us spread the message," says Palesa Mokomele, head of community engagement and communications at DKMS Africa.

Dancing Out of Cancer first premiered in 2021 as a fundraiser for Nomsa Manaka's cancer treatment following a recurrence of the disease after being in remission since 2016. Now, proceeds from 2023's event will be put towards the establishment of a foundation that will assist artists who have cancer as well as their families, adds DKMS Africa. 

"Our ultimate goal is to empower cancer patients and survivors to embrace life with renewed energy and optimism and to create a world where cancer is no longer a source of fear and despair but instead a reminder of the strength and resilience of the human spirit," concludes Manaka.

For more information, visit www.dkms-africa.org or contact DKMS Africa on 080 012 1082. You can also follow DKMS Africa on Facebook, X or on Instagram.