copyright Derek Gripper, performance not to be reproduced without the express consent of the artist

PANEL: On Heritage

The conference includes two musical performances. Derek Gripper’s performance cannot be easily categorised, drawing from the heritages and cultures of music including the kora music of Mali and J.S. Bach. Mancoba’s art, likewise, is difficult to categorise, reflecting his engagement with other cultures and his striving for that which unites us.

Derek Gripper is a Cape Town-based guitarist who performs all over the world. He is best known for his transcription, note for note, of the complex compositions of Malian kora musician Toumani Diabaté for the six string guitar. The resultant album, “One Night on Earth”, formed an unprecedented meeting point between written tradition of Western classical music and oral tradition of the West African griots. Gripper has also composed original music based on his diverse influences from Africa, Mali, Senegal, The Gambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Arvo Part, and Egberto Gismonti. He has also spent many years performing and recording his own translations of Bach’s violin and cello music, infusing his interpretations with his lessons from the oral traditions of Africa.

Find out more about Derek Gripper at https://www.derekgripper.com/