King David Linksfield brings Marimba magic to Israel

OWN CORRESPONDENT

Created six years ago, the KDL Marimba Band, is made up of eight King David students between the ages of 12 and 14. They are trained on a weekly basis by extra-curricular teacher Joan Lithgow, who is Musical Director for nongovernmental organisation Education Africa.

The Israel trip and the opportunity to share the passion and musical talent of these youngsters internationally has been the long-time dream of Darryl Frankel, the Vice-Principal of King David Senior Primary School Linksfield.

After a lot of hard work and many hours of planning and discussions, the dream became a reality. Together with Partnership2Gether and the Israel Centre, the marimba band will tour and perform around the Beit/Shemesh/Mateh Yehuda region, bringing a taste of Africa to Israel.

The group took three combination marimbas and one bass marimba with it to Israel. These marimbas will be left in Israel after the students return to South Africa. Lithgow will train some of Har Tuv’s music teachers so that they are able to teach their students how to play the marimbas. The intention is that this musical collaboration will facilitate the creation of a Har Tuv Marimba Band, strengthening the partnership between King David Schools in South Africa and their partner schools and regions in Israel.

The students will perform at all three of King David Primary Schools’ twinning schools. Pupils will be hosted by families on Kibbutz Tzora for the duration of their stay. The trip will include a visit to Jerusalem, where the group will busk at the Ben Yehudah Market, culminating in a concert for the community of Beit Shemesh.

The trip is a powerful venture, giving South African Jewish children the opportunity to play traditional African instruments and share their African heritage in a unique manner. It enhances the twinning endeavour between King David and Har Tuv, and represents South African Jewry in a culturally relevant and meaningful way.