In true Hlengiwe Mhlaba fashion, the night will be filled with deeply spiritual moments and special surprises. Mhlaba promises a powerful lineup of songs, featuring her greatest hits such as Sewakhile and Rock of Ages, along with new music that will continue to inspire worshippers for years to come. Fans can expect a night filled with heartfelt praise and worship, as well as surprise guest appearances, including a special reconciliation moment with an artist she has reconnected with after years apart.

Reflecting on her two decades in gospel music, Mhlaba acknowledges and says: 

“This recording is not just about me—it’s about everyone who has been part of my journey. Every song I’ve ever sung has been for the people, to uplift, heal, and draw them closer to God. I look forward to celebrating with you all.”

She describes the live recording and her journey as a thanksgiving to God and a testament to God’s grace, recognising the highs and lows she has endured throughout her career. As one of South Africa’s most celebrated gospel artists, she has been honoured with multiple South African Music Awards (SAMAs), Crown Gospel Music Awards, and many other accolades, cementing her legacy in the industry.

With a career that has taken her to some of the most historic stages, including Nelson Mandela’s state memorial service at FNB Stadium, Mhlaba remains a beacon of gospel ministry. She is known not only for her commanding voice but also for her ability to connect with people on a spiritual level, ensuring that every performance becomes an act of healing and worship.

As anticipation builds for this special night, Mhlaba invites her fans to join her in celebrating two decades of gospel music and ministry. She promises an unforgettable evening where worshippers will come together to praise, reflect and experience the presence of God through song.

Tickets are available from R250 via WebTickets.

The event brought together representatives from the FAO Representation in South Africa, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the Royal Norwegian Embassy in South Africa, local fisheries experts, and students from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, to reflect on the Programme’s role in supporting partner countries with cutting-edge research and capacity development.

Hilde Dahl from the Norwegian Embassy in South Africa shaking hands with Merete Tandstad, EAF-Nansen Programme Coordinator at FAO. Image cred_ FAO Mfundo Mthiyane

A long-running fisheries initiative

The R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen is an integral part of the EAF-Nansen Programme, one of the longest-running fisheries development initiatives of Norway, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Since 1975, the Programme has provided data and capacity building that has contributed to critical advancements in ecosystem-based fisheries management, improved scientific understanding of marine resources, and informed policy decisions.

Norway’s Minister of International Development, Åsmund Aukrust, recognizes the positive impacts of the well-established partnership between FAO and Norway. “The EAF-Nansen Programme has always been at the forefront of advancing the scientific knowledge needed to sustainably manage marine ecosystems. Norway is immensely proud of this longstanding partnership, which continues to drive innovative research and responsible ocean governance”.

Following a morning of presentations and roundtable discussions, guests had the opportunity to explore the facilities aboard, guided by the captain, scientists, and crew from the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR) who operate the vessel.

Through demonstrations of the advanced equipment and technology, they gained firsthand insights into key areas of marine science, including fisheries acoustics, fisheries biology and species identification, oceanography, and bottom habitat mapping. This experience allowed them to see how the research surveys generate data and information that are shaping the future of fisheries management and marine conservation.

The Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF), which the Programme champions, has been instrumental in shifting fisheries management from a species-specific focus to an approach that considers ecological, human, and socio-economic factors. FAO recognizes this approach as the leading framework for achieving sustainable fisheries and as crucial in meeting the targets set out under Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14): Life Below Water.

“A healthy and productive ocean is vital to ensure aquatic foods contribute further to food security and nutrition efforts. But with 600 million people worldwide relying on the sector for their livelihood, their own sustainability is critical when discussing fisheries management objectives. It is this balance that allows us to manage resources effectively, safeguarding them, and the communities that depend on them” said Manuel Barange, FAO Assistant Director-General and Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division. “This is precisely the mission of the EAF-Nansen Programme: Bringing science into action to secure sustainable fisheries, for future generations.”

Tackling future challenges

The EAF-Nansen Programme is executed in close collaboration IMR, regional organizations and its partner countries. Since its inception, it has worked with 58 countries across Africa, Asia and South America, assisting them in both fisheries management and research for improved food and nutrition security.

In the 1970s, it conducted exploratory surveys to identify new fish resources in the Indian Ocean. By the 1980s and 1990s, the Programme had broadened its efforts, mapping and monitoring the key resources within partner countries and expanding surveys to Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In the 2010s and 2020s, its research focus expanded to tackle the rising pressures of overfishing, pollution and climate change.

The Programme's research vessel sailed 675 000 nautical miles from 1993 to 2023 and carried out 422 surveys, generating data and information that have informed more than 100 scientific publications.

Despite the Programme’s successes, significant challenges remain. These include the impacts of climate change, marine pollution, biodiversity loss, and unsustainable practices, all of which continue to threaten ocean sustainability. Because of the urgent need to address these issues, the EAF-Nansen Programme will continue to play a crucial role in ensuring that fisheries can go on providing food and livelihoods for millions of people.

This year also marks and coincides with the 40^th Anniversary of the untimely passing of her beloved daughter Bongi Makeba (December 20, 1950 – March 17, 1985).  Born Angela Sibongile Makeba, Bongi Makeba blossomed into a creative artist in her own right, both as a singer and a songwriter; where she distinguished herself by composing popular liberation songs such as: “A Luta Continua”, “West Wind”, “Witch Doctor (Isangoma)”, “Ngoma Kurila”, “Quit It” etc. all sung by her mother Miriam Makeba and herself.

The profound respect for the life of Mama Africa is rooted in the significance of the role she played in our nation’s history. Miriam Makeba’s pure vocal prowess enchanted audiences all over the country the moment they heard her sing. Once the world caught a glimpse of her innocent African Beauty and the voice weaving stories of our African narrative, they were no different.

Trailblazing a path through African Townships in and around Johannesburg, the legend of Miriam Makeba was born, and the approaching inevitability to international exposure to a uniquely South African singing style only cemented the fact that, young Miriam Makeba was a songbird destined to spread her wings, and fly all over the World, using her God given talents enthralling audiences wherever she went.

The inherent humanity of a young Miriam Makeba possessed was never in question. It was the expression of African Beauty and talent that the rest of the world had never associated with the African Continent. To say that she was a trailblazer was an understatement. Socially conscious, immensely talented, culturally comfortable, Miriam Makeba’s signature voice enchanted audiences all over the World. Teaching us and reminding so many of us, in her inimitable way that, in essence, although the brutality of an Apartheid South Africa regime that she was born into, Miriam Makeba was uncompromising in addressing the fact that Man’s cruelty to another could never cancel out an essential reality we all live with. Specifically, that racism is ugly, dead-end hatred.

The ideals and values of the late Dr. Miriam Makeba live in the Foundation which bears her name, and the Miriam Makeba Centre For Girls in Midrand, Johannesburg. Giving expression to the deeply held beliefs Miriam Makeba embraced throughout her lifetime – specifically, that Women, especially young women deserve committed resources to empower those women that society has disempowered. What else captures the essence of who the late Dr. Miriam Makeba was as a person? We would be hard pressed to find an answer to that question.

Needless to say, the power of Mama Africa’s voice activates in so many of us, deep impacting memories, where our emotions have been easily touched because a lasting connection has been made that will last a lifetime and for generations to come.

Her music has influenced many well-established female artists such as: Thandiswa Mazwai, Angelique Kidjo, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Simphiwe Dana, Somi, Zenzi Makeba Lee (the granddaughter who wrote the song “Homeland”) etc. just to name a few.