Traditional songs and dance from Zimbabwe, delivered with passion, integrity, and humour
GUELPH, ON February 3, 2026 — With more than three decades of international touring, this entertaining troupe is one of South Africa’s most revered performance ensembles known for high-energy, soulful, harmonious a cappella, traditional dance, and colourful handmade costumes. Part of the Sleeman-Spring Mill Music Series, Black Umfolosi International comes to River Run Centre’s Main Stage on Thursday, February 26 at 8 p.m.
In 1982, in the city of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, a group of students wanted a means of entertaining themselves and their community — this is how Black Umfolosi started. From there, the original six members spent many years growing and gaining popularity and respect while touring the world.
About four decades later, in 2023, Black Umfolosi International (BUI) was formed as the Canadian branch of the original troupe. BUI consists of six passionate and talented artists who continue to represent original African performance around the world.
The group specializes in imbube music, a form of a cappella made popular by the famous South African choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. BUI puts their own twist on the genre with a fusion of traditional Zulu music and more modern genres, performed in the Ndebele and Zulu languages of South Africa.
Along with their singing, the group incorporates traditional Zulu dance throughout the performance. One of the highlights is their rendition of gumboot dancing, an art form with a rich history, which evolved in the mining camps of South Africa. This physically demanding movement features bare-chested dancers wearing hard hats and long rubber boots, simultaneously playing percussion while dancing.
The Sleeman-Spring Mill Music Series is supported by sponsors Sleeman Breweries and Spring Mill Distillery. River Run also thanks Season Sponsor Richardson Wealth, as well as the Government of Canada, for helping to bring this show to Guelph.
Tickets to Black Umfolosi International are $49 for adults, $47 for patrons over 60 years old, $39 for those under 30, and $29 for those under $14. Sliding Scale tickets are available for $10 and $20. Subscribe & Save 20% when you buy tickets to four or more shows. For more information or to purchase, call 519-763-3000, visit River Run’s Box Office at 35 Woolwich Street in Guelph, or go to https://riverrun.ca/whats-on/black-umfolosi-international/.
FOR INFORMATION
Kasia Rusiniak | Program Manager, Development and Marketing
River Run Centre | City of Guelph
519-837-5662 ext. 2589
[email protected]