Zanele Mazibuko has always hated the violin. And the flute? Forget it. For a child growing up in the black township of Soweto, she said, those instruments represented a distant world of white privilege, beyond a seemingly uncrossable racial divide.

But last week, something began to change her mind. It was a live performance by Freshlyground, one of South Africa’s hottest bands, which features both a violin and a flute — not to mention five white members out of seven. The music, a fusion of rock, jazz and Afro-pop, sounded “black,” Mazibuko said, delighted and amazed.

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FOR traditional tastes and sounds of Africa, the Exotiful stall at the Taste of Tasmania is one to try. A newcomer to the Taste, the stall, No. 32, was a hit from the opening minutes of the food and beverage festival.

Taste-goers were quick to seize on the goat meat and seafood dishes cooked in traditional West African ways. They were also drawn in by the huge, colourful banner overhead, the stall workers’ black and red outfits and upbeat African music.

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