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South Africa Hosts World's Largest Marimba and Steelpan Festival

Marize de Klerk

   BOKSBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - South Africa hosted the world's largest
   marimba and steelpan festival July 27 and 28, with nearly 2,000
   musicians from around Africa, including Botswana, Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

   The festival -- now in its eighth year -- mixes traditional African,
   classical and even rap music.
   "As Africans, we encourage our students also to be dancing and singing
   and playing at the same time, because that's when you get the full
   benefit of the music," said Joan Lithgow of the Education Africa
   International Marimba and Steelpan Festival.

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