Durban-born Indian classical musician Kerolin Govender and Johannesburg-based violist Lynn Daphne Rudolph will represent South Africa at the BRICS Summit Symphony in New Delhi, India, on Saturday.
The pair will perform alongside an ensemble of about 100 artists and musicians from BRICS nations before heads of state and international dignitaries attending the 18th BRICS Summit.
As BRICS Chair for 2026, India is hosting the summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, bringing together leaders of BRICS member and partner countries, as well as outreach invitees. President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in India on Friday.
Govender and Rudolph were selected for the prestigious international cultural programme following an invitation extended through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), under India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
The musicians said they were honoured and grateful to have been given the opportunity to represent South Africa on such a significant international stage.
Govender said: "Performing alongside such a large and diverse group of artists has given us the opportunity to engage with music, cultures and instruments that we never imagined we would explore.
"It has been truly wonderful to discover the unique musical traditions and instruments from different nations. Even though there have been challenges, including using Google translate to communicate with some of the international artists, music has proven to be our most powerful common language," said Govender.
He added that once the musicians begin playing together, differences in language and background become less important.
"It has been a beautiful reminder that music has the ability to connect people across borders and cultures," he said.
He said much of their work extends towards sharing collaborative and inclusive music as South African artists.
"Our participation reflects the rich cultural diversity of South Africa and our ability to embrace different musical traditions," he said.
His own musical journey has been shaped by Indian classical music, alongside a deep interest in and exploration of African musical traditions.
His work seeks to connect people and place, allowing audiences to experience the commonality that exists across musical traditions, which is love.
For Govender, the BRICS collaboration represents that philosophy and his own South African identity as an Indo-African celebration.
Rudolph, meanwhile, is bringing the South African township sound of Kwela to the international stage.
With her practice rooted in Western classical technique and a master’s degree in viola performance, Rudolph combines her classical training with the township style to showcase the diversity of South African music and identity.
The BRICS performance has been specially developed as a collaborative symphony, bringing together the musical identities and traditions of participating countries in a single production.
The overall arrangement incorporates a range of cultural styles and has been developed under the direction of the Indian musical team, with musical director Pandit Madho Prasad playing a key role in bringing the orchestral arrangement together.
Govender said rehearsals with the wider ensemble had been both demanding and exciting.
"We’ve been working tirelessly to contribute, particularly because artists from different countries bring different musical backgrounds and approaches. Some of the artists read from sheet music while others play by ear, but in the end the music comes together for the shared goal of the BRICS Symphony. Seeing everything gradually come together has been remarkable," said Govender.
Both Govender and Rudolph have previous international and Indo-African performance experience, but they said working with such a diverse group of musicians on one symphonic production had been a particularly unique experience.
Adding to the significance is the opportunity to perform before some of the world’s most powerful heads of state.
Govender said it has been inspiring, humbling and incredibly enriching this week in India.
"Music gives us a common language, despite our different cultures and backgrounds. Being here in New Delhi, representing South Africa on a platform of this magnitude, is something I am deeply grateful for. We are proud to share our country’s diversity and musical heritage with the world and to contribute to a celebration of unity through culture and music," he said.
taschica.pillay@nationalmg.co.za