The Southern Right Hotel (SRH) has its very own Comedy Cabaret Tent, and to mix things up a bit the popular southern peninsula hotel, pub and restaurant will be hosting a medley of comedians and musicians. Visitors will also be treated to a magician and a circus!

The Right Tent will be home to Sampson Interactive every Friday night at the Southern Right. It has been described as a hilarious variety experience that is a stylish and contemporary alternative to the standard three comics or musical cabaret.

Art is not as well supported in South Africa as it should be. It pales in popularity when compared to music and dance productions and even theatre. It’s seen as a very niche form of entertainment, supported by the cliquey wealthy, but most South African art is, more often than not, reflective of general society and, as such, should be enjoyed by all demographics in the country. This holiday, as a special treat, or just to try something different, we recommend you try some of the following:

South African Photography 1950 – 2010: Apartheid – Struggle – Freedomclaims to be the most comprehensive attempt to showcase South Africa’s history and culture in a range of photographic collections from various famous photographers and publications, including Bonile Bam, Jodie Bieber, David Goldblatt, Gedeon Mendel, Santu Mofokeng, and DRUM magazine.

Johannesburg art gallery, Gallery MOMO, will be hosting a retrospective exhibition by Nigerian photographer JD Okhai Ojeikere in the coming New Year.

From 3 February until 28 March 2011 the Gallery invites visitors to come and explore JD Okhai’s work. The exhibition is titled “Sartorial Moments and the Nearness of Yesterday” and will feature a poignant selection of images that interact with modern notions and nationalism through fashion.

JD Okhai recently celebrated his 80^th birthday and is well-known for his documentation of Nigerian hairstyles common in the 60s and 70s. “Sartorial Moments” was jointly curated by CCA (Centre for Contemporary Art) artistic director, Bisi Silva, Gallery MOMO curator and director, Monna Mokoena and Foto Ojeikere. The exhibition is intended to serve as a reminder to the public that Ojeikere also recorded the independence era fashions with his camera lens.

Die Antwoord is South Africa’s biggest music export for 2010. The scraggy Zef group, which consists of Ninja, Yo-lande Vi$$er and DJ Hi-Tek, hit the big time with their single “Enter the Ninja”. The song dominated South African airwaves, but also had major international success in the US, Australia and all across Europe. They stole the show at the Coachella Californian music festival, with the LA Times, NY Times and Dita von Teese singing their praises. Katy Perry has quoted their lyrics on Twitter and UK actor Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) has also tweeted his Die Antwoord fanaticism.

Most people are already full of Christmas cheer as the festive season starts off with gift shopping, the end of the work year and lots of lunch and dinner parties.

If that’s not enough to keep you well and busy, here are some more exciting cultural and entertaining events happening in Durban.

Peter Pan Adult Panto: This show has been running for an astonishing 14 years and Durban’s adult panto team promise a great show this year as they offer their take on Peter Pan. It is currently running at the Musgrave Supper Theatre at the Musgrave Centre. It is a naughty but nice festive season show which will run until 31 December. For enquiries contact Ailsa on 083 250 2690 or ailswn@mweb.co.za.

‘Tis the festive season here in South Africa and there are some great events happening all over the country that should not be missed!

Carols go jazz: This soulful jazz-inspired Christmas carol evening will take place at Howard College theatre, KwaZulu Natal on 17 and 18 December. It focuses on a new twist to traditional carols by adding jazz elements and some swing. Standard Bank Young Artist award winner, Melanie Scholtz, will be performing for guests.

Tickets are R100 at the door or through Computicket.

First National Bank presents Dolphins by Starlight: This year FNB’s spectacular event, Dolphins by Starlight, is set to wow audiences at the uShaka Marine World in Durban. You can see this splashy event between 14 and 18 December. Kids will love this show which, according to Wayne Scott who hosts it, really embraces the spirit of Christmas.

You can go and “shake your chakra” this December at the Summer Wellness Expo. It’s open from 10 to 12 December at the Florida Road Park opposite Spiga D’Oro in Durban.

The expo will be partnering with the Celebrate Terra Madre Day, Rights Based Network and Ethekwini Municipality on the Saturday to present EATIN Durban. The slow food concept of the EATIN event encourages the community to buy locally produced food, cook together and enjoy the food together in a set up with long tables, sharing is encouraged.

During the festive period this is a great way to spread the feeling of acceptance and giving. Participants are asked to share their knowledge of food and spread awareness about nutrition and how vital good, clean food is.

South African officials had hoped that hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup would place us on the world map. And, seemingly, it has. South African advertising has seen a boost, the country was held in high regard in reaction to a well-hosted Soccer World Cup, and we’ve already seen a spate of international music-stars rock out on our stages. And there’s even more to come: Roxette, Rammstein, Faithless and more are all coming to SA.

30 Seconds to Mars and Crowded House recently played at the Grandwest Casino and Entertainment World to a packed and excited audience. U2 has been causing a stir with their 360 degree tour set to arrive on South African soil early next year; the show at Cape Town Stadium has already sold out. But there is still more excitement to come and locals are loving it.

Cirque du Soleil is an internationally famous circus act known for its astounding physical feats and original compositions. Less is know about its community programmes, which target at risk youths from around the world and enable them to reach their full potential by teaching them ground-based circus skills. South Africa is one of the countries to benefit from the Cirque du Monde programme, with a project in Ibhongolwethu, Khayelitsha for HIV positive children. Each year, on World Aids Day, the group performs at the Oliver Tambo Community Centre.

The South African chapter of Cirque du Monde is run by Zip Zap Circus, whose aim is much the same as that of the international circus, i.e., to enable youth at risk to develop the skills required to reach their full potential through circus acts. Médecins Sans Frontières is also a project sponsor.

Organisers of Up the Creek 2011 have blown out all the stops to secure a line up that will, as they put it, “blow the socks right off your washing lines back home while you are dancing to the beat at the river,”. Sounds lovely.

Taxi Violence, The Dirty Skirts, Jack Parow, Boo!, aKing, Flash Republic, Karen Zoid, Dan Patlansky, Piet Botha, No One’s Arc, The Rudimentals, Hot Water, Bed on Bricks, Blues Broers, Dave Ferguson, Akkedis, Fox Comet, Captain Stu, Black Cat Bones, Southern Gypsey Queens with Albert Frost, Natasha Meister and The Wild Eyes are all itching to give you a good time at the scenic venue alongside the Breede Rivier come 4 February – 6 February.