THE fourth annual Mzansi Fela Festival is back at the South African State Theatre and if you are a sucker for beautifully produced and directed productions you can catch it for two weeks next month.

Equally exciting is the fact that Zindala Zombini Festival will form an integral part of of Mzansi Fela Festival.

Happening over 12 days the festival, which features music, dance, drama, comedy and poetry, runs from December 1 to 12.

Setting the ball rolling will be a march from the Union Buildings to Lillian Ngoyi Square. Since December 1 is also World Aids Day a moment of silence will be observed.

The day's programme will feature performances by the sensational and glamorous Chomee, currently the queen of pop.

Also on the menu are pantsula and gumboot dancers, giant puppets and DJs from Top Stereo FM.

Returning to stage by popular demand after last year's festival are Ringo Madlingozi, Lira, Thandiswa Mazwai, HipHop Pantsula, aka HHP, and Rhythmic Elements.

The stars will again share the stage with up-and-coming bands from around Gauteng.

Gospel lovers won't be left out this time since Keke Phoofolo will grace the stage.

Threads, this year's poetry offering, is combined with dance and is a cross-cultural and cross-generational artistic collaboration between legendary choreographer and cultural activist Sylvia Magogo Glasser and Lebo Mashile, one of South Africa's celebrated young literary voices.

Audiences can also experience a night of comedy in the company of their favourite comedians - Kedibone Mulaudzi, Ntobeko "Ntosh" Madlingozi, Mel Miller, Sifiso Nene and Chris Forrest.

Theatre lovers will be able to see Phillipa Yaa de Villiers' Original Skin, Umshado, conceived by Kenneth Bogosi Bolokwe, and Colour Blind, directed by Bongani Linda.

The Zindala Zombini Festival, which used to be staged at Park Station in Johannesburg, is an African music and dance festival and fits in perfectly with the Fela Festival.