THE acclaimed local musical, African Footprint, is back in the country to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

THE acclaimed local musical, African Footprint, is back in the country to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

After touring the US, China and India, the show returns to South Africa to celebrate its decade-long run with a four-week season from May 27 to June 20 at Emperors Palace in Gauteng.

This dazzling musical fuses the hypnotic heartbeat of the African drum, penny whistle, kwela-jive, traditional gumboot, tap, contemporary ballet and hip-hop pantsula.

Since it was produced in 1999 African Footprint, now South Africa's longest-running show, has continued to spread its uplifting message of optimism to large parts of Europe, the US, Australia, India, China, Monte Carlo, Israel, Mexico, Lebanon and most recently, France.

Ten years after its world premiere on May 11 2000, the show has continued to bring something uniquely African to audiences wherever they were.

The show features a very talented and energetic cast that has for all these years kept up the momentum of the show.

African Footprint has produced stars such as Keabetswe Motsilanyane, aka KB, and Khabonina Qubeka.

Producer and creator Richard Loring says: "Having performed before kings and queens, princes, presidents and heads of government and savoured global success, there is no place where the cast would rather be than in South Africa, supporting our team Bafana Bafana at a time when the whole world will be watching our country during the Fifa 2010 World Cup."

Theexhilarating African Footprint has won a number of awards at home and abroad.

In 2003 it won Three Vita Awards, two Naledi Awards and also a Freedom of the City plaque from Atlanta in the US.