Performing Arts HOD invited to perform solo concert in Sofia, Bulgaria

Dr Rostislava Pashkevitch-Ngobeni performed at the International Women’s Day celebrations in her native Bulgaria for the first time when she was just six years old.

Dr Rostislava Pashkevitch-Ngobeni, Head of the Department of Performing Arts, Faculty of Arts and Design at the Tshwane University of Technology, has been invited to perform a solo piano concert in Sofia, Bulgaria, to celebrate International Women’s Day. Now, she has been invited back to perform once more, this time as the headline act at a concert celebrating International Women's Day 2026.

Dr Pashkevitch-Ngobeni, Head of the Department of Performing Arts at the Faculty of Arts and Design of the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), vividly recalls that special day as both a celebration of women and her first performance in front of an audience.

Velika Koleva, her granny and the day's keynote speaker, who was also a fierce activist for women’s rights, was informed by the event director that there was a serious problem with the programme: the scheduled pianist had fallen ill, so there would be no piano performance.

Without hesitating, her grandmother informed the director that this was not a problem at all and that her granddaughter would perform instead. It was a special moment for six-year-old Rostislava, who walked proudly onto the stage, bowed to the thousands of women gathered to celebrate the strength and power of women and performed a prelude by Anna Magdalena Bach.

On 5 March, Dr Pashkevitch-Ngobeni will perform a solo piano concert entitled From Africa with Love at the Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski. This time, she will perform more than just one piece.

This concert is part of the celebrations for International Women’s Day on 8 March and will feature music by Miriam Makeba, Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, and others. The performance celebrates the profound artistic contributions of women, whose voices transformed music history and advanced messages of dignity, empowerment and love.

An excited Dr Pashkevitch-Ngobeni says that she will also perform pieces by Mango Groove and Bob Marley, with her own unique twist, of course. In addition, she will perform one of her own compositions, What Kind of Love Is This, from the musical King Inna Da Jungle, which celebrates the life of South African reggae pioneer Carlos Ddedje with whom she had a special bond. The latter, written by her, was performed to great acclaim a couple of years ago.

Interestingly, Dr Pashkevitch-Ngobeni notes that Marley’s No Woman No Cry, which will form part of her repertoire, is not actually about a man crying because he doesn't have a woman. Rather, she says, the popular song is a message of comfort, resilience and hope, offering reassurance to those experiencing poverty and hardship.

Beyond the performance itself, this project promotes an important cultural dialogue between Africa and Europe by strengthening artistic collaboration and honouring the global influence of women through music.

A CD will be produced based on professional recordings undertaken from 1 to 6 March.

Dr Pashkevitch-Ngobeni received an invitation to perform at the event from Associate Professor Hristo Karagyozov from the Faculty of Educational Studies and the Arts at the Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski. Associate Professor Karagyozov taught her the rudiments of recording techniques and mixing as her lecturer in Stage and Studio Technology.

“International Women’s Day is widely celebrated in Eastern Europe, in many different places and contexts,” says Dr Pashkevitch-Ngobeni.

“In Sofia, it typically features a mix of events focused on women’s rights and achievements, as well as gender equality. The specifics can vary from year to year, but arts and culture play a significant role,” she adds.

Her visit also coincides with Baba Marta, a Bulgarian tradition celebrated on 1 March each year. “It’s a folk holiday that welcomes the arrival of spring. The day is all about health, happiness, renewal and women.”

Her mother, Prof Natalia Tsoneva, who is also a celebrated performing artist and teacher, will be in the audience at her concert. The concert will therefore be a fitting tribute to her mother, who has played a significant role in her musical career and who is one of her staunchest supporters.

Dr Pashkevitch-Ngobeni was born in Moscow, Soviet Union, and was raised in Sofia, Bulgaria, where she received her musical training before moving to South Africa later in life. She joined the TUT Faculty of Arts and Design on 1 September 1999.

Her visit to Bulgaria is part of the South African Music Technology, Innovation and Capacity-building (SAMTIC) project, which is funded by the Erasmus+ programme.

TUT plays a leading role in the project, which brings together universities from South Africa and the European Union with the aim of transforming music education at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in South Africa.