One of the most exciting performances at Winter Magic 2008 will be Company Gongoma's the Mermaid's Daughter. Come with us on a journey into the music and shadows of West Africa. Based on an incredible true story. The performance will take place at 12:30pm in the Clarendon Guesthouse Theatre, one of Katoomba's finest performance spaces.

This is a delicate and powerful musical/shadow puppetry experience that has been captivating audiences across Australia.

The story was inspired by the experiences of Miriam Lieberman (Writer and Musical Director), who lived in shanty towns while study traditional music in West Africa. A young girl who couldn't walk was told by the Maribu Healer that she was the stolen child of a sea spirit. After making offerings to the sea she was miraculously able to walk.

The story was inspired by the experiences of Miriam Lieberman (Writer and Musical Director), who lived in shanty towns while study traditional music in West Africa. A young girl who couldn't walk was told by the Maribu Healer that she was the stolen child of a sea spirit. After making offerings to the sea she was miraculously able to walk.“It brought home to me the magical dimension of African reality that is very, very real for the people there. This was, and continue to be, the inspiration for The Mermaid's Daughter,” Lieberman said.

Through traditional songs accompanied by Kora (African harp), Balaphone (wooden xylophone) and guitar, both children and adults will be taken on a journey from the land to the bottom of the sea. Since 2006, Company Gongoma has been performing and conducting workshops across Australia.