Gauteng Carnival to hit the streets of Tshwane
JOBURG – Come and be blown away by Gauteng's biggest carnival that will hit the streets of Tshwane on 24 September.
Alexandra will contribute its fair share of performers when the City of Tshwane, better known as Jacaranda City, comes alive with colourful African costumes and various floats on 24 September.
Organised by the Gauteng Provincial Government’s Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation and the Carnival Company, headed by son of anti-apartheid icon Oliver Tambo, Dali Tambo, the carnival expects to attract more than 25 000 participants who will make their mark towards social cohesion.
Spectators and participants can look forward to magnificent floats, performers, musicians and dancers, with the procession starting at the Tshwane Events Centre.
Onlookers can expect to see floral floats designed by the Gabonese community, to party with Mantoya Dancers from the Spanish community, to listen to bagpipes and to watch several gleaming Hare Krishna chariots move through the streets.
There will also be a procession of stilt walkers, giant puppets and Samba dancers who will all give carnival-goers a glimpse into the country’s rich and diverse cultures.
Speaking at the launch in Newtown, head of the department, Ivor Hoff, standing in for the MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Faith Mazibuko, said the 11-year-old carnival is sure to thrill.
“The aim of the carnival is to endeavour to bring together our diverse communities in the country, from the African diaspora to the Chinese, Indian, Spanish and English communities, and various local acts [who will] spice up the carnival,” Hoff said.
Bongumusa Makhathini from one of the carnival’s sponsors, South African Breweries, said they had decided to use one of their brands, Redd’s to associate with the celebration and carnival atmosphere.
Rachel Tambo, wife of Dali Tambo and chief executive officer of the Carnival Company, said her company ‘lives and breathes the values of social cohesion and looks forward to celebrating the country’s unity in diversity with all the participants and partners this year in Africa’s biggest street party, in a joyous celebration of all the beautiful cultures’.
She said the carnival participants come from various communities within Gauteng, including areas like Alexandra, Diepsloot, Soweto and the Kathorus areas of Katlehong, Thokoza and Vosloorus.
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