The Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation announced its plans for hosting the Gauteng Carnival 2015 during a fun-filled press conference held at Emoyeni Conference Centre, and festivities planned for this year’s event promise to be nothing less than spectacular.
The sole reason for organising an arts and culture event of this magnitude, according to the department, is to encourage social cohesion between the vast variety of communities and cultures residing within the province. Thus, this year’s carnival is aptly themed, South Africa belongs to all who live in it.
MEC for the department, Molebatsi Bopape, felt that the event was an important vehicle taking forward provincial government’s commitment towards nation building.
“Embracing our shared heritage signals the beginning of acceptance of one another,” stated Bopape.
“This is important regarding social cohesion and unity.”
Bopape added that Africa, and above all, the world, needed to unite, hence the necessity to make this a not-to-be-missed annual event where locals can gather, learn from each other and celebrate together.
“On Heritage Day, the world will witness the true character of Gauteng where our lions and lionesses will roar as they call everyone to an <ct:Italic>imbizo<ct:> of music and dance extravagance,” Bopape added.
The list of communities participating is certainly a long one, with numerous international and African cultures blending with the likes of traditional healers, bikers, the LGBTI community, non-profit organisations, sporting communities and environmentalists, to name but a few.
The entertainment will consist of a vast array of performances. Event-goers can look forward to carnival floats and performances by hip-hop, fusion, township, jazz, pantsula, samba and gumboot dancers. There will also be brass bands, Kaapse Klopse, drummies, giant puppets and much, much more.
Starting at 1pm, the carnival will begin at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria, and parade through the streets up to the Union Buildings.
However, the most important aspect to be noted is that entrance will be completely free for everyone.
Details: www.gautengcarnival.co.za
