Traditional Xperience will be a cultural revolution for province
The sixth annual Mpumalanga Cultural Xperience will start in earnest on Saturday November 27 with a Traditional Xperience at Glenmore Sports Ground in the Mpisikazi Traditional Council (Gert Sibande District).
MBOMBELA – The Cultural Xperience is a celebration of the province’s rich cultural heritage in song, dance and traditional cuisine and will feature a variety of performing artists,” explained Sibongile Nkosi, the spokesperson for the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Recreation.
Last year the Traditional Xperience was held at Hhoyi, under the Ntiyi Traditional Council (Ehlanzeni District) and rotates to all the three districts. Although the festival is designed to promote cultural heritage and social cohesion, it also stimulates the local economy.
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“The Traditional Xperience attracts large numbers of revelers around the province, thereby playing a vital role to inject the much-needed stimulus in the economic activities of the province especially in the hospitality, transportation and the entertainment sector. The Traditional Xperience is growing in leaps and bounds and this year we expect visitors from other provinces to attend,” Nkosi added. She said the province implemented a 90/10 principle in sourcing and contracting artists and performances in all the pillars of the Cultural Xperience to enhance the geographic spread of the performing cohort and to blend the Mpumalanga talent with national.
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“Of the 133 artists booked for the festival, 118 are from Mpumalanga and only 15 are national. The Mpumalanga Cultural Xperience is not only about fun, but also a strong development element in the form of music creatives workshop,” Nkosi emphasised.
Other activities that form part of the Cultural Xperience include Carnival Xperience to be held on December 3 at Citrus Crescent (behind SARS and Pick n Pay) with a variety of colourful entertainment.
On December 4 the Choral Xperience, Xperience Marathon and Music Festival Xperience take centre stage at the Ermelo Civic Centre, GaMorwe Stadium and at the Mbombela Stadium.
Nkosi said tickets for the main festival at Mbombela Stadium are free, but limited to 1 500 spectators due to the Covid-19 regulations. On Sunday December 5, the Soul Session Xperience returns to the Lowveld Botanical Garden featuring national and local DJs. The Mpumalanga Gospel Music Awards ends the festivities on December 12, at Communio Church in Mbombela.
