POLOKWANE – The Mapungubwe Arts Festival launch has given residents a forecast of the upcoming festival.
The launch, which afforded guests an opportunity to direct questions to the MEC of Sport, Arts and Culture, Onicca Moloi, also granted the Head of Department, Mortimer Mannya a chance to open the event.
According to Moloi, in launching the festival, they reflected on the values, principles and ideals that Oliver Tambo stood for.
International artists included in the line up are Tamia, Quincy Jones, Babyface, Brandy, Gladys Night, Davido and Chaka Khan.
“With the annual Mapungubwe Arts Festival, we reconnect with our rich cultural heritage as a people. The first activity of the Mapungubwe Arts Festival 2017 is the Cultural Street Festival that will take place on 30 November, the streets of Polokwane will be colourful and abuzz with excitement as we proudly parade our culture through song, dance and clothes from the SABC Park towards the Jack Botes Hall,” Moloi explained.
The launch took place on Thursday, 5 October at Sun Meropa.
“We will open the craft market at the Library Gardens precinct. None of the craftsmen and designers will pay to display their products there. To add some spark into the craft market, we will host the Cultural Fashion Show on the day it opens,” Moloi added.
Locals can expect to take part in the Mapungubwe Marathon, witness the Limpopo Legends Awards for young artists and enjoy musical performances by local and international artists.
The Bush Braai Festival as well as the main concert are two acclaimed musical performances which have been deemed as effective tools in promoting social cohesion.
“We have also lined up poetry and comedy sessions, theatre night and the film and video workshops. This year’s Indigenous Culinary Festival will feature celebrity chef Benny. The Indigenous Culinary Festival will be hosted in partnership with the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Using our locally indigenous fruit and food like avocados, chef Benny will share his secret recipes with us,” Moloi added.
The department has also partnered with the Sapa Yopa concert as well as the Major League concert.
“On 14 December, more than 20 cultural groups will perform at the Mapungubwe World Heritage Site, and all these cultural groups come from the five districts of our province. With the event, we aim at drawing attention to the site in order to attract more visitors, and out of 28 musicians who’ll perform at our two major concerts, 19 of them are local artists” she explained.
A detailed list of activities is now available on the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture website.
