Music is always a big part of Africa Day festivities, and this year is no exception. But there are also other activities on the go.

Dobet Gnahore is on the Africa Day Concert bill

SERIOUS issues like xenophobia will rub shoulders with entertainment at this year's Africa Day festivities. Workshops and exhibitions will explore complex questions and concerns, while music, dance, poetry and arts and crafts will add a lighter note.

The first free Africa Day Concert is planned for Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown on Saturday, 24 May, with Ishmael Lo, Ghorwane, Dobet Gnahore, Chiwoniso, Mapumba, Mahotella Queens, Australia's White Cockatoo, Zonke and Grammy Award winners Ladysmith Black Mambazo billed to perform.

It will be broadcast live on SABC 2 and SABC Africa from 8pm until 10.30pm, to over 50 African countries.

The weekend-long celebrations are being hosted by the City and the national Department of Arts and Culture and SABC 2, among other partners, and produced by Arts Alive. The promise is "to deliver the continent's hottest Africa Day festivities, in the form of a dizzying range of activities that will fire up the month of May in true African style", notes Marang Setshwaelo of Dreamcatcher, the festival's publicists.

History, heritage, culture
This year is the 45th Africa Day, observed on 25 May to commemorate the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity; it was later renamed the African Union. Africa Day was first held in 1963 as a platform to acknowledge and celebrate Africa's history, heritage and culture.

According to the organisers, this year's festivities will raise awareness about an assortment of issues. "The day represents African unity, and during the weekend of festivities the vibrancy and dynamism of African culture, in its many manifestations, will be highlighted," Setshwaelo explains.

Harambe Afrika Celebrates!, a craft exhibition running on Saturday, 24 May and Sunday, 25 May at Museum Africa, will feature crafters from Botswana, Swaziland, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. The exhibition is free to the public.

"[This should] showcase various aspects of African culture."

Crafts workshops, co-ordinated by Imbali, will take place in Region A with a focus on understanding issues around xenophobia and developing practical textile design skills based on African craft traditions. About 200 people are expected to attend, among them officials and members from the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), the Department of Home Affairs, Lawyers for Human Rights, the South African Council of Churches and the City's Migrants' Helpdesk.

Migrants' Helpdesk
Discussions will centre on issues like xenophobia, the rights and status of migrants entering South Africa either as refugees or asylum seekers, the type of documents they need and the existence of the Migrants' Helpdesk, set up to help these people.

"The City of Johannesburg commemorates Africa Day by engaging in cultural activities that are intended to bring the people of Africa together," reads a statement from the City.

In the build up to the final weekend concerts, there will be a battery of music festivals with local and international musicians from Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Democratic Republic of Congo. "The performance line-up is an incredible offering of the continent's talent," Setshwaelo says.

Craft exhibitions will be held at Jozi's museums, featuring works that explore the identities and tell the stories of the many peoples of Africa. Development programmes for the youth of Alexandra, Diepsloot and Soweto will be showcased.

The Africa Day Evening Out will be hosted at Newtown and Braamfontein restaurants such as Cappellos, Sophiatown, Nikki's and Bassline, with DJs and up-and-coming artists providing entertainment on the night of Saturday, 24 May.

Music
A music competition and exhibition has been planned for Mofolo Arts Centre in Soweto on Saturday, 24 May. It will include budding bands competing for a prize, which will be won by two bands that will perform at the main event on Sunday, 25 May.

The second free Africa Day concert will be held at Mofolo Park on Africa Day itself, with several musicians from the Saturday concert performing again.

Other activities through the week include an African film festival, an African craft fair, a battle of the bands, and an anti-xenophobia workshop, Setshwaelo notes.

In addition, Johannesburg will host a conference for the diplomatic corps and ambassadors, and national, provincial and local government officials at Museum Africa on Saturday, 24 May.

"The annual Africa Day programme is in line with the community development sector plan and the human development policy," reads a report from the City.

"The Africa Day celebrations literally have something for everyone, whatever their interest or passion," Setshwaelo adds.

For more information, telephone Marang Setshwaelo on 011 234 8650 or 082 559 1802, or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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