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THE Africa Day festivities, hosted by the City of Johannesburg, in partnership with the National Department of Arts & Culture, SABC 2 and SABC Africa and produced by Arts Alive has confirmed a new set of events focussed on African literature and writing as part of the weekends celebrations.
Made possible by the National Department of Art & Culture, the newly confirmed literary activities will be taking place in and around Johannesburg.
On May 24th, Soweto will play host to the Soweto Artists Exhibition and an African Literature Display in the Mofolo Art Centre.
Further afield, a dialogue workshop and book exhibition is planned to take place in Tshwane on May
25th - all the events are free and open to the public.
The writers' dialogue theme is certainly a topical one -
Africa's Challenges Today: Social Cohesion and Xenophobia and Human Rights,
and will take place at the
Natural History Museum in
Tshwane and be facilitated by Write Associates.
The dialogue will be accompanied by a book exhibition,
poetry readings and storytelling sessions.
The Soweto Artists African Literature Display will be a presentation of Soweto-based libraries, specifically their African writers collections, facilitated by the Mofolo Library. The literature display will be complemented by a visual arts exhibition featuring paintings, sculpture and pottery, which will all be available for sale.
"Amongst Africa's greatest cultural achievements is our
tradition of literary excellence" comments Sidney Selepe Deputy Director Arts Cultural Promotion and Development within the National Department of Arts & Culture "as the Department of Arts and Culture, we are proud to support an initiative that showcases, develops and nurtures this aspect of Africa's rich cultural heritage."
This year, on the 45th anniversary of Africa Day,
Johannesburg will be the site of a multi-disciplinary African celebration - the event line up thus far includes:
- The Alexandra Family Festival, set to take place in Alexandra from the 23rd - 25th of May will feature a range of artists, including Zimbabwean Chiwoniso.
Sponsored by the DAC, Alexandra Renewal Project, and the Greater Alexandra Development Forum, the family day activities affords the entire community an opportunity to enjoy the Africa Day festivities right on their doorstep.
- A free concert hosted by the SABC 2, SABC Africa, Department of Arts & Culture and the City of Johannesburg, produced by Arts Alive and SABC 2 on Mary Fitzgerald Square on Saturday, 24th May - the concert will be broadcast live on SABC2 and SABC Africa. The performance includes Senegalese Ismael Lo, Chiwoniso of Zimbabwe, Eric Wainana of Kenya and Dobet Gnahore from Cote D'Ivoire.
Mapumba from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Africa's Grammy and SAMA-award winning Ladysmith Black Mambazo round off the broadcast bill.
Before the broadcast, expect to see the legendary Mahotella Queens, Australia's White Cockatoo, and the
Rolling Spears Acrobats from Kenya.
- A free concert will take place in Mofolo Park on Sunday, May 25th, featuring Ismael Lo, SAMA award kwaito winner Brickz, Dobet Gnahore and White Cockatoo.
The film Africa Unite! depicting the Bob Marley commemorative events will also be screened at Mofolo Park.
- Harambe Afrika Celebrate!, an African craft exhibition, funded by the Kellogg Foundation, that will showcase the work of crafters from Botswana, Swaziland, the DRC, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa will take place in Newtown's Museum Africa. The exhibition, which is free to the public, will be held on May 24th and 25th .
- Mofolo Park Arts Centre will host the Battle of the Bands on the 24th May - the winning group will perform alongside the Africa Day concert performers at the Mofolo Park concert on 25th May.
- An African film festival
- SABC Africa presents the Africa on Screen Film Festival, in association with
Amarula.
- Crafts Workshop - the workshops coordinated by Imbali, will take place in Diepsloot with a focus on understanding issues around xenophobia and developing practical textile design skills based on African craft traditions.
The Africa Day celebrations are produced by Arts Alive, and hosted by the Department of Arts & Culture, SABC 2, SABC Africa and the City of Johannesburg in collaboration with various partners, namely -
the Department of External Affairs as VIP area hosts; the Department of Science and Technology; The Australian High Commission; the French Institute; the City of Johannesburg's department of Arts, Culture and Heritage;
the Kellogg Foundation;
the Alexander Renewal Project, Gauteng Provincial Department of Housing, Alexandra Development Forum and the Mofolo Park Arts Centre.
Note to editors:
- The Africa Day show on Mary Fitzgerald Square (Saturday, May 24th) and at Mofolo Park (Sunday, May 25th) are Arts Alive concerts - they are both free to the public. No alcohol, drugs, weapons or glass are allowed within the venues. A public bar will be set up within each venue.
- Please also see the website for road closure and entrance and exit information.
- The Africa Day concert held on Mary Fitzgerald Square will be broadcast live on May 24th on SABC Africa and SABC 2
from 20h00 to 22h30.
- The Arts Alive International Festival is scheduled to take place in September 2008.
For further information, please contact:
Matshepo Monyatsi
Dreamcatcher
011 234 8650
078 708 3599
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or
Marang Setshwaelo
Dreamcatcher
011 234 8650
082 559 1802
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