|
Security has been stepped up at Africa Day festivities, but the message of unity that underpins the weekend is needed now more than ever.
Multi-instrumentalist Ishmael Lo from Senegal is billed to perform on Saturday in Newtown and on Sunday in Mofolo Park
THE xenophobic violence that is plaguing Jozi will "in no way" hamper activities planned for the 45th Africa Day celebrations.
The weekend of 23 to 25 May has been set aside for Africa Day festivities, while Africa Day itself is marked across the continent on Sunday, 25 May. There will be plenty of interesting activities throughout the weekend, including workshops, exhibitions and a battery of free music concerts.
However, Marang Setshwaelo, a publicist at Dreamcatcher, the weekend's organisers, says the orgy of turbulence unfolding in the city has prompted organisers to bolster safety and security to allay people's worries about security at the events.
Celebrations will go ahead as planned, in spite of the xenophobic attacks sweeping across Gauteng. "I think the message of Africa Day has always conceptualised around music as a form of art which can bring social change and forge cross-cultural links," she notes. The only thing that has changed this year, "is that we have had to intensify our efforts, and reiterate the message of unity".
This year marks the 45th Africa Day, which has been observed annually since 1963 on 25 May. It commemorates the establishment of the African Union (AU), and the former Organisation of African Unity. It was set up to acknowledge and celebrate Africa's history, heritage and culture.
Free concerts
The free Africa Day concerts have always attracted a widely diverse audience, and have always had the support of nationals from all parts of Africa, Setshwaelo notes. Various performers, from South Africa and other countries on the continent, are scheduled to perform.
The sensational Mahotella Queens will set Newtown on fire with their mbaqanga sounds
Steven Sack, the City's director of arts, culture and heritage, notes that because of the unrest, the easy thing for organisers would be to cancel or postpone the shows - but everything will continue as planned. "It's important to remember that Africa Day was founded to connect us to one another as a people."
Given the present violence, it is critical for South Africans and immigrants from the rest of the continent to converge on such an auspicious anniversary, to celebrate and honour the "ties that bind us [and] the commonalities that make us one people".
Sack notes that the concerts should be an exemplar of unity. "Let it be a place and time where we can be part of turning the tide against the xenophobia, and remind ourselves that, fundamentally, we're all in this together."
Setshwaelo also sees the celebrations as a means of standing up to the xenophobia. "There is no doubt that, in keeping with our tradition of overcoming strife and challenges, the City's Africa Day 2008 celebrations will become part of a new story, one that tells of the triumph of compassion and ubuntu over fear and confusion."
Safety
But safety is a priority. "We are confident about our security plan," asserts Graeme Dickson, a consultant for Arts Alive's disaster management.
Mapumba will add Congolese ballads and some groovy upbeat African tunes to the mix
He says the company is working with the metro police and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to curb any hooliganism. "[We] have escalated the security and police presence to an appropriate level."
Reiterating the safety plan, metro police spokeswoman Edna Mamonyane confirms that a "very" strong contingent of metro cops, working closely with their SAPS colleagues, will be deployed to monitor festivities, keep the peace and mitigate any unruly behaviour which might erupt.
"We obviously won't tolerate people who want to commit crime and offend others ... We will be on duty to ensure safety and that the City's by-laws are adhered to."
She warns those who plan on attending the events to cause unrest, "the metro and the SAPS cops will clamp down on you".
Setshwaelo says that the wave of xenophobia has created a very hostile environment for immigrants, one that reinforces the need to have more bridge-building initiatives such as the Africa Day celebrations.
A full weekend has been earmarked for Africa Day festivities, from Friday, 23 until Sunday, 25 May, with the focus on arts and crafts, dance, poetry and music. Serious issues, such as xenophobia, will also be discussed and debated. There are workshops and an assortment of exhibitions to literally encompass everyone.
The main attractions are the two free Africa Day concerts, which play firstly at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown's cultural precinct on Saturday, and the second on Sunday, 25 May at Mofolo Park.
On the Saturday bill is Senegalese multi-instrumentalist Ishmael Lo, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, multi-award winning Kwaito sensation Brickz, The Mahotella Queens, Dobet Gnahoré from Ivory Coast, Kenyan Eric Wainana, Chiwoniso of Zimbabwe, Mapumba of Democratic Republic Of Congo, Australian White Cockatoo, and The Rolling Spears Acrobats from Kenya.
The concert is produced by Arts Alive and is endorsed by the City. It will be hosted in conjunction with the Department of Arts and Culture, SABC 2 and SABC Africa, and will be broadcast live to 52 African countries on SABC 2 and SABC Africa from 8pm until 10.30pm.
Performing at the second free concert, in Mofolo Park on Sunday, 25 May are Ishmael Lo, Dobet Gnahore, White Cockatoo and Brickz.
Programme
There is a host of other fascinating stuff taking place throughout the Africa Day weekend; click here for a full programme of events in your neighbourhood. All Africa Day events are free and open to the general public.
In addition to festivities, the Department of Science and Technology has partnered with the City in a seminar and exhibition to be hosted in Braamfontein on Friday, 23 May. Themed Science, technology and innovation in Africa, it will explore South Africa's participation in and contribution to Africa's Consolidated Science and Technology Plan of Action (CPA).
It will raise awareness about regional and continental science and technology initiatives, advance regional integration, and develop the capacity of science and technology, among other things.
Harambe Afrika Celebrates! is a craft exhibition featuring the work of artists and crafters from Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. Some of the artists will be at the exhibition. It runs at Museum Africa from 24 to 25 May, and is free to the general public.
According to Mahaliah Kowa of Mntungwa Communication Solutions, the promoters of the exhibition, it will draw on ancient traditions and skills, showcasing some of Africa's finest pieces.
"With this exhibition we want to reiterate the message that despite all odds, Africans can still come together and unite," Kowa says, adding that arts and craft are essential elements of the exhilarating mix of music and film that will take place in Newtown over the Africa Day weekend.
"The public should come and support us to ensure continued development of our heritage," she says.
For more information about Harambe Afrika Celebrates! contact Mahaliah Kowa on 011 483 1822 or 072 440 6841, or alternatively via email at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
For further information about all Africa Day festivities, visit the Arts Alive website
or telephone Sarah Gordon on 011 482 3580 or 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
.
Related stories:
|
