|
Music, shopping, kids zone, youth zone, aquatic sports - it's all there at the annual Soweto Festival.
SOWETANS are gearing up for a party vibe with diverse music and fashion on offer at the fifth annual Soweto Festival.
"The festival promises to have your body shaking, your mouth watering, youth talking, thought provoking, hands clapping, feet stomping - Soweto style," says Adele Lucas, the managing director of Adele Lucas Promotions, the organisers.
A range of crafts will be on display at the Soweto Festival
It attracts scores of people into Soweto each year, and this year takes place from 24 to 27 September at the University of Johannesburg's Soweto Campus.
Included in the line-up is a Taiwanese Film Festival, a kids zone and fun fair, etv's Rhythm City, Arts Alive
participation, Voena's Children's Choir from San Francisco, and other international acts.
From hip-hop to house greats, maskandi to kings of kwaito, from gospel to soul this year's electrifying entertainment will be heating things up all day long, says Lucas.
"Soweto is growing so fast ... But so much of its income leaves the borders of the township as fast as it arrives. With events like the Absa Soweto Festival, we aim to change that.
"The original Soweto Homemakers Fair in the 1980s was the first of its kind in the history of Soweto, and we intend to make the Absa Soweto Festival the biggest and the best. We certainly intend to develop the concept and make sure that it truly is a festival for all Sowetans."
Highlights
Highlights of the event, taking place inside a 6 000 square metre air conditioned exhibition marquee, include the Shoprite Taste Sensation hosted by the local and international award-winning celebrity chef, Citrum Khumalo.
With about 200 exhibitors, specials on products and services will range from crafts, bed and breakfasts, and cellphone banking to international tours, says Lucas. "When the shopping bag is about to overflow, the festival will also be giving out exciting prizes and giveaways."
Activities will include networking opportunities, exposure to business, encouraging participation in the economy and for people to make their mark as trend setters in fashion, print communication and jewellery design.
A youth zone at the festival, first installed in 2008, is an evolution of the Careers Village. It will create a core activity area with the focus on "edutainment" to attract visitors.
Aimed at people aged between 15 and 25, it will address the many challenges facing the youth, offering them guidance on issues such as careers, life skills, sports and recreation, HIV and Aids awareness, and drug and alcohol abuse.
The Soweto Festival will also feature fashion shows and music. Exhibitions will be on furniture, home and kitchen appliances; DIY and home décor; hi-tech, office and small business supplies; sports and recreation goods; community projects and NGOs; travel and tourism; health and beauty; motor world; arts, culture and heritage; property, finance and business services.
Empowerment
One aim, according to Lucas, is the empowerment and development of small businesses with regard to employment creation and economic growth.
"The festival has been successful because we understand the need to keep innovating as a festival, from issues affecting youth and to entertainment that reflects and celebrates the spirit of Soweto.
"The quality of the programme has consistently improved, as has the exhibition and range of activities on offer. We have also made a special effort to involve the people of Soweto in the conceptualisation of the festival, as well as its marketing and communications," she explains.
It will also be the final leg of the Joburg Shopping Festival.
The Soweto Festival is one of the largest of its kind in the country. The original Soweto Homemakers Fair ran from 1983 to 1985. In 2005, it was revived as the Soweto Festival. First taking place at the Elkah Cricket Oval, it initially had some 350-exhibition stands, including entertainment, competitions, career guidance, fashion and local celebrities. Today it is a well-established event that draws people together each year to celebrate Soweto's rich, diverse cultures.
Organised by Adele Lucas Promotions in partnership with the Greater Soweto Business Forum, tickets are R20 for adults and R10 for pensioners and children under 12, and are available at the gate. For further information, visit the festival's website.
Related stories:
|
