A vibrant celebration of music, fashion and art is set to take place in Gauteng on Saturday, February 22, at the “Mahindra Fusion Fest.”
The inaugural festival will see some of the nation’s top musical acts taking to the stage. They include Cassper Nyovest, Zandile Mzazi, Radio Kalahari Orkes, Sjava, Matthew Mole and Tarryn Lamb.
These artists will be joined by Mi Casa, Young Stunna, K.O, Kamo Mphela, Sipho "Hot Stix" Mabuse and Aymos, with renowned local media personality Nomuzi “Moozlie” Mabena set to host the gathering.
The festival will also spotlight local fashion as it seeks to integrate a colourful fashion show featuring top South African designer Thuli Sindi with his Discover the X collection.
Meanwhile, the “Again the Together We Rise” initiative will also be offering one emerging designer the opportunity to showcase their creations alongside Sindi at the festival.
In addition, the winner will receive a financial award of R30,000 to put towards tuition at a fashion school of their choice.
The event is being held to commemorate the automotive manufacturer's two decades in South Africa.
Mahindra will also be honouring their local heritage through a fusion of artistry with four unique musical collaborations where some of Mzansi’s biggest artists will be collaborating in once-in-a-lifetime performances.
“This is a true illustration of the diversity of our beautiful country and the music we make,” the organisers said.
The top three winners will be chosen through public voting, with the final selection made by hip hop superstar Nyovest. The winner will not only take the stage at the festival but will also receive a professional recording session post the event.
In addition to the talent search initiatives, Mahindra will also be hosting a brand experience competition, giving one lucky South African who test drives the new Mahindra XUV 3XO at participating dealerships, the chance to win a brand-new vehicle through a lucky draw.
The competition is also open to all ticket holders attending the festival, with the winner set to be announced during the event.
Where: The SunBet Arena in Time Square, Pretoria.
When: Saturday, February 22. Doors open at 6pm.
Cost: Tickets start from R150 and are available through Ticketpro.
Vibrations: a celebration of African sounds
Music lovers in the City of Gold are in for a treat as South African musicians Dizu Plaatjies and Samthing Soweto will be headlining the “ Vibrations: A Celebration of African Sounds” concert at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) on Friday, February 21.
Attendees will not only enjoy an immersive live music experience but will also have the opportunity to explore an exhibition featuring nearly 100 traditional African instruments, installed in the UJ gallery.
The event is being hosted by the Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF) and in line with its mission, the gathering will also be offering educational opportunities for those interested in African music and the development of indigenous instruments over the centuries.
“This event is a celebration of Africa’s rich musical heritage and the incredible stories told through our indigenous instruments,” said MIAF projects manager, Violet Maila.
She added: “Bringing together legends like Dizu Plaatjies, a master of traditional African sounds, and Samthing Soweto, who bridges the gap between tradition and modernity, allows us to honour our roots while inspiring the future of African music.”
This initiative is part of the Music In Africa Instrument Building and Repair Project which will also train young instrument makers from across the country, providing key skills to build African instruments and to be able to monetise their crafts.
The project is funded by the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) with additional support from Afrikayna through the VITA - Instrumenthèque d'Afrique project, the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), Siemens Stiftung, the Goethe-Institut, UJ, Constitution Hill’s Creative Uprising Hub and Ukhozi FM.
Where: The Keorapetse William Kgositsile Theatre at UJ’s Arts & Culture Centre.
When: Friday, February 21, from 7pm.
Cost: Tickets range from R300 to R350 and are available through Webtickets.
Jozi Silent Book Club
If you are looking for a book-loving event in Joburg this weekend then this could be just what you might be looking for.
The Jozi Silent Book Club provides the perfect opportunity for book lovers to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and to take a moment to escape into a good book.
“Arrive at the Botanical Gardens this Sunday and experience an hour of solitary reading, after which you can chat with other club members or simply continue reading,” the organisers said.
They added that attendees will be able to grab any book of their choosing as there will be no restrictions on reading material.
Where: The Johannesburg Botanical Gardens.
When: Sunday, February 23, from 10am to 12pm.
Cost: Free.