Pretoria - South Africans in Gauteng and Limpopo are in for a treat this Heritage Day, when local Carnivals take to the streets with colourful parades and magnificent floats, performers, musicians and dancers.
The Gauteng Social Cohesion Carnival parade of about 5.6km parade will start at midday at the Tshwane Events Centre and make its way around the Capital City before ending at the events centre. Entrance to the Gauteng Social Cohesion Carnival is free.
Over 20 000 participants will join in the colourful parade consisting of multitude of Africans cultures, Greeks, Italians, Chinese, Indians and all South African cultures.
An eclectic mix of music and dance under the theme, “Human Treasures and Legends: Our Living Heritage” with representation from other African nations such as Zambia, Kenya, Gabon, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, Mozambique, Egypt, Cameroon, and Cote d’Ivoire.
One can expect floral floats designed by the Gabonese community, party with Montoya Dancers from the Spanish community, listen to bagpipes and watch several gleaming Hare Krishna Chariots move through the streets.
A procession of stilt walkers, giant puppets and Samba dancers will give carnival goers a glimpse into the country’s rich and diverse cultures.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura, MEC’s and diplomats from various participating countries will lead the parade.
“We are encouraging all residents of Gauteng and the surrounding areas to come out and celebrate Heritage Day with us. Given our history and recent events the time is ripe for South Africans to come together and celebrate our rich diversity.
“This is a not-to-be-missed event that we hope to grow into one of Tshwane’s main tourist attractions as we entertain and educate visitors about our rich cultural heritage,” said MEC for Sport, Arts Culture and Recreation, Faith Mazibuko.
The day will also be filled with a specular festival of food and live cultural dance with groups from Zimbabwe, Peru, Katanga and Youonnan.
Also entertaining the crowd will be artists such as Ricky Rick, Mahotela Queens, Black Motion, Dj Shimza, Major League, Mercy Phakela, Gigi Lamaine and Carnival Dj ambassadors.
The Gauteng Social Cohesion Carnival is an expression of telling the South African story.
The Carnival is an initiative of the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation strategic vision for sustainable development of the Creative Arts industry.
Limpopo Carnival
Meanwhile, the Department of Sports and Recreation will also host a carnival in Seshego, Limpopo.
The department has called on the community of Seshego to come out in their numbers as part of showcasing the diversity of the country’s various cultures.
The Carnival will kick off at the Ngoako Ramatlhodi Indoor Sport Centre at Seshego Stadium at 2pm.
Residents will be treated to loads of entertainment along the route of the parade.
“In addition, there will be a surprise participation in the carnival of well-known media guests, media personalities as well as our favourite artists and athletes,” said the department.
To encourage active citizenry participation of this event, a competition is underway to select the best cultural group of the day from the day’s parade.
The department has encouraged residents to register 10 or more of their friends with whom they wish to showcase their cultural attire, dance or musical talent.
While these cultural groups entertain the by-standers to the parade, the judges will be on the lookout for all that is indigenous and unique in their offering.
Following the parade residents will be treated to a festival that will be headlined by local talent that will entertain the crow.
The festival is intended to lead into the opening of the Indigenous Games with both the carnival and games aimed at bringing about social cohesion.
“The carnival builds cohesiveness as it is a platform which brings people from all different cultures together into one carnival parade which celebrates, honours and showcases our diverse cultures. The carnival is also a strategic tangible driver towards the realisation of the National Development Plan (NDP).
“It enlists that in 2030, South Africans will be more conscious of the things they have in common than their differences and that the South African nation will be more accepting of people’s multiple identities,” said Minister Fikile Mbalula.
The Indigenous Games Festival will run from 24th to 28 September. The competition which is now in its 11th year will see all provinces competing for the Indigenous Games Championship. – SAnews.gov.za
