Gautengers are in for a treat this long weekend, as the local carnival will once again take to the streets, with colourful parades and magnificent floats, performers, musicians and dancers.
More than 30 000 people from across the landscape of Gauteng and countries including Zimbabwe, China and Argentina will descend on Tshwane on Monday for a 6km colourful and flamboyant dance procession from the National Heritage Monument at Fountains Valley to the Union Buildings.
The Gauteng carnival, happening on Heritage Day, seeks to bring together the joyous, conscious and diverse people to celebrate their origins, traditions and rich tangible and intangible heritage of the country and province, Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts Culture and Recreation Faith Mazibuko said on Friday.
“Focus for the upcoming carnival will be on displaying South African heritage through clothing, float designs, dance and music.
“Over 3 000 personnel including choreographers, seamstresses, crafters and more have been involved in preparations thereof as part of skills development and job creation for the arts,” said Mazibuko.
The Monument in Tshwane is the site of over 80 statuettes of struggle stalwarts, kings, chiefs and friends of South Africa, unveiled in 2015 by the Minister of Arts and Culture.
It is meant to reflect on the struggle for liberation dating back into the 1600s.
The proposed theme for this year’s carnival is “The Year of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela: advancing transformation of South Africa’s heritage landscape”.
This is borne from the belief that the transformation of our heritage spaces can help promote social cohesion and redresses the injustices of the past.
“As South Africa endeavours to be a country whose people share common ideals to make it a great, peaceful, prosperous winning nation, the occasion presents itself as a good platform towards achieving these and building a socially cohesiveness community of South Africa.”
The public is invited to catch the Carnival Parade from Fountains valley via Burgers Park to the Union Buildings for more entertainment, including Premier David Makhura’s address. – SAnews.gov.za
