SHO MAJOZI & VUSI MAHLASELA AMONGST PERFORMERS AT THE SECOND INSTALLMENT OF THE FOLKLORE FESTIVAL
Date: 16th September 2023
Venue: National School of the Arts in Braam Park, Johannesburg.
Damage: Early bird tickets available from R80 for kids, R100 for adults at 50% discount until the 16th of August 2023. All tickets available here https://qkt.io/FolkloreFestival2023
The Folklore Festival returns for another year of a vibrant celebration of African identity, culture, customs, and heritage, taking place over Heritage Month. It offers an unforgettable experience, exploring a pan African offering of music, literature, crafts and food for the whole family.
A music concert on the main stage, workshops, a book fair on the storyteller’s stage, kids area with drumming circles, play time, singing and a safe place to leave your kids to play and learn – not forgetting traditional dancers off stage, making for the best sensorial cultural experience in Johannesburg.
The first artists announced, who will be setting the stage and your souls ablaze and bringing you contemporary folk fusion at the second annual Folklore Festival 2023 this year are: The electrifying poet, rapper and afro-centric Sho Madjozi (SA), ‘The Voice’ Vusi Mahlasela (SA), who is set to release his 8th studio album ‘Umoya this September, the enchanting Thandeka Mfinyongo (SA), The uhadi, mbira, percussive trio with sis Lungiswa Plaatjies known as Ancient Voices (SA). From Kenya this year, The Folklore Festival is excited to share an artist that fuses the Nyatiti (a genre of music and an 8-stringed instrument called Luo lyre) into modern sounds: Makadem (Kenya) ft. Eddie Grey, a visionary and trailblazer in the Jazz and fusion scene in East and Central Africa. Representing the heritage of Zimbabwe, Josh Meck will share a project celebrating the icons of music from his home country, immersing you in a symphony of cultural richness.
Lastly, but definitely not least, is South African advocate for World Music; DJ Nicky B, who will be returning for a daytime set, infusing the air with infectious beats and irresistible melodies.
The Folklore Festival is curated by the multi-ward winning storyteller and creative artist Pilani Bubu, who is also the founder & festival Director.
“In the heart of our collective existence lies a vibrant tapestry of human expression known as Folklore. It weaves together the soulful essence of a people, an intricate web of traditional wisdom, customs, and captivating tales cherished by generations past. Whispers carried on the winds of time, where words morph into dances, proverbs sing through melodies, and laughter echoes in the form of jokes. Such artistry, captured across diverse mediums, reflects the pulse of life within a community. Folklore is this collective documentation of art forms passed through generations by word of mouth,” she said.
“This festival prides itself in being a conduit for inter-generational dialogue, indigenous knowledge sharing, and the important documentation and preservation of African folklore as it re-defines itself through time and instilling a stronger sense of identity in ourselves as Africans.”
Price: Early bird tickets available from R80 for kids, R100 for adults at 50% discount until the 16th of August 2023.