Record numbers at Soweto fest

Thousands of people helped to make this year’s Soweto Festival one of the most popular events on the Joburg calendar. There was entertainment a-plenty over the weekend.
SOME 30 000 people visited the 2011 Soweto Festival in Nasrec, making it one of the most popular entertainment and exhibition events in the city.

Actor and singer KB belts out her hit songsActor and singer KB belts out her hit songsEntertainment over the weekend ranged from live music to games and ferry rides for children. There were also plenty of exhibits to browse. The festival ran from 23 to 25 September at the Nasrec Expo Centre.

There was also a fashion show, the Miss Soweto pageant, table soccer and pool tournaments, as well as a reptile park where visitors could touch live snakes. On Sunday, the ETV stand was the big hit. Stars from the channel’s popular shows, such as Rhythm City, Scandal and Club 808, took to the stage to entertain visitors.

The celebrities took part in various competitions, such as dancing with their fans. Other competitions at the festival included eating and drinking – whoever finished first won.

KB Motsilanyane, the singer and an actress who plays Lucilla on Rhythm City, performed some of her popular songs, and invited her colleagues to come on stage to dance with her.

Dineo Ranaka, the Club 808 presenter, said it is a phenomenal feeling to be seen in person by her fans. “The energy and the love that you receive its overwhelmingly pleasant. It’s a very beautiful feeling.”

She was glad to have a positive fan base, although she had been through ups and downs, such as having bad things written about her in the papers.

Ranaka also spoke about her project, Music and Me. “It is one of my events. It happens every first Sunday of the month at Cafe Culture in Fourways. The event is all about celebrating local music. I give the platform to brand-new musicians to come and showcase their music and talent,” she said. “It’s about socialising and chilling out on a Sunday.”

JamaliDarlings of the crowd: RnB group JamaliJamali, the RnB group, entertained the crowd with popular tunes such as Love Me for Me. Chomee and Arthur Mafokate – the kwaito king – also delivered a stunning performance that kept the audience on their feet.

But the festival was not only about excellent entertainment. It was also a platform for business to be done. Sowetan Nomathemba Langa said doors had been opened for her father’s business. His business, Joburg Jewellery Academy, had exhibited at the expo and had made new business contacts.

The business teaches deaf children to make jewellery.

Speaking about the festival, Langa said she had enjoyed every moment. “It was just fun and exciting; it is something I will look forward to again. I will definitely come back because the entertainment is good – the atmosphere, the people; it’s wonderful.”

Mamohlomi Mashala was one of thousands of people who attended the festival on Sunday. It was the first time she had been to the annual event, and had enjoyed it so much she was looking forward to the next one.

“I really enjoyed the music and camping with my kids. I saw my favourite television actor, Nthati Moshesh, who plays Mo on Scandal,” she said.