underway in Durban 22 May 2006
Held under the theme "Socio-Economic Development, Africa's New Hope", this
year's festival, while keeping the exciting features of yesteryears'
celebrations, will have a number of innovative features that make it a
must-see, must-attend event. Among the highlights of this year's celebrations
are the two-day African Intellectuality Conference, the KwaZulu-Natal Alumni
Dinner and Africa Day Celebrations.
"This year's African Renaissance Festival is going to be bigger and better
than previous years' celebrations. Our programme confirms that this festival is
not only about song and dance but seeks to come up with innovative ways of
unlocking the potential of our province and indeed the rest of Africa and the
diaspora. We are confident that after this conference we will see a
KwaZulu-Natal that is qualitatively better than the one we would have had
before the festival", said the chairperson of the African Renaissance, Mr
Sibusiso Ndebele.
Delegations from Nigeria, the United States and many other countries have
confirmed their attendance of the festival.
The festival will kick off with a reception for delegates to be hosted by
Ethekwini Municipality on 22 May in KwaMashu.
This will then be followed by the two-day African Intellectuality Conference
which will be addressed by academics and intellectuals.
The Director-General of the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, Professor Mandla
Mchunu, Ms Jesse Duarte, former South African Ambassador to Mozambique and
member of the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) Secretariat, Ms
Mato Madlala from South African Football Association (SAFA) and other experts
will share the stage tackling such issues as the skilling of the province, the
province's state of readiness for the 2010 Soccer World Cup and unpacking the
role of African intellectuals in developing the province of KwaZulu-Natal.
As part of the Festival, a KwaZulu-Natal Alumni Dinner will be hosted where
the provincial government will be meeting with decision makers and business
leaders who are from KwaZulu-Natal but are based elsewhere in the country. The
aim of this interaction is to get these decision makers to invest their
resources, their time or acquired expertise to the upliftment of the province
of KwaZulu-Natal. The Provincial Government will also inform them of the
opportunities that exist in KwaZulu-Natal. This dinner will be held in
Gauteng.
Usual features of the festival like the unity of faith session; showcasing
of indigenous music, arts, culture and cuisine and tours of heritage sites will
also be present.
The media is invited to attend and report on this festival.
Enqueries:
Mr Jeff Hassan
Cell: 082 884 1872
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
22 May 2006
Source: SAPA
