The Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) and the African Cultural Music and Dance Association (ACUMDA) will host the annual four-day Gcwala-Ngamasiko cultural festival as part of Africa day activities. The theme for the 2014 Gcwala-Ngamasiko cultural festival is “Africa United in Cultural Diversity to Build a Caring and Better Continent”.
The festival will take place on 25 May 2014 in Kliptown, Soweto. It will be preceded by workshops (20 - 22 May) and a welcome dinner (23 May) all at Kliptown.
The Gcwala-Ngamasiko Cultural Festival was established in 2004 to preserve and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the continent. The festival deepens cultural integration and ensures that Africans learn about and embrace one another regardless of nationality, race, creed and religion.
Its primary focus is unity and preservation of African indigenous knowledge, cultural history and Ubuntu among Africans. The Festival serves as a catalyst to promote cultural partnerships amongst African nations.
In line with the Mzansi Golden Economy strategy, the festival creates part-time employment for hundreds of individuals across the continent. It has a potential of making a huge impact in the way African people value their cultures and traditions which contributes towards African Renaissance.
It enhances people to people relations amongst African people while creating market for cultural goods and services from the continent. This year, the participating countries will include Algeria, Swaziland, Zambia, Tanzania, Seychelles and Mozambique.
Main festival:
Date: Sunday, 25 May 2014
Time: 9h00 - 18h00
Venue: Walter Sisulu Freedom Square, Kliptown, Soweto
Media enquiries:
Mack Lewele
Cell: 082 450 5076
Email: MackL@dac.gov.za
