Artist line-up announced for the third CHAN opening ceremony
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) in partnership with the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) conducted a media conference to announce the line-up of artists to perform during the opening ceremony of the third African Championship of Nations (CHAN) themed: A Place Where Champions Are Celebrated.” The event took place on Tuesday, 7 January 2014 at Parliament in Cape Town.
The Arts and Culture Deputy Director General, Ms Monica Newton who was speaking on behalf of the Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile said that the department is pleased to have made a contribution, both creatively and through human and financial resources to make sure that the LOC and CAF stage an opening ceremony that reflects both the soul and character of the nation and our beautiful continent, thus making us proud as African people.
“As we celebrate what has been appropriately termed 'Africa's Home Champions', let us also remember our global sport icon and a true giant and symbol of our moral compass, the late former President Nelson Mandela who once said: "sport has the power to change the world...it has the power to inspire, the power to unite people in a way that little else does,” said Ms Newton.
Boasting some of South Africa’s musical heavy-weights, the ceremony is set to leave fans in complete awe with explosive artistic musical expressions by Mi Casa, Jimmy Dludlu, The Soil, Zolani Mkiva and Jessica Mbangeni.
Local Organising Committee CEO, Mr Mvuzo Mbebe stressed the importance of not lowering the standard on the Official Opening of this tournament. “As the LOC, we believe that how we open this tournament; will be an indication of the action to follow on the football pitch”. “We have made a promise to Africa that we will deliver a high quality and seamless tournament as we did with AFCON and we believe the same standard can be achieved again this year”, said Mbebe.
In the planning of this opening ceremony, we had one important fact at the back of our minds, CHAN is a purely African tournament and the opening to it has to depict it in the best way possible, added Mr Mbebe.
Retaining the successful formula that saw the opening and closing ceremonies of the recently held AFCON 2013, the seasoned performing artist and dancer, Somizi Mhlongo has been retained as the choreographer of this spectacular showpiece.
As government mobilises society towards 20 years of freedom and democracy celebrations, all South Africans are urged to use the opportunity created by this tournament as a vehicle to continue to drive social cohesion and celebrate Africa for the creative and artistic talent that she has nurtured for the world to see and acknowledge, said Ms Newton.
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