Soweto camp festival 2017 #SowetoGoesGreen

To know your roots and experience the backyard of Soweto, Ghetto Mentality Entertainment will be presenting its annual biggest camping event in Johannesburg this month.

The initiative was first introduced to the public in 2010 when it was called the Soweto Camp Chair session but later renamed in 2012 to the Annual Soweto Camp Festival. The festival since its inception has benefited over 2000 stakeholders through various forms such as youth skills development, tourism development, created employment and economic development, Soweto heritage education and Entertainment.

The Soweto Camp Festival will be held from the 14th to the 17 of April 2017 at the iconic Mofolo Park (5 roses) in Soweto, it will be entering its 5th year in a row, rolling on a 3-day camping and musical festival during the Easter Weekend.

This year the festival will be trending as hashtag #SowetoGoesGreen and its goals set as:

1. To plant 1 000 trees around Soweto.To take one primary school #OFFGRID from the proceeds of tickets sales and donations from sponsors.
2. Raise awareness on alternative energy and its benefits
3. Showcase SMMEs in the green energy section.
4. Run educational programs on greening ( food security, water conservation).
5. Lastly, get Soweto residents to switch off their electricity or none essentials from 18:00 – 19:00 on the 14/04/17 to spread awareness about electricity consumption.

Basically, these initiatives are aimed at educating campers and the community about greening, water conservation, food gardening (security) and alternative energy, local tourism and smme development.

READ MORE: R67k up for grabs at 2017 Jozi Film Festival

The community will be involved in a variety of ways through participating in the event. They are opening the event to local vendors, volunteers, businesses, car guards, the Community Policing Forums, local college students and artists.

To add flavour during the festival which the 2017 edition is anticipating an attendance of 5000 people from across the country and abroad, a series of activities have been lined up such as:

Quad Biking, Bungee Jumping , Arcade Games, Beer Garden, Indigenous Games, Bicycle Tour, Horse & Carriage tour, Live Bands , Stalls & Market Area, Camping, Fashion Show , Movie Screenings ,and a Comedy Show.

As a norm, a big festival like this cannot go without a jive, therefore a line-up has been presented of musicians who include:

Pro Kid, Sibulelo Manamatela, AyaZungu, Brown Thatch, Zama & the Alan, Sly Kandi Unit, Rockruler & the Jam Gang, Stone Band, Flex Of He & I, Music Flair, Awkward Timez, Dj Vivo-SA, Blaqshoez, Kgomotso SongBird, Zethe, Atheha London, Amzerone, Tha Bang, Psyfex, Mongz Baritone Euge Deeply Rooted , PG 13, Urban Recite, urban Village, Euge Deeply Rooted, Dj Ken, Bongani Dube and many more.

The event has always continued to grow in following and awareness.  It is currently endorsed by the City of Johannesburg Youth directorate, Gauteng Tourism Authority, the Tourism Enterprise Partnership (TEP) and Ward Councilor.

Above all, the the Soweto Festival would be delighted to get well-wishers towards the event and organisation of it as it grows This can be on endorsement of the initiation and support through stakeholders and educational material and event support through resources available to organizations.

Tickets available at: www.sowetocampfestival.co.za

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Former President Nelson Mandela -UNDP Human Development Report 1996

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