Kota Festival Tour kicks off at Emperors Palace

The highly anticipated Kota Festival Tour made its first stop at Emperors Palace on March 1, celebrating South Africa’s beloved traditional street food.

Food and entertainment lovers gathered in high spirits to sample a variety of kotas and enjoy an exciting lineup of entertainment.

The event catered to all ages, offering attendees a chance to unwind, indulge in delicious kotas, sip refreshing beverages, and soak in the vibrant atmosphere.

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Despite uncertain weather, residents from Kempton Park and surrounding areas turned up in large numbers to experience this one-of-a-kind festival.

Kota business owners went all out, delivering not only visually appealing kotas but also ensuring their taste lived up to expectations.

Festivalgoer Muziwandile Buti shared that he attended the event to treat his family to a fun-filled outing while enjoying good food.

“I wanted to take my wife and kids out for the day to relax and have fun. I’m having an amazing time, and I believe my family is enjoying it too.

“Trying different types of kotas while the children have fun makes this a great day for all of us,” he said.

While adults participated in various challenges to win prizes, children were entertained with slides, jumping castles, and other activities.

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Attendees were spoiled for choice with a variety of mouth-watering kotas on offer, with long queues forming at each food stall.

Adding to the excitement, popular South African celebrities such as Mlindo the Vocalist, DJ Tira, Lwah Ndlunkulu, and Somizi took to the stage to entertain the crowd.

To keep the energy high, some attendees participated in a dance-off, with the winner walking away with prizes.

The festival also featured an eating competition called “Gimba,” where the winner received a hamper.

Kota Festival co-founder and director, Luvo Limba, highlighted the growth and impact of the event over the past five years.

“The Kota Festival has been running for five years, and we strive to make it bigger and better each year.

“Our goal is to provide a platform for small businesses to showcase their talents while also addressing unemployment.

“The quality of the festival, including the entertainment and games, improves with every edition,” Limba said.

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The Kota Festival is a food event that brings together families, children, young people, and adults, all in celebration of the kota—a South African street food staple.

The festival was initially created to bridge the gap between students from different parts of the country who had never been exposed to kotas, including exchange students based in Johannesburg.

Once introduced to the meal, many students fell in love with it, inspiring the founders to take the festival on tour across South Africa.

This initiative not only allows festivalgoers to experience different kota styles but also provides small business owners with a platform to showcase their culinary skills.

Food enthusiast Thato Thathi attended the event with a friend, drawn by their shared love of food.

“My friend and I love food, so when we heard about this event, we knew we had to try it. I love the music, the vibe is great, and everything is going well so far.

“I haven’t tried the food yet, but judging by how amazing the kotas look, I can’t wait to dig in,” Thathi shared.
Beyond the entertainment, the festival also created job opportunities, with over 100 people hired for the event, further contributing to local economic growth.