UJ international festival a success

The 12th annual international festival was held the University of Johannesburg Kingsway Campus (UJAPK) on 19 September.

Students and families alike came out in numbers in support of their heritage.

“I love this festival because it brings me back to earth where I can get in touch with my roots,” said Thabang Mokoena, an accounting student at the institution.

Nigerian student Jasmine Oche said, “I like this because I learn about different cultures which is something that really opens my eyes.”

This year’s theme was UJ on top of the World.

“This is so symbolical in the sense that UJ is the melting pot of diverse cultures of the world,” said master of ceremony Nyasha Bhero.

UJ deputy vice chancellor Professor Tinyiko Maluleke was in attendance.

“The participating countries will share among others their historical inheritance and language through creative expressions, such as art, music and performances,” said Prof Maluleke.

“This is a proud celebration on the calendar of the University of Johannesburg and we are determined that this university, reflecting the name that it carries, will always strive to be diverse, inclusive and cosmopolitan, serving all South Africans,” he added.

Although this was a fun-filled event. It was still a competition.

The 17 participating countries were judged on four categories – cuisine, traditional wear, performance and stall presentation. Each country was expected to ensure that they embrace their culture on all four aspects.

This year, three winners per category were chosen, winning themselves Dros vouchers.

Number threes in each category received a R2 000 voucher; number twos R3 000 vouchers and the number one spot holders collected whopping R5 000 vouchers.

For the first time, Somalia won itself a prize in each category.

Here are the winners:

Cuisine

• First Mozambique

• Second Kenya

• Third Somalia

Performance

• First DRC

• Second Angola

• Third South Africa

Traditional wear

• First Angola

• Second DRC

• Third Somalia

Stall

• First Rwanda/Burundi

• Second Somalia

• Third Kenya

Overall winners

• First Rwanda/Burundi

• Second Angola

• Third Somalia

Some of the attendees of the festival were shocked by the results.

“I expected DRC to be the overall winners because they did really well and they were the most entertaining country,” said Sandra Ndebele.

Some students were happy about the outcome.

“I think it was time for other countries to win because it has been Zimbabwe and Angola winning in previous years,” said Lebogang Jezile.