Big names in 2015 Arts Alive International Festival
JOBURG – Dance, poetry, music and literature are set to come alive from 5 to 27 September for the 2015 Arts Alive International Festival presented by the City of Joburg and Joburg City Theatres.
This year’s festival has something for every type of art aficionado, with many of the big events at the festival offering free entrance. There will be South African music legends such as Freshly Ground, poets, jazz musicians, dancers and everything in between.
“For this year, we are exploring and re-incorporating the festival as a fully managed festival through Joburg City Theatres. This allows us to use all our resources, including staffing, to maximise the quality and sustainability of the festival,” said MMC for Community Development, Chris Vondo.
Kicking things off will be the free to attend Izigi Traditional Music and Dance Celebrations on 5 September at the Soweto Theatre.
Next up is Jazz On The Lake on 6 September which will be held at the James and Ethel Gray Park in Melrose. The line-up includes African superstar Angelique Kidjo from West Africa, guitar maestro Jimmy Dludlu from South Africa and Nigerian saxophonist Femi Koya with his Pan African Big Band.
Joburg Theatre’s The Fringe comes alive from 17 to 19 September for the third African Women Writers Symposium. Poetry, music, talks and workshops under the theme, Peace and turmoil: African women in the world, will feature award-winning South African, and African writers – including Linton Kwesi Johnson, the father of dub poetry.
The festival will close with a bang on 27 September at the Eldos Jazz Music Concert in Eldorado Park; which attracts thousands of people and remains a highly-anticipated event in the cultural calendar.
“We believe that all people have a right to arts and culture and every year this festival hopes to serve as a conduit for the people of Joburg to talk, laugh and enjoy together,” concluded Vondo.
Details: The Arts Alive International Festival Facebook page
