Picture: The iconic Mmabatho Stadium is ready to host Mahika Mahikeng Cultural Festival/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
It’s all systems go for the much-anticipated Mahika Mahikeng Cultural Festival on Friday. The prestigious festival makes its return after a three-year hiatus owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The three-day flagship event, funded and supported by the North West Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation (ACSR) is set to run from March 17-19 at Mmabatho Stadium Parking Lot.
It event will feature a Gospel Night, a Jazz Festival, and Amapiano/Motswako night.
The North West Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation (ACSR) spokesperson, Shuping Sebolecwe said: “As part of ensuring that the local artists are given a platform, the festival will feature many North West-based artists. The stage and the dome, which will accommodate thousands of revellers have already been erected.
“The local artists were organised as part of Mahika Mahikeng Cultural Festival activations across the province in the past weekend, ahead of the main festival.”
The Gospel Night on Friday will be headlined by the popular gospel music group Joyous Celebration with supporting acts like Gospel stars such as Bucy Radebe and David The King.
Meanwhile, Jazz enthusiasts are set to enjoy the melody of Zonke, and Ringo Madlingozi, as well as Setswana Traditional music artists, MmaAusi and Mosekaphofu on Saturday. The popular Amapiano Djs, Kabza De Small, Maphorisa, Focalist, Toss, and Kelvin Momo, among others with close the event on Sunday.
Sebolecwe further said, the Hip Hop and Motswako artists such as Molemi, Tuks Senganga, Areece, Notshi, and Fifi Cooper will also grace the stage. He added that, the festival, which attracts thousands of music lovers from outside the province and also from neighbouring Botswana, is set to boost the economy of the province in areas ranging from hospitality to tourism and small businesses.
“The Mahika Mahikeng is not just a music festival, but it benefits entrepreneurs from small businesses to the mainstream. The line-ups are dominated by local artists as we prioritise our very own,” said Sebolecwe.
The Guardian 