Gcwala-Ngamasiko workshops kick off

4 Sep 2008

African cultural groups from 11 countries across the continent arrived yesterday for the five-day Gcwala-Ngamasiko African Cultural and Dance Festival in South Africa.

The cultural groups are uniting to celebrate and preserve cultural diversity through the cultural exchange initiative, Gcwala-Ngamasiko, which is hosted by the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) in partnership with the African Cultural Music and Dance Association (ACUMDA).

Benjamin Mfaba of ACUMDA said cultural groups from Botswana, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia and Burundi arrived in the country yesterday. They were joined by their counterparts from Tanzania, Kenya, Mali, Zambia and Swaziland.

Mfaba said the initiative supported by the various provincial governments and municipalities will begin with the hosting of cultural dialogue workshops expected to take place in the various South African provinces today.

“The delegates will all be arriving in Gauteng tomorrow for a welcome gala dinner organised for them at Ubuntu Kraal in Orlando West, Soweto, in the evening. They will all be participating in African cultural road-shows on Saturday, where we will be in Alexandra, Atteridgeville, Soweto and Mamelodi,” he said.

Mfaba said the cultural celebrations will end at Five-Roses Bowl in Mofolo, Soweto, on Sunday where the grand event will see all the different groups showcase their pride in their cultural heritage.

DAC spokesman, Sandile Memela said the cultural event is mainly aimed at uplifting and preserving African indigenous knowledge. “It looks to further preserve cultural history, our heritage as well as re-enforcing a sense of ubuntu and customary values among Africans,” he said.