African Renaissance Festival to focus on future

10 May 2010

The 12th annual African Renaissance Festival will be hosted at venues in Kwazuu-Natal, South Africa from 24 - 27 May 2010. The festival is themed 'Take charge Africa - the future of Africa is in your hands.' The festival is held during the last week of May to coincide with Africa Day on 25 May.

The event will celebrate, debate and examine broader issues related to re-defining and rebuilding Africa through accessing and developing its own rich social, economic, faith and political resources; building partnerships; developing skills and networking.

UNESCO delegation

The African Renaissance Festival is a gathering of like-minded citizens of Africa to share ideas with key decision-makers from around the country and abroad. The annual festival sees international delegates including leaders in government and business, representatives from NGOs, civic structures, emerging entrepreneurs and local communities. This year there will be representation from UNESCO with a delegation of specialists attending the event.

The festival will also examine creative ways of addressing the global issue of moral regeneration - a challenge to faith-based leaders, secular and civic society and youth leadership.

Festival itinerary

The festival comprises a two-day conference at the Durban International Convention Centre on 25 and 26 May, a Youth Pioneers Conference featuring delegates representing various youth organisations on 24 May, a seminar entitled Unity of Faith to be held on 27 May in Empangeni looking at the role of the church in the African Renaissance.

The conference will unpack the business, arts and culture and tourism sectors in the context of the global economic downturn with a view to providing tangible outcomes. Relevant role-players in various sectors being represented have been tasked to co-ordinate these sessions. The format of the conference will include a plenary, sector sessions and a resolution and way forward session with a final report to a plenary.

One of the highlights will be the Africa Day concert at the ICC which will be co-ordinated by Mark Hawkins and will feature a lineup of South African talent, including recent SAMA winners, Lira, Big NUZ and Ntando, who will be joined by gospel group, Avante.

Tickets are R60 throughout (no concessions) and available through Computicket.

For more information about the full African Renaissance programme email or tel: +27 (0) 31 266 9792.