September 7, 2006
By Lucky Sindane
THE clock is ticking, so dust off your sneakers and join in the second annual Gauteng Carnival, taking place through the streets of Braamfontein and Newtown from 10am on Saturday, 9 September.
More than 3 000 participants from over 30 troupes are expected to take part in the carnival, Pale Ya Rona, "telling our story".
Like the carnivals in Brazil and the Caribbean, Jozi's streets will come alive as the parade of floats and street performers pass by.
"Across the world carnivals combine performing and visual arts into a
celebration of collective identity and community aspiration," says Gauteng MEC for sport, recreation, arts and culture, Barbara Creecy.
Getting ready to for the grade parade through the streets of Jozi
"In Brazil and throughout the Caribbean, carnivals have proved to be a major tourist attraction, bringing in millions of dollars in revenue," she adds.
Months of preparation have gone into the Gauteng Carnival, with workshops being held across the province on skills as diverse as drumming and music-making to costume and mask making. Even courses on welding and marshalling were held.
"This year's carnival is the flagship project of the Creative Industries Strategy which was launched in March this year," Creecy points out.
"It offers us an ideal opportunity to ensure artistic resources, training and experience in staging a major cultural event are transferred to communities throughout the province."
Design and theme workshops were held in each region, including Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Tshwane, Mogale City and Sedibeng. They studied the concept of a carnival and explored what each region represents.
Some 80 artists shared ideas on what stories they felt the regions could tell, and the following themes were identified:
- Johannesburg: Jozi Maboneng (Jozi, a place of light);
- Tshwane/Metsweding: Motse Moshate (The royal house of Africa);
- Ekurhuleni: Kgotso, Pula, Nala (Peace, rain and prosperity);
- Sedibeng: Tite Ya Batho (The well of the people); and
- West Rand (Rhythm of the roots).
"This year, delegates from across the world will be here to observe our carnival as a precursor to the International Carnival Conference which will be held in Gauteng next year," says Creecy.
On Saturday the 3,5km carnival route [PDF, 9Kb] starts from the National School of Arts in Braamfontein on Melle Street, joining De Korte Street.
It then turns left into Bertha Street, going over the Nelson Mandela bridge and turning right on Jeppe Street. After that, it will turn left on Miriam Makeba, leading onto Blue IQ Park in Newtown.
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