Local designers will showcase their collections

RELATED LINKS: Women's Month packs a fun punch OVER 31 days in August, women and their role in the emancipation of South Africa will be celebrated across the city and the province. Read more Jozi prepares for carnival party THE streets of downtown Joburg will swop their usual traffic for noise of a different, happier kind when the Gauteng Carnival kicks up its heels. Read more Jozi welcomes spring with Arts Alive A HOST of artists have signed up for this year's Arts Alive festival, from international dance DJs to hip-hop poets to Indian jazz masters. Read more Decorex adds new items to the mix A NEW hall, new dècor items, new furniture, new paint palette – there will be plenty of inspiration at Decorex this year. Read more Pink plans hot Jozi performance PINK will get the party started at the Coca-Cola Dome in Northgate on her I'm Not Dead world tour – no self-respecting party animal should miss this one. Read more

Soweto Festival promises fun times Even more people are expected at this year's Soweto Festival – about 50 000 attended last year – say organisers. September 6, 2007 By Millicent Kgowedi MUSIC, fashion, art and food are on the cards for the Soweto Festival, from Friday, 21 to Sunday, 24 September at Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication, in Kliptown. Freedom Square, as it is known, will be buzzing during the annual festival. This year's Soweto Festival, on from 21 September, takes place at the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication in Kliptown "We had about 50 000 people attending the festival last year and this year is going to be even bigger," said Jane Warburton, the spokesperson for the organisers, Adele Luke Promotions. "We want more people - every year the festival gets get bigger and we are now in our third year and can only expect a big turn out." Art More than 200 crafters from various Soweto art groups are expected to display a wide range of beadwork, baskets, embroidery, carvings, copper art and many more items that will reflect Soweto's unique arts and crafts tradition. According to the organisers, many of the crafts depict the folklore and heritage of Kliptown, Freedom Square and Pimville. Emerging fashion designers will showcase their collections alongside more established black designers. However, the organisers say that the initiative is not only about fashion, but also about connecting with African heritage. The shows will highlight the creativity associated with design and imagination. "The whole fashion experience reignites our passion for celebrating South Africa's vibrant creativity," Warburton said. Live entertainment Over on the main stage there will be a feast of music, with performers combining Afro-pop with kwaito, gospel with jazz, and maskandi with hip-hop. The line-up, however, will be announced closer to the date. Finalists from last year's Miss Five Roses competition A fundamental aspect of the Soweto Festival is the Standard Bank Careers Village, which targets matric learners and young adults eager for information about employment, business, careers, education and training. The objective of the careers village is to help young people to make informed decisions about their futures. The village will feature successful South African entrepreneurs, who will be on hand to share their success stories. Exhibitions More than 200 exhibitors are expected, with furniture, health and beauty, crafts, cars, property, finance, business services, hi-tech appliances and cellular services on display. The organisers say that this commercial aspect of the show is a major draw-card. Space will be set aside for small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) to showcase their products and services to the growing consumer market in Soweto as well as to the growing number of black-owned corporate businesses. The Johannesburg Tourism Company, Cradle of Humankind, Dinokeng, Indian Tourism and tourism offices from several Southern African Developing Community countries will be at the festival. For the kids Children will not left out - Toys R Us, the toy retailer - will set up a special secure area for kids to play safely. Parents will be able to drop off their little ones while they visit the different stands, knowing their children are safe and sound. Kliptown was established in 1903 and is the oldest suburb in Soweto, arguably the most well-known township in the world. In 1955, thousands of people from various anti-apartheid organisations converged on Freedom Square to agree on a draft Freedom Charter. Indigenous thorn trees have been planted around the square to represent the queues of people who waited to cast their first votes in 1994. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za