Plans for the first annual Nelson Mandela Bay Reggae Music Festival are under way, with the organising team working hard to ensure its success.
The festival, a Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) initiative, will be held at the Tramways building on Sunday September 16.
It is set to be a relaxed and intimate musical event with food and artwork on sale. Guests are advised to wear comfortable clothing so they can let their hair down and enjoy the music.The event is the brainchild of founder Maria Pakela,and festival director Fezile Gumede, and the lineup will include performances by reggae solo artists and bands.
Marketing officer Mkhangeli “MK” Matiwane said it was set to be the first reggae-focused festival to be held in the Bay.“Reggae is a marginalised genre and we want to change people’s mind-sets about it.” The purpose of the initiative was also to support local reggae musicians and ensure the legacy of the genre was kept alive, Matiwane said.He added that he hoped to see the festival grow beyond SA, as the organisers were engaged in talks with German stakeholders to create a programme whereby local artists could go abroad and represent SA in festivals there.
He said the support received from the MBDA throughout the planning stages gave them hope the project had potential to grow. “As a team, we are invested in nurturing the growth of reggae music and its talent in the Bay, before reaching out across SA.”
The Nelson Mandela Bay Reggae Music Festival will run from 3 to 8pm. Tickets at R80 are online through Quicket and will also be available at the door on the day. More information from Mkhangeli Matiwane on 084-922-3290.