By Khahliso Khama
BLOEMFONTEIN – As weeks approach towards the famed and long-awaited Mangaung Arts and Cultural Festival (MACUFE), the streets of Mangaung are buzzing with excitement in preparation for the esteemed arts and cultural festivity celebrating 15 years.
Besides the music programme filled with huge international acts, the department is also hosting what has been dubbed the MACUFE Homebrew Programme which will ensure that local acts are well represented in the MACUFE programme and even long after the festival. The programme will make rounds in the Free State identifying artists that will showcase their skills during various arts and culture platforms including MACUFE dance, theatre and drama programmes.
One of the young people looking forward to the festival is Manapo Mofolo, a Business Management student at Motheo College in Bloemfontein. Mofolo, who said she can’t wait to see what promises to be an electrifying performance by the billed artists, labelled MACUFE as a profitable and entertaining festival that every young and old person can take advantage of to pursue their talent and business ventures or aspirations.
“I am overwhelmed by the line up and hopefully the artists will deliver as expected. I believe it’s time that people see MACUFE not only as a two weeks entertainment programme but an opportunity to mingle with the right people and explore possible business ventures that present themselves during MACUFE,” said the 21 year old student.
On the other hand, aspiring artists have given a thumb up to the organisers of the festival for initiating pre and post MACUFE programmes that will ensure that local talent is put to great use even beyond the event.
“The MACUFE Homebrew Programme is a good initiative because it reaches out not only to established artists but to every aspiring artist who wouldn’t have known the right track to participating in the festival.
The programme also awards every individual despite their location the opportunity to audition and make it to the performers list during MACUFE,” said Mpho ‘Hypnotics’ Selaelo, a young aspiring hip hop and dance artist.
“I am also impressed with the idea that organisers are looking beyond the event. It is a good initiative to use artists even at other events besides MACUFE as this will keep them motivated and away from the streets,” added Selaelo.
The Mangaung Arts and Cultural Festival is an annual culture and entertainment event that brings together the crème de la crème of the South African arts industry and international artists together with their fans in Bloemfontein.
The festival features jazz, kwaito, hip hop, RnB, gospel, rock and classic music as well as dance, drama, poetry, musical theatre, fine art and traditional arts. MACUFE was first held in 1997 with an audience of 30 000. This year the festival seeks to attract over 140 000 merry makers from South Africa, Africa and the world.
As is the culture, organisers of the festivities have ensured that this year’s event does not disappoint by drawing an exciting line up for revellers. International acts Angie Stone, Randy Crawford and Joe Sample are expected to grace the event alongside South African heavy weight musicians Zahara, Lira, Letta Mbuli, Ringo and Caiphus Semenya to mention but a few.
As efforts to maximise the engagement of locally brewed artists during the festival, the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation in the Free State has billed in local musicians Maleh, Bochabela Strings Orchestra, Ntshiuwa, Thabo Pitse and Deda amongst others to perform at the MACUFE.