Based on the very successful Soweto Festival now in its fourth year, the Khayelitsha Festival is set to be an annual event creating opportunities for local businesses to expand their horizons and interact with the wider Cape business community.
The Festival aims above all, to attract thousands of visitors and primarily to entertain. It will run over three days and feature a leisure and lifestyle exhibition, a vibrant music programme, fashion shows, arts and crafts, a youth zone, dance, competitions and a host of other activities.
The media launch, held on 30th June, attracted well over 200 guests in a truly impressive turnout, amply illustrating the impact and opportunity this festival offers, not only in Khayelitsha but for the wider Cape Peninsula community. A vital factor was the dedication and teamwork from Heart, the ground implementation partners of the event. Adele Lucas Promotions, the promoters and organizers of the festival were overwhelmed by the turnout and were reassured that the event coordination and festival ground implementation is in excellent hands.
Media interest was at an all time high, at reporters and journalists vied for interviews in a charged atmosphere fuelled by guest of honour' Cape Town Mayor, Helen Zille who launched the event, the Khayelitsha Development Forum's vibrant chairman, Zamayedwa (ZB) Sogayise and the Provincial Government's Deputy Director General of the Premier's Department, Dr. Laurine Platsky.
Top businesses in Cape Town demonstrated strong corporate interest. Standard Bank, Old Mutual, Foschini and many other corporations indicated their interest in the festival and acknowledged the excellent marketing opportunities.
Bringing the event closer to the local community is the fact that the OR Tambo Centre will host the festival in October. A massive Bedouin tent captured the atmosphere perfectly, containing the stage on which speeches were presented and Khayelitsha diva Paulina Malefane and the Isango Portobello theatre group and Vuyani Qali performed signature songs dedicated to the Khayelitsha Festival. Delicious food and beverages were supplied by the Divacuisine Company who also decorated the hall together with the event coordinator Clyde Finlayson and the Heart of Healing. All service suppliers delivered way beyond the call of duty, flawlessly equipping the launch to the highest standards.
The media launch was a highly successful event providing a delectable foretaste and creating a palpable sense of excitement amongst all stakeholders. It will also hopefully attract more businesses and local entrepreneurs in the wake of the media exposure.
Heartfelt thanks to everyone, from the Mayor to the sweepers, who made the Khayelitsha Festival launch a resounding success. Over the ensuing months, in the sustained build up to the Festival, it will undoubtedly elicit a great response from the local community, our primary target market market.
We look forward to seeing you there!
For further information please contact Project Manager Claire Alexander on 021 442 9628 or claire@heartglobal.org.