Eissh, Soweto is sizzling and is definitely the place to be this Heritage Weekend! Last year over 43 000 people streamed through the gates of the Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown to attend the 2007 Soweto Festival. And this year it’s going to be bigger than ever.

Small Soweto businesses gain invaluable exposure and education a top priority
The festival offerings are many and varied. Scholars can visit the Career Village to learn tips about finding and applying for a job and what skills are required. The Expo also provides exciting shopping and is a great venue for the small businesses of Soweto to sell their wares and talk to their consumers.

2010 on our minds
There are big plans for 2008. The Festival will grow once again and will include other venues and cultural concepts. The involvement of the City of Joburg will also lend weight to the event and this will be a build up for 2010 when the whole of Soweto will become a playground for the international visitors.

Fabulous Entertainment
The Entertainment programme should have the crowds screaming for more. There’s a hot line up of talent and varied performances from dancers and musicians for the main stage ranging from Kwaito to Gospel to Hip Hop. Families will find numerous eateries in the heart of the Festival or the Five Roses Tea Garden and the men can take it easy in the Shebeen while their wives are shopping.

Magical fashion shows
Young up and coming designers will be presenting their collections alongside professional and successful designers offering them the golden opportunity to learn and develop their craft.

Adele Lucas, organiser of the Festival, says “…the Festival gets bigger and better every year. Soweto is fast developing into a city in its own right and the Soweto Festival is fast becoming a hallmark event for the City of Joburg. I am particularly pleased the City of Johannesburg has given its wholehearted blessing to the Festival, as it aligns very closely to the City’s development goals and provides an annual showcase of Soweto to the world.”

Numerous tourism organisations, including the Johannesburg Tourism Company, Cradle of Human Kind, Indian Tourism, the Zulu Kingdom and tourism offices from several African will be participating at the Festival. Other exhibitors will display products ranging from Furniture, Health & Beauty, Crafts, Cars, Property, Finance, Business Services, to FMCG products, Hi-Tech appliances and cellular services.

Need to know? The new venue for the 2008 Soweto Festival is the Soweto Campus of the University of Johannesburg, located on the Old Potch Road opposite Orlando Power Station. Get with the programme at www.sowetofestival.co.za