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- Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival has become one of Gauteng’s biggest youth arts events.
- Attendees are treated to a range of music industry workshops, a creative wellness programme, panel discussions, exhibitions and films.
- Festival goers can expect to see DJs and artists like DJ Zinhle, Kwesta, Samthing Soweto, Shekhinah, and more.
The Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival is 11 years old, and ConHill's signature youth festival has gone from strength to strength with no signs of slowing down.
According to organisers, the festival has grown from an audience of 2 000 in 2012 to more than 7 000 in 2019.
"Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival has become one of Gauteng’s biggest youth arts events attracting thousands of youth from diverse cultural backgrounds to Constitution Hill to commemorate Youth Month together in a safe and critically engaging environment."
The flagship creative arts festival was established to provide a platform that would facilitate the broad spectrum of artistic expression for young emerging professionals and entrepreneurs in the creative industry.
"While the name Basha Uhuru reinforces what the brand stands for, it further extends itself to borders beyond South Africa – as it uses Kiswahili and Setswana, thus, building social cohesion and shared identity."
READ MORE | Film, music, poetry, art: The Basha Uhuru festival creates a safe space for expression
The festival kicked off this week with a summit called the Basha Uhuru Creative Week under the tagline "Not Just Another Creative Summit."
Festivities began on 21 June with Creative Week, and the festival will end with the Sounds of Freedom Music Festival on 24 June.
Basha Uhuru Creative Week features music industry workshops, a creative wellness programme, panel discussions, exhibitions and films.
The music festival on Saturday begins at 10 am and will run until 02 am.
Basha Uhuru Music Festival Line Up
Festival goers can expect to see DJs and artists like DJ Zinhle, Kwesta, Samthing Soweto, Shekhinah, Thando Nje, Sol Phenduka, Marcus Harvey And Friends, Gyre, IzangoMa, Ms Party, Kmat DJ, Boujeena, SweeterBrown, Mam'thug, Ranger, Kitchenmess, and Lyndow on stage.
This year's Basha Uhuru Music Legacy Award recipient Thebe will also be doing an exceptional guest performance.
"The Basha Uhuru festival is not just a festival. It is the coming together of Con Hill’s Creative Uprising Hub to exhibit, profile and support those in the creative sector. It provides a point of focus and creative celebration for Gauteng’s creative community," said organisers.
The Creative Uprising
Continuing this year is The Creative Uprising. Festival organisers launched the programme in 2020, designed to support creatives.
They then invited creatives, makers, artisans, craftspeople, illustrators, entertainers, artists and digital designers to join their movement and become members of the programme.
According to organisers, membership provides access to studio spaces, business support, education, market access, networking and various platforms for expression.
Membership also comes with access to seminars, masterclasses, dialogues, and capacity-building programmes, which take place throughout the year.
"The festival targets creative enrichment and development rather than commercial outcomes. The aim is to leverage funds for the maximum possible impact rather than profit."
The programme runs from 21 – 23 June 2023, and details about tickets and other attractions at the festival are available on the Basha Uhuru website.
This information was supplied by Maria McCloy on behalf of the Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival.
