Get ready for Mzansi Fela Festival

Tshwane is the place to be from 1 December to 15 December when the Mzansi Fela Festival explodes onto the entertainment scene at the State Theatre in Pretoria.

Lira

In celebration of Mzansi’s artistic spirit, The Mzansi Fela Festival (MFF) is back for its seventh season and it’s all taking place at the State Theatre in Tshwane. This year, this veritable entertainment extravaganza is bigger and better than ever before.

It’s a full programme of music, comedy, poetry, rock, hip hop, dance and drama, from a lineup of super-talented local performers the likes of popular musician and poet Zahara, the ultra-fabulous Parlotones, South Africa’s grand dame of song Sibongile Khumalo, R&B diva Lira, the country’s freshest comedians and most styling DJs, not to mention the brilliant theatre productions vying for a place at the Edinburgh festival… the lineup is endless and one thing is guaranteed, the spirit of music, dance and performance is very much alive.

As 1 December is World AIDS Day, MFF will kick off on a meaningful note with the Annual World AIDS Day march which starts at 10h00 at the legendary Union Buildings and ends at the State Theatre. The festival will officially open at Lillian Ngoyi Square with various performances from the country’s finest.

Mayhem

Launched in 2007, MFF was originally the Mzansi on Stage Festival. Now it has become one of the most highly anticipated arts events in the country. It not only continues to be an exciting and significant initiative to encourage emerging markets here in South Africa but it is also a dynamic platform from which our artists can highlight their remarkable works and enjoy wide exposure. It is here that audiences get to witness the South African arts at its spectacular best.

Zahara

While the Festival attracts big names, it has, since its inception, also nurtured new South African talent through the Community Development Programme, which was established by MFF in partnership with the Tshwane University of Technology.

Also, through the Festival, theatre productions will once again get the opportunity to win a place at the 2013 Edinburgh Festival.

From 1 December, come rock Jacaranda City at this audacious summertime Festival, which is presented in conjunction with the Department of Arts and Culture.

The Programme:

Headliners: Opera Theatre

• Zahara (1 December – 20h30)

• Sibongile Khumalo (7 December – 20h30)

• The Parlotones (8 December – 20h30)

• Lira (14 & 15 December – 20h30)



Theatre productions:

• Hol (10 Dec – 20h00, 11 Dec – 16h00 and 19h30 and 12 & 13 Dec – 19h30): Momentum Theatre

• Moffie (4 – 6 December – 20h00): Drama Theatre

• Sunday Morning (11 Dec – 10h00 & 20h00 and 12 & 13 Dec – 20h00): Arena Theatre

• Itsoseng (3 & 4 Dec – 19h00 and 5 Dec – 20h00): Arena Theatre

• Mayhem (7 Dec – 19h00 and 8 & 9 Dec – 15h00): Arena Theatre



Jazz and African Music Nights (9 December): Kilnerton Theatre (12h00)

• Selaelo Selota

• Ngwako Manamela

• Ladies in Jazz

• Steve Dyer

• Gcobisa

• Four Seasons



Tshwane Comedy Nights (8 December): Rendezvous Theatre (20h00)

• Kedibone Mulaudzi

• Toll Ass Mo

• Judy Jake

• Deep Fried Man

• Mel Miller



Rock Nites (13 December): Rendezvous Theatre (18h00)



DJs Night (14 December): The State Theatre’s old Capellos (22h00)



The Community Arts Festival (Momentum Theatre):



A total of 13 productions have been chosen for the Programme in 2012:

•Horns (December 3 & 11 – 12h00)

•Tandeka’s Magic Hat (December 3 – 14h00 and December 10 – 12h00)

•Nomi and the magic fish (December 4 – 12h00 & December 10 – 14h00)

•Between the Books (December 4 – 14h00 & December 14 – 10h00)

•The Matric Ball (December 5 – 12h00 & December 11 – 14h00)

•Baggae (December 5 &12 – 14h00)

•The Coat (December 6 & 13 – 12h00)

•In Me (December 6 – 14h00 & December 14 – 12h00)

•Children of Asazi (December 7 – 12h00 & December 13 – 10h00)

•Stallions (December 7 – 14h00 & December 12 – 10h00)

•Nongongo (December 8 – 10h00 & December 13 – 14h00)

•Under the Nelson Mandela Bridge (December 8 – 12h00 & December 14 – 14h00)

•Vampire (December 8 – 14h00 & December 12 – 12h00)



Showcases for Edinburgh Festival:



•She died dreaming (December 10, 12h00) – Arena Theatre

•Skierlik (December 10, 16h00) - Rendezvous Theatre

•My naam/name is Ellen Pakkies (December 10, 20h00) – Arena Theatre

•Forlorn (December 11, 14h00) - Rendezvous Theatre

•Roses and Angels (December 11, 17h00) - Rendezvous Theatre

•Goon (December 11, 16h00) - Rendezvous Theatre

•Africappella (December 12, 20h00) - Rendezvous Theatre