Premier Zille to Address Africa Day Celebrations

Tomorrow, Premier Helen Zille will address the annual Africa Day Celebrations – which are being held under the theme: “The African Year of Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through investments in the Youth”.

Africa Day is celebrated around the world every year on 25 May. The aim is to commemorate the founding, in 1963, of the Organisation of African Unity, presently recognised as the African Union (AU). The day is also intended to celebrate African diversity and success and to highlight the cultural and economic potential that exists on the African continent.

The Western Cape Government has planned a series of celebrations in collaboration with Iziko Museums and the Artscape Theatre. Various activities will take place at the respective venues, led by Ministers of the Western Cape Cabinet.

Finance Minister, Dr Ivan Meyer will deliver the keynote address at the Africa Day Business Networking Seminar, facilitated by the Western Cape Government’s Investment Agency, Wesgro.

The Seminar will take place at Mazars House, Railto Road, Century City where various presentations will also be made by African trading partner nations, including Ghana, Nigeria and Mozambique, among others.

Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Anroux Marais, will officially open the Africa Day proceedings at the Artscape Theatre.

The Artscape commemorations will comprise a Food tasting & Networking session, a performance of Maloza, by The Man Cub (from Zambia), and a performance of When Lion had wings, by the SA Jungle Theatre, among other acts.

Premier Zille will conclude the commemorations in an address at the Iziko Museum in Gardens, Cape Town.

Performances at the Iziko Museum will include the Kronendal Music Academy, which was formed to address the ongoing lack of cultural stimulation aimed at the youth of Hout Bay. The group provides music education in as many forms and styles as possible, while fostering a platform to initiate racial and social interaction and integration amongst the three very distinct communities in the area: Imizamo Yethu, the Hangberg fishing village and the 'valley' residents.

There will also be a performance by Africa Arts Ensemble Noir featuring Mr Tunde Jegede – a Nigerian composer and multi-instrumentalist in contemporary classical, African and pop music – who travelled all over Senegambia to learn the art of the kora with the legendary Diamante family. He is a producer-songwriter and has worked across several genres both as a performer (cello, kora, piano and percussion) and producer. He is a master kora player, and specialises in the West African classical music tradition, which dates from the period of Sundiata.  He is currently director of MUSON Centre (Music Society of Nigeria) in Lagos.

Other musical performances will include Tunde Jegede and Bongani Ndodana-Breen.

All media are invited to attend the various proceedings across the City.

Details:

Minister Ivan Meyer’s address to the Africa Day Business Networking Seminar:
VENUE: Mazars House, Railto Road, Century City


Minister Anroux Marais – official opening of Africa Day Celebrations:
VENUE: Artscape Theatre
 

Premier Helen Zille’s Africa Day Keynote Address
VENUE: Iziko Museum, Gardens, Cape Town