Music lovers will experience music at its best when Limpopo’s Department of Sport, Arts and Culture will be staging their week-long gig, the Mapungubwe Festival, from December 9-17 at Polokwane.

After the success of last year’s festival, the department has promised that this year’s festival will be bigger than the previous one. Already dubbed “the mother of all festivals in the Southern region”, this festival is going to cost R11.2 million and part of this amount will go to paying for high profile artists, transportation of performing groups, co-ordination and other things.

During the official launch of this year’s festival last Friday in Polokwane, MEC Joe Maswanganyi revealed that: “We have added other categories like a gospel festival and Miss Mapungubwe beauty pageant to make this one big.” The 17 young ladies who are the finalists of the pageant will compete against each other on December 3, when a queen and her two princesses will be crowned before the festival starts on December 9, six days later.

According to the departmental spokesperson, Mmbangiseni Masia, some of the artists who will perform in the festival are; Kirk Whalum from the USA, Hugh Masekela, Jonas Gwangwa, Caiphus Semenya, Letah Mbuli, Don Laka, Abdullah Ibrahim, Sipho Mabuse, Selaelo Selota, Abigail Kubheka, Joyous Celebrations and Worship House.

“On December 15, we will have a battle of the DJs,” said Masia.

Masia also added that there would be traditional dances throughout the programme. “A video festival will also be there, together with the art exhibitions that will involve artists from Zimbabwe and Mozambique,” said Masia. There will also be an open festival for up-and-coming local artists, although they will be paid.

“Our main aim is not to make profit from this festival, but to market our province and show our talent. The money we are going to collect will help to reduce some of our expenditure. In total, we are going to have more than 82 artists who will perform here. Major announcement about the big-selling artists who will be here are still going to be made,” said Masia.