It’s BCM summer carnival time
THE much-anticipated Buffalo City Metro (BCM) summer carnival starts on Monday at the Mdantsane City Mall.
The two-day event will give local opportunity to showcase their talents.
The carnival comes a week after BCM hosted the switching-on of the lights event, which also gave a number of entertainers a platform on which to perform.
Every year in December, BCM hosts three carnivals at Mdantsane, King William’s Town and East London.
Some of the big names expected to keep the masses entertained at next week’s event are Professor, Emtee, Musa, Robbie Malinga, Lira, Fifi Cooper, Amanda Black, Msaki, Mobi Dixon, Naak Musiq, Busiswa, Gigi, Moneoa, Lilitha, Berita, Zahara, heavy K, Zola 7, Prince Kaybee, Sdudla and Mathousand.
The King carnival is scheduled for December 15 and 16 and the East London event will take place on December 20 and 21.
Another event supported by BCM is tonight’s inaugural Eastern Cape Entertainment Stars Awards (ECESA), which started with a comedy show yesterday.
The MetroFM Heatwave taking place tomorrow at the Absa Stadium has also received financial support from BCM to the value of R400 000.
The event, in its second year in East London, will artists an feature the likes of Lerato Kganyago, Lulo Cafe, Malwela, Naked DJ, VJ Nutty, Ricky Rick, Anathi, Big Nuz and Mo Flava. The show will be hosted by Amaza Ntshanga and Khanyi Mbau.
The metro also backs the Buyel’ekhaya Pan African Jazz Festival, Mdantsane Summer Reunion and Countdown 2016.
The Buyel’ekhaya festival draws people from all over the country and has become one of the most attended shows in the province. It attracts some of the country’s top artists and the line-up for the December 18 event at Buffalo Park Cricket Stadium includes Msaki, Black Coffee, Babes Wodumo, Dorothy Masuka, Ringo Madlingozi, Siphokazi, Jonas Gwangwa and Mobi Dixon.
The Mdantsane Summer Reunion received R200 000 from BCM and the list of artists includes Mobi Dixon, Native Bandz, DJ Minty, Akhona Excellent, Lynch, Blomzit Avenue and Inga Hina.
This year’s shows also feature a number of local artists from upcoming dance groups to gospel stars.
In addition, all three shows will have Eastern Cape-born presenters.
The Mdantsane carnival hosts are Akhona Excellence, Bussie Safa, Vovee Batala and The Lovely Khanyie.
Zama Ntshona, Reggie Solani, Mantofontofo, Blac Maci will host the East London event and Lukho Mkwedi, Jigga, Shuz and Shalom the King carnival.
BCM had not responded to questions at the time of writing yesterday. —