Laughter, awards, music
Celebration of the arts and film
An exciting four-day festival to celebrate the Eastern Cape film and arts industry kicks off in East London today with a round of golf.
The entertainment continues next Thursday with a comedy night and ends on a rip-roaring Saturday.
Friday night is an awards evening honouring Eastern Cape talent, and Saturday through to the early hours of Sunday sees a musical event featuring an array of Eastern Cape musicians.
The Eastern Cape Entertainment Star Awards (ECESA) hosted by the Buffalo City Municipality and presented by BET, was founded by actor Tazz Ngidana and Mandla Makwela in 2016.
The duo’s aim was to honour and recognise legends known nationally or even internationally for their contribution to the film and arts industry.
Ngidana said: “This platform has been created to recognise active entertainers, to inspire the up-and-coming artists to aim higher and by so doing producing quality material that will be celebrated and honoured.”
He said entry to the awards ceremony was strictly by invitation only.
The festivities kick off with a golf day at the East London Golf Club today. This is followed by a comedy night next Thursday at the Orient Theatre with Eastern Cape comedians Mira, Mbathane, Khanyisa Bunu, Shuz Sigobelwane, Siya Seya and Loyiso Madinga.
The main event, the ECESA awards ceremony, will be broadcast live on BET channel.
“BET will make sure viewers are not missing out on the fun and they will witness how Eastern Cape talent is celebrated,” said Ngidana, who then added that Eastern Cape poet Jessica Mbangeni and actor Lungile Radu would host the awards ceremony.
The music festival at Buffalo City Stadium will wrap up festivities and it is set to provide a line-up of Eastern Cape artists such as Jessica Mbangeni, NaakMusiq, iFani, Sdudla Noma1000, Dumza Maswana, Sliq Angel, MXO, Busiswa, MoonChilled, Mobi Dixon, Bethusile Mcinga and Major League.
Ticket prices range from R150 to R1,000 for VIP treatment and can be purchased from ticket pro.