The Lowvelder

Cultural Xperience to take over Mpumalanga

- Bongekile Khumalo and Bridget Mpande

MBOMBELA - Set to take place all over the province, the seventh annual Mpumalanga Cultural Xperience is aimed at showcasing and celebratin­g local musicians, artists and crafters. Though the festival comes at a time when everyone is dusting off the effects and impacts of the recent pandemic, the Department of Culture, Sports and Recreation (DCSR) has promised eight stupendous shows.

The festival will kick-start on Saturday November 26 with the Traditiona­l Xperience: Bakgatla Ba Moepi Traditiona­l Council.

The MEC for culture, sports and recreation, Thandi Shongwe, said the festival continues to provide a platform for artists, but has developed a strong diversity aspect to it and also seeks to continue inspiring the imaginatio­n of the people of

Phumla Nkomo. Mpumalanga, more especially the youth.

“The partnershi­p between the DCSR and the Music Creatives Workshop bears testimony to this. Through this partnershi­p, over

500 artists from the three district municipali­ties have benefited from the workshops every year for the past five years,” Shongwe said.

“The partnershi­p has assisted over 150 beneficiar­ies to access grants and has a mentorship programme that equips artists to be able to run the business aspect of their music careers. It has also has assisted in creating sustainabl­e employment and skills developmen­t, and has unlocked unlimited potential in the creative industry.”

Shongwe said the variety of cultural and artistic events lined up for this year will demonstrat­e the importance of promoting arts and fostering social cohesion in the province.

“This year’s Cultural Xperience will be characteri­sed by diversity of the pillars that form this one majestic cultural festival. We have brought back the Internatio­nal Xperience and Film Xperience. These pillars were put on hold in the past two years due to Covid-19 restrictio­ns,” Shongwe said.

Tickets are available at TicketPro and

SPAR branches at

R100 each.

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