The Cape Town Festival is an eleven year old party animal doing its bit for peace, love and understanding. Originally initiated by the former Cape Times Editor, Ryland Fisher as an annual event and an institution of inclusion to encourage unity across Cape Town, it has, over the years, shown the central city a good time in its public spaces, often boasting the best of the country’s musical talent for free public enjoyment.
The Festival’s promotion of diversity and tolerance has helped it become a platform for exchange and understanding through cultural and artistic expression that reaches further than the stage.
Case in point. 19 November 2010 : the Festival, incorporated into ‘One City, Many Cultures Leadership Forum and Tolerance Awards’ highlighted tolerance through dialogue with more than fifty senior religious, academic and political representatives discussing pressing issues. The Leadership Forum is linked UNESCO’s International Day for Tolerance (16th November). UNESCO’s Declaration of Principles on Tolerance defines tolerance as respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of global cultures, forms of expression and ways of being human; practised and encouraged by knowledge, openness, communication and freedom of thought, conscience and belief. In other words, tolerance is harmony in difference, not indifference to harmony.
Picking up on that last point (and bringing us back to party, in the spirit of the season), the 1CMC Project is hosting a gig at the Cape Town Station, 18 December 2010. Embracing Africa, Embracing Cape Town is a live music concert taking place on Sat 18 December 2010, at the Cape Town Station Forecourt. It celebrates a shared African heritage and includes the Performing Arts Network of South Africa (PANSA ), which will storm the stage with a montage of traditional instrumental, dance and vocal performances.
Moreira Chonguicais, a saxophonist from Mozambique, will entertain with his contemporary jazz and world music until Gang Of Instrumentals takes over and the smoothies take cover. In the spirit of going beyond the stage, The Cape Town Station Forecourt will transform into more than a performance space, with an entire food court serving traditional African and Cape Town cuisine, a beer garden, and refreshment and merchandise stalls. Tickets include the after-party at 121 Castle; with DJ’s Leo Large, Thibo Tazz and friends on the decks. (18+ only).
