THE national Department of Arts and Culture yesterday confirmed that South Africa missed the opening ceremony of the 3rd World Festival of Black Arts and Culture.
This was due to being misinformed by the Senegal authorities that the event had been postponed for unknown reasons.
Last week the department issued a statement confirming the postponement of the month-long cultural event but yesterday its spokesperson, Mack Lewele, said the department was misinformed.
"We were informed by the Senegal embassy that the event had been postponed, only to find that the opening ceremony took place on Saturday. I cannot explain why that happened, but the event organisers can give more details," Lewele said.
He said even though local artists missed the opening ceremony, they were still scheduled to perform at the event because December 23 was aimed at highlighting South African arts.
The department had named award-wining jazz singer Judith Sephuma and mbhaqanga group Mahotella Queens as the artists to perform at the opening ceremony.
"Mahotella Queens performed on Sunday night in Dakar but not in the opening ceremony, and will be returning home today (yesterday)," Anton Stella, owner of AS Entertainment, said.
The festival features artistic work such as poetry, music, dance, painting, sculpture, design, cinema and music. Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse, HHP, Tumi and the Volume, and Lira are among other local artist expected to represent South Africa at the event.
SA misses Dakar opening ceremony
THE national Department of Arts and Culture yesterday confirmed that South Africa missed the opening ceremony of the 3rd World Festival of Black Arts and Culture.
This was due to being misinformed by the Senegal authorities that the event had been postponed for unknown reasons.
Last week the department issued a statement confirming the postponement of the month-long cultural event but yesterday its spokesperson, Mack Lewele, said the department was misinformed.
"We were informed by the Senegal embassy that the event had been postponed, only to find that the opening ceremony took place on Saturday. I cannot explain why that happened, but the event organisers can give more details," Lewele said.
He said even though local artists missed the opening ceremony, they were still scheduled to perform at the event because December 23 was aimed at highlighting South African arts.
The department had named award-wining jazz singer Judith Sephuma and mbhaqanga group Mahotella Queens as the artists to perform at the opening ceremony.
"Mahotella Queens performed on Sunday night in Dakar but not in the opening ceremony, and will be returning home today (yesterday)," Anton Stella, owner of AS Entertainment, said.
The festival features artistic work such as poetry, music, dance, painting, sculpture, design, cinema and music. Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse, HHP, Tumi and the Volume, and Lira are among other local artist expected to represent South Africa at the event.
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