THE City of Goodwill, home of the boy scouts, sun by day and fun by night - Mahikeng has always been the centre of action.
From the days of Radio Bop and Bop TV to the heydays of Motswako rap, black popular culture has been brewed and churned in its dusty streets. And this weekend it reclaims its place with the inaugural Maftown Celebration Week.
The four-day festival ends on Sunday. It toasts the city's cultural heritage.
Today, the sports fun day at Montshiwa Stadium will entertain with indigenous games and a friendly celebrity soccer game. An arts and crafts market at Mmabana gets under way until tomorrow.
On Sunday, the Jazz Afrosoul and Motswako Music Festival at Mmabatho Palms Hotel Sports Grounds will have crowd-pullers such as Lira, Hugh Masekela, Don Laka, HHP and Khuli Chana. Tickets cost R180 and R350 (for VIP) at Computicket.
While in town, don't miss the 17th edition of the annual Maftown 60s party happening tomorrow night at Monare Farm outside Mahikeng. It's a night of Afros and oversized shades and the psychedelic flower power costumes.
The event is headlined by US dance trio Tortured Soul and has DJs such as Kent, Dimplez, Ganyani, Ms Cosmo, DMos and Fistaz Mixwell on the bill.
The pre-party tonight at Red Ox features DJs Vinny Da Vinci, Lulo Cafe, Claude, MoFlava and Naked.
Tickets are available at Computicket for R80 for the Pre-Sixties Party and R180 for the main Sixties Party.
mofokengl@sowetan.co.za