"The Art is man's constant effort to create for himself a different order of reality from that which is given to him" a quote by Chinua Achebe; resonated around me at the official launch of the Johannesburg Arts Alive festival (JAAIF ) yesterday.

Artistic brilliance resonated at the incredible offerings of this year's 21 years of the festivals existence.

Year on year, the Johannesburg Arts Alive International Festival has put on a programme that makes sure delivers excellence, while including a variety of artistic genres – from dance, visual arts, poetry, music, theatre, film and comedy.

This year the festival which has now collaborated with the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz alongside South Africa’s BRICS partnership consists of an unwavering programme from Nigeria’s Femi Kuti to our very own songstress Pu2ma.

The festival which has committed to delivering quality acts from all over the world, while providing a platform for local talent to shine, has seen the festival earn a reputation as one of the City’s richest multi-disciplinary cultural offerings.

Deputy director of communications for the City of Johannesburg Nthatisi Modingwane said: "The city has been supporting the arts over the years and the city is committed to making sure that the arts become prime and prominent, more especially in the city of Johannesburg as we are a cosmopolitan city."

“In this case the city as a founder of the Arts Alive festival aims to take this years festival to the next level by promoting social cohesion. We want to make sure the city becomes united, we talk about the corridors of freedom we want to knit the city together, the special planning of apartheid should be eradicated,”  Modingwane added.

Arts Alive 2013, dubbed ’21 Years of Arts Alive’ kicks off on 1 September at Parkviews Zoo Lake with the well-loved Jazz on the Lake concert. 

This year’s line up features Don Laka, Mafikizolo, Phuzekhemisi, the up-and-coming Brenda Mntambo, the Sufi Gospel Project from India,  the Puisano Jazz project, and the celebrated Satchmo Sax Summit out of New Orleans.

Theatre practitioner James ngcobo who has been working towards the success of the festival said: “We have found ways to pass the batten to up coming artist through this festival. The Arts Alive has this year put together emerging voices and seasoned voices. The festival should not only be about entertainment the festival must resonate where we are as a country”.  

A focus on celebrating South Africa’s BRICS partnership also sees a variety of art from Brazil, India, and China as part of the Festival’s billing. Shared Histories brings India to the party with ShubhendraRao and SaskiaRao’s fusion of Indian and Western classical musical performance, the Sufi Gospel Project, where traditional western gospel merges with Indian classical sound, and the Bollywood Public Dance Workshop, amongst other treats. The People’s Republic of China comes through with the collaborative Spring Concert Orchestral Celebration, featuring pianist Xue Xiaoqui and conductor Lei Yu, working with the Johanesburg Youth Orchestra.  Brazil and South Africa deliver a classical Jazz experience with  ‘South to South – an Evening of the Masters’ featuring the incomparable Hugh Masekela and Brazilian maestro Egberto Gismonti  in a not-to-be-missed one night only performance.

Established as an event that has consistently brought in exceptional arts & culture to the city, the JAAIF is well placed to deliver another 21 years of excellence in the arts, across all genres.  Whether theatre, dance, music, poetry, the visual arts, poetry or film – they find expression within the Johannesburg Arts Alive International Festival, ushering in spring and setting the tone for a sizzling summer.

• UPDATE: We apologise about the factual error reported earlier stating that 50 Cent will be performing at the Arts Alive 2013. This is not true. He performed last year - and will not in the line-up this year.