By Phumlani Saul
“Divas concert because we also want to highlight our contribution to the fight against gender-based violencewhich has now been declared the second pandemic in our country.”
The annual cultural flagship picnic themed Ebubeleni Festival is BACK EARLY. The event forms part of the Ebubeleni Festival’s Concert Series as a build-up to the main events in December.
Gqeberha Divas Concert — A Tribute to Women — is a live music concert dedicated to celebrating, uniting, supporting and empowering women.
Mahambehlala Communications chief executive and event organiser Marc Mahambehlala said:
“this was part of reviving the city’s arts sector and economy after it was severely knocked down by the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown for two years.The past two years of the pandemic have drastically impacted negatively on the arts, culture and events industry, but we’ve continued to keep the fires burning by creating some form of employment, providing a platform for local artist and contributing to the economy of Nelson Mandela Bay,” Mahambehlala said.
Now we are working towards rebuilding the industry.”
The concert will be headlined by Gqeberha-born and bred musician, performer and songwriter Ami Faku, supported by afro-soul singer Thoko Makamba, and vibrant and popular Bay DJs Lorna Targaryen and DJ Zazmoney.
The concert will be hosted by radio and TV presenter Sima Fiyo.
The Gqeberha Divas Concert will be held at The Gallery on Produce on April 29.
Music lovers are encouraged to dress up for the show and enjoy live music in honour of women.
The organisers believe artists will appreciate having some form of activity in the city while also earning a bit of income through the event series, especially as the country is starting afresh and working towards regaining its lost economy.
“We are kicking off the concert series with the Divas concert because we also want to highlight our contribution to the fight against gender-based violence, which has now been declared the second pandemic in our country.
“Women should be celebrated and appreciated every day, not only during the set-aside date in August,” Mahambehlala said.
For the first time in 2021, the countdown to the city’s biggest festival began in April with the inaugural Ebubeleni Fashion Show, where 10 Eastern Cape designers showed their work alongside several student designers from Nelson Mandela University.
Usually held in the last week of December, last year’s four-day festival was held early in the month as SA had anticipated a fourth wave of Covid-19 infections that could potentially have led to harsher lockdown restrictions at the time.
Mahambehlala said the Gqeberha Divas concert was a partnership between Mahambehlala Communications, the National Arts Council of SA, the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency and Nkqubela FM.
Tickets cost R200 for general seats, and R300 for VIP, on Webtickets and at Pick n Pay stores.
Doors will open at 6pm.
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