Festival at the Buffalo Park
Cricket Stadium at the weekend
Picture: SUPPLIED
EL to host 11th annual music event
Some of the hottest music acts in the country will entertain revellers at the 11th annual Buyel’ekhaya Pan African Music Festival at the Buffalo Park Cricket Stadium on
Saturday. From afrosoul to amapiano, hip hop to house and gqom, 2019’s musical mix is designed to delight.
“Buyel’ekhaya was established in 2009 in East London with a simple vision: to turn the Eastern Cape into the Cultural Mecca of SA. “Each year, the country’s finest kick off the holiday season festivities with their display of excellence on stage and at the music and fashion workshops and fashion show beforehand,” festival founder and director Nomahlubi
Mazwai said.
“The festival provides extensive socioeconomic benefits for the region, which is why we also focus on developmental workshops for locals in order to ensure various demand-supply gaps in the creative arts industries are narrowed,” she said.
Xitsonga artist Sho Majdozi and kwaito star Busiswa will be some of the big names who will
grace the stage on Sunday. “This is a big one for Buyel’ekhaya and I’m proud to
be booked there. We will have to give the performance of a lifetime,” Majodzi said.
She said she wrote a lot about heartbreak and things she could not control or change.
“Music is an outlet to let out my frustrations and turn it into something good. I’ve changed up my melodies, while still staying authentic to my sound and elevating it further. I’m excited to be performing at the festival, as it will be my third time there.
“People come out in big numbers and the fact that it’s in my home province and they understand every word I perform will see them sing along.”
Idols SA winner Luyolo Yiba has been added to the lineup of this year’s Buyel’Ekhaya Music Festival happening in East London on 15 December at Buffalo Park Cricket Stadium. He joins a lineup that includes top names in SA music such as Sho Madjozi, Kabza De Small, Zonke, Kwesta, Busiswa, Vusi Mahlasela, the Jaziel Brothers, Nathi, Bucie Smith and Yanga Chief.
“I am super excited and honored to be part of one of the biggest music festivals in the Eastern Cape, Buyel’ekhaya Music Festival. It’s a massive opportunity for me and I’m grateful for it,” he says of the festival that was established in 2009.
Hailing from the Eastern Cape, 24-year-old Luyolo Yiba was crowned the Idols SA Season 15 winner in a glittering awards ceremony hosted at Carnival City on Sunday, 17 November 2019 and televised live to millions of Mzansi Magic watchers.
Luyolo is currently being compared to international singing megastar John Legend for his soulful voice. The fans’ reception of the first male winner of the competition since 2015 is continuing to grow on social media. His debut single, “Sunshine Through the Rain” has garnered much attention and the YouTube audio has received 156 000 views with the music video to match receiving 94 000 views.
The gates open at midday, and tickets start from R250 per person.
