Johannesburg’s most anticipated creative festival, Constitution Hill’s Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival, will offer a jam-packed line-up of creative immersions and experiences for its 2023 edition from the 21st to the 24th of June.
The Basha Uhuru Festival was founded in 2012 to immortalise the memory of the youth who fought for their right to choose in the Soweto 1976 Uprising, affording the youth of today the freedom to explore their creativity and freedom of expression.
On 24 June, festivalgoers can look forward to the Sounds of Freedom Music Festival.
This year’s festival brings local stars and legends to the main stage! Festival goers can look forward to DJ Zinhle, Kwesta, Samthing Soweto, Shekhinah, Thando Nje, Sol Phenduka, Marcus Harvey and Friends, GYRE, izaNGOMA, Ms Party, KMAT DJ, Boujeena, SweeterBrown, Mam’Thug, RANGER, KITCHENMESS, Lyndow Radebe and a guest performance from this year’s Basha Uhuru Music Legacy Award – THEBE!
BONA had a chat with Shekhinah about the upcoming festival.
When asked what fans can expect, the Suited hitmaker said, “Every show is custom, specific to the audience. We [Shekhinah’s team] never give people the same show, ever. So, when we work on the show for a different thing, it is always different. The show will not be the same as previous weeks. This week people can expect something that they’ve never heard before because it will be the first time we’re putting this show together.”
Shekhinah also shared with BONA what she has planned in terms of music and life. Not giving too much away, she said with a chuckle, “In terms of life, definitely more living of it and in terms of music, more making of it.”
The festival will also host its Creative Week Conference from 21 to 23 June.
The Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival Creative Week is an all-encompassing creative showcase, an opportunity for creatives and aspiring creatives to come together, be inspired, showcase their talents and feed their creativity. Each day has a particular creative focus offering masterclasses, panel discussions, workshops and dialogues.
For the first time ever, people can choose to purchase tickets for each of the days or for the whole week, allowing them to select sessions more relevant to their interests.
Kirsty Niehaus, Nando’s Marketing Manager: Creativity Portfolio states, “At Nando’s, we believe that creativity changes lives, which is why we’re passionate about nurturing and showcasing creative talent and creating market access for young artists, designers and musicians, as well as democratising creativity by opening it up to more people. That speaks perfectly to what Basha Uhuru is all about.”
Kirsty adds that this year, Nando’s is fired up to bring Shekinah to the Basha main stage and to share her journey and insights with festivalgoers during the creative conference. “We will also be showcasing some of our homegrown emerging talent – the Nandoca Uhuru’s (from our internal music talent search) – on the market stage. It’s going to be a great celebration of local music talent.”
Due to the festival’s celebration of the youth, Shekhinah provided a message for today’s young people.
“My message for today’s youth would just be to stay present. Today is really so important. You’ll never get today back. So, stay present.”
Tickets for the Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival are available from Webtickets.
