This year the place of the rising sun will welcome its tourism season in style as the province is set to host a first-of-its-kind festival, The Phakama Mpumalanga Festival.
The much-anticipated two-day outdoor festival will bring together local artists to showcase their talents, exchange creative ideas, foster cultural exchange, and create an unforgettable experience for all those who will be in attendance.
Dubbed the Coachella of the Mpumalanga province, the festival will be officially launched on the 14 of September 2023 at the Ngwenya Estate in Whiteriver.
Founder of the Phakama Mpumalanga Festival Advocate Twain Ngwenya said: “We are excited to be bringing an event of such caliber to Mpumalanga, as the festival seeks to preserve the rich cultural heritage that we have as a province.”
“We are a rich and diverse province and we need to be proud of it and show it to the rest of the world through such festivals and by doing so we are able to boost the local economy and tourism, as we are aiming to attract a diverse crowd of attendees from both local and international regions which will then lead to us generating economic opportunities for local businesses.”
Furthermore, Ngwenya who’s a philanthropist is thrilled to announce that a portion of the proceeds from the ticket sales and sponsorships will be dedicated to supporting art initiatives in the Mpumalanga province, empowering the next generation of artists and creators.
The main event of the Phakama Mpumalanga Festival will run over two days during the peak tourism season in Mpumalanga.
The first annual event will be held on the 28th & 29th October 2023.
Bongi Sikelo 
Cece Smith 