TWELFTH AFRICAN RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL

The 12th annual African Renaissance Festival will be hosted at venues in KZN from May 24 to 27, 2010.

The festival will grapple with the theme of Take Charge Africa – the Future of Africa is in your Hands. As always, the event will celebrate, debate and examine broader issues related to re-defining and rebuilding the African continent through accessing and developing its own rich social, economic, faith and political resources; building partnerships; developing skills and networking.

The festival is held during the last week of May to coincide with Africa Day and is the only annual celebration of the African Renaissance ideals on the continent.

It is a significant gathering of like-minded citizens of Africa as they share ideas with key decision-makers from around the country and abroad. The annual festival sees delegates from around the globe including leaders in government and business, representatives from NGOs, civic structures, emerging entrepreneurs and local communities. This year there will be representation from UNESCO with a delegation of specialists attending the event.

The line-up of speakers for the conference includes distinguished and well-known personalities as well as local and international specialists from both the private and public sectors. Also under the spotlight throughout the festival is continuing the theme of examining creative ways of addressing the global issue of moral regeneration – a challenge to faith-based leaders, secular and civic society and youth leadership.

The festival comprises a major two-day conference at the ICC on May 25 and 26, a Youth Pioneers Conference featuring delegates representing various significant youth organisations on May 24; a seminar entitled Unity of Faith to be held on May 27 in Empangeni looking at the role of the church in the African Renaissance.

The conference will unpack the business, arts and culture and tourism sectors in the context of the global economic downturn with a view to providing tangible outcomes. Relevant role-players in various sectors being represented have been tasked to co-ordinate these sessions. The format of the conference will include a plenary, sector sessions and a resolution and way forward session with a final report to a plenary.

As always one of the highlights will be the Africa Day concert at the ICC which will be co-ordinated by Mark Hawkins and will feature a sterling line up of South African talent, including recent SAMA winners, Lira, Big NUZ and Ntando, who will be joined by gospel group, Avante.

Tickets are available to the public and prices have been kept low to ensure as many fans as possible can enjoy the musical feast. Tickets R60 throughout (no concessions) available through Computicket.

More information about the full African Renaissance programme on 031 266 9792 or email: reception@wozani.co.za