Angelenos, have you ever wanted to go to South Africa? Watch films, and hear music by famed South African artists, snack on local foods? Well now you can spend a weekend enjoying South African film, music, and food without standing in line, going through security, customs, immigration, getting on a plane and flying for 21 hours! And it’s all free!
The Republic of South Africa’s Department of Arts and Culture is bringing its South African Arts Festival 2013 to Downtown Los Angeles with free events on October 5th and 6th. Showcasing seven South African films and seven musical artists this inaugural event promises to be a great opportunity to enjoy, experience and learn more about the diversity of the South African experience.
Saturday’s South African Music Festival at Grand Performances will be alive with the music featuring the country’s colorful diversity. Famed jazz trumpeter, Hugh Masekela, Mahotella Queens with Jozi’s Zulu hip hop mix, The Parlotones. Joberg’s platinum selling rockers, Simphiwe Dana’s sultry Afro soul and more will rock the stage from 3:30 until 10 pm.
South African food by Graham Perkett, of Deli-SA will be available for purchase at a designated pop-up location and a hosted bike valet will be available beginning at 3 pm.
After a full day of music and partying at Grand Performance on Saturday, you may want to take it easy on Sunday, sit back, and take in the broad range of South African cinema.
From 10 am to 4 pm Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14 will screen six films ranging from uplifting family-friendly fare to gritty dramas, and documentaries that take you into Soweto’s street dance subculture. The filmmakers will be present at several of the films for question and answer sessions.
Seating for the films is free, but advanced reservations are required for reservations, go to the festival website.
Grand Performances @ California Plaza will open at 5 pm on Sunday for picnicking and the premier screening of the family friendly 3D animation feature Khumba, a computer-animated adventure comedy about a half-striped zebra who embarks on a daring quest to earn his stripes.
For a complete listing of activities venues, and time, check out the festival website, www.sa-artsfest.org
