The Eastern Cape Town of kwaBhaca, in the Umzimvubu Local Municipality, is set to come to life this weekend when it hosts the popular annual Masibuyelembo Cultural Blast. The event kicks off on Friday and features top acts including hip-hop star Big Zulu, Afro-house star NaakMusiq, house DJ Master Dee and gospel heavyweight Bethusile Mcinga.
Also expected to showcase her talent is Aphelele Ntando, who goes by the name of Angelic. The youngster, who hails from KwaBhaca and attracted attention at the festival last year, has released a video of her song Jola nePhone with Afrotainment, owned by house music legend DJ Tira.
Umzimvubu mayor Zukiswa Ndevu said the festival had drawn crowds of more than 2,000 since its inception in 2014. It was the brainchild of the late popular Umhlobo Wenene radio presenter Saba Mbixane, who hails from the area. The festival initially focused mainly on promoting maskandi talent, but the municipality decided to add other genres in 2021.
Ndevu said the festival was one of the municipality’s main youth development programs. “We want to position Umzimvubu as a leading municipality that provides the creative arts industry a platform to thrive.” The festival is being held in partnership with the provincial department of sports, recreation, arts and culture.
The Umzimvubu municipality contributes about R1m for the event each year, Ndevu said. There were big economic spin-offs for business people in EmaXesibeni and KwaBhaca, the two towns that make up the municipality. Local acts who will be performing includes DJ Fisher and Angelic, Joliza Bhaca Soul, Amanyaduma, Ziyamdida, DJ Tuboy, Young KG, Nontelezi, Voices of Worship and Automatic.
The mayor said the organizers hoped to unearth another Angelic at this year’s festival. The youngster is the festival’s ambassador. Ndevu said artists such as Bethusile and Master Dee had been roped in to help mentor local artists.
The organizers also wanted to forge working ties with Big Zulu’s Inkabi Nation Records. She said theyhoped to grow the festival to the point where it attracted investors. Ndevu said unemployed gender-based violence and crime were rampant in the town.
“We want to position Umzimvubu as a leading municipality that provides the creative arts industry a platform to thrive.”The municipality also runs several youth development programs. These include a Mayor’s Cup, designed to unearth the next sports stars, and learnerships for young people from indigent families.
