Plans for the event were in jeopardy last week when artists and business owners in Mahikeng stormed the Mmabatho Convention Centre, protesting against exclusion from the Mahika Mahikeng Cultural Music Festival. The three-day annual music extravaganza, which is organised by the North West Department of Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, gets underway this weekend at the Mmabatho Stadium Parking Lot. However, the organisers allayed any doubts over the festival not being held. Mahika Mahikeng Project Manager Mosele Lephaene emphasised that the Mafikeng community at large including business owners such as guest houses, hotels, taverns, street vendors, and many other stakeholders that help contribute towards the success of the event will benefit from the economic spin-offs of hosting Mahika Mahikeng event in their backyard. Lephaene pointed out that it’s unfortunate that the event has not been staged for three years and in the context of an already fragile economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the arts sector was hard hit.
The organisers told the media that the planning is almost on the last touches as the event is scheduled to kick-start on March 17 with performances from Joyous Celebration, followed by a Jazz Fest and Amapiano Night on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
