The Makhelwane Festival kicks off this weekend in Soweto and will honour Lebo Malepa, the founder of Lebo’s Backpackers
Gauteng Tourism and the Makhelwane Festival will honour the life of Soweto tourism trailblazer, Lebo Malepa. Now in its seventh year – Makhelwane, a lifestyle festival aims to reconnect and reignite the neighbourly culture of “Bo Makhe”. It will kick off on Friday, 28 January 2022 at Native Rebels with an opening night extravaganza.
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The festivities continue on Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th at Lebo’s Soweto Backpackers. As per usual, the festival promises the best township experience that features food, music, art, storytelling, and various fashion brands that will showcase their talent.
Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) is excited to be a part of Jozi’s celebrated community market, Makhelwane Festival.
Makhelwane’s original concept was that of a community-based festival where homeowners open their homes to allow aspiring business owners to showcase their products using their yards. The festival is deep rooted in the historic culture and lifestyle in townships where neighbours shared and exchanged food, gifts, gestures which are purely based on the spirit of Ubuntu. The festival gives food traders, artists, fashion designers an opportunity to showcase their products to festival attendees, making it the perfect platform to promote Made in Gauteng products.
This year, the festival shifts from its original plan of hosting it in a street where houses become restaurants, houses turned into galleries, boutiques etc. The festival will now be held at Lebo’s Backpackers to honor owner and founder, the late Mr. Lebo Malepa. The pioneer of township tourism businesses in Soweto passed away in December 2021.
Makhelwane Festival takes place in a spacious outdoor space and therefore promises to be Covid-19 safe. This year will also celebrate connected communities that have made it through the pandemic. A kiddie’s playground will be provided, making the event a family friendly affair. Gautengers are encouraged to start their Saturday on 29 January at the launch of the Playground, Braamfontein’s new weekly rooftop market before invading Soweto township. The market will be held at 73 Juta Street, the same space where the Neighbourgoods Market was held and promises to feature everything we enjoyed in it’s the last version.