Press Release
25 -29 October 2022
constitution hill
The Basha Uhuru Freedom
Festival is BACK!
Celebrating 10 years of Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival with epic event programme
A signature event of Constitution Hill Museum and National Heritage site, the Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival was founded in 2012 to immortalise the memory of the youth who fought for their right to choose in the Soweto 1976 Uprising, affording youth of today the freedom to create.
Commemorating its 10-year anniversary, and fired up by long-term partner Nando’s, the festival runs from 25 October to 29 October 2022 at Constitution Hill. This year Basha Uhuru welcomes supporting partners SOL; BASA; Brand SA; Brand SA Global; Gauteng Tourism; Hollywood Foundation and the Gauteng Province’s Department of Economic Development
Sounds of Freedom Music Festival: 29 October 2022
In true Basha style, the festival culminates on 29 October with the Sounds of Freedom Music Festival. Curated to provide space for up-and-coming artists and new talent, the music festival this year is headlined by local mega stars, DBN Gogo, Mandla Spikiri, Blxckie, Big Zulu, Msaki as well as; Lelowhatsgood, iPhupho L’ka Biko; MamThug, Kyotic, DJ Mr X, Bonj, Fif_Laaa, Bonj, DJ Zero, Thabie, Melo B Jones, DJ Walker; Mo_Niks, and AN.D.
The music festival opens at 10h00, and festivalgoers will enjoy ongoing flaming hot music showcases throughout day, starting with talent curated by Bridges For Music. The line-up includes performances from Amapiano talents Aymos and Basetana, as well as alumni from Bridges Academy, including Kallo, Frigid Armadillo (DJ) and Phodii (DJ). There will also be performances by the Nandoca Uhurus, who are part of the Nando’s internal music talent development programme. This year they will receive mentorship from Msaki and Bonga Kwana and not only perform on the main stage, but attend all the music workshops and panel discussions to help nurture and develop their talents.
Feeding creativity at conference week: 25 – 28 October 2022
The Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival Creative Week is an all-encompassing creative showcase, an opportunity for creatives and aspiring creatives to come together, be inspired, showcase their talents and feed their creativity.
Offering masterclasses, panel discussions, workshops and dialogues, the creative conference has been extended to offer more people the chance to attend. For the first time ever, people can choose to purchase tickets for each of the days or for the whole week, allowing them to select sessions more relevant to their interests.
The programme will include 18 industry related sessions. With topics ranging from mental health for musicians, to opportunities in the South African industry for designers and the use of augmented reality in art, there’s something for every creative. There will be a Nando’s Hot Young Designer installation, and on 26 October, the winner of the 2022 Nando’s Hot Young Designer talent search will also be announced at Basha Uhuru. On 27 October, the professionally produced song in partnership with Flame Studios, will be officially launched by the Nandoca Uhurus.
Evening programmes are jam-packed, offering the Basha Film Festival featuring local productions, and poetry slam showcase, ensuring the Creative Conference is a truly immersive, inspiring and entertaining experience.
Creative Week Tickets are R100 for the week and include attendance for all four days, or R50 per day, allowing flexibility for creatives who are interested to be able to catch all or part of the programme. Tickets will be available on Webtickets.
Programme highlights
(view the Creative Conference programme for the full events list)
General Creativity:
- *&$#%UP Sessions: Six successful creatives share stories of professional failure. Failure is a part of any success story, but we don’t talk about it enough. This session aims to break down stigmas, and amplify the message that failure is healthy and essential to learning and growing.
- DIY + CO-CREATE BUSINESS BUILDING WORKSHOPS: In these hands-on workshops, creatives and entrepreneurs learn from industry experts with the latest strategies for business growth.
- Queer Representation in Media and Performance: Explore the positive and negatives of Queer representation in media and the arts.
Design:
- Design Battles: Professional designers, emerging designers and freelance designers test their skills before a live audience. Competition rounds are 20-30 minutes each -fast and furious and culminate in a final battle.
- The Language of Pattern: Panel moderated by Malibongwe Tyilo with inspiring local designers Sifiso Shange, Tracy Lynch of Clout SA and Glorinah Mabaso of Renaissance Design that unpacks how patterns can be used in design.
- Materials and Design Choices: Panel discussion with Ashanti Design, Candice Laurence of Modern Gesture, Thabisa Mjo of Mash. T Design, and Tracy Lynch of Clout/SA.
Art:
- Artists’ Work Identity: Panel discussion moderated by Boitumelo Tumy Motsoatsoe with insights from artists Mbali Tshabalala, Khaya Sineyile, Ludumo Maqabuka and Eric Rantisi
- Augmented Reality Technology in Art: Presented by Robyn Pretorius, this session centres around how to use AR, bridging the gap between the digital and physical.
- Future of Art: Founders of new & innovative visual arts models impacting the art ecosystem in positive ways. Exploring the future of Visual Arts in South Africa.
Music:
- Managing your mental health as an artist: Insights and advice on maintaining wellness for career success and overall wellbeing – managing the pressures of the music industry.
- Collaborative Song-writing: Hosted at the Flame Studios, this workshop is an opportunity to be guided by none other than the iPhupho L’ka Biko band members! In this masterclass, members of the band will explain how they write songs and collaborate. It is open to all songwriters, regardless of experience level.
- Reimagining Your Creative Self with Ntsikelelo Mzibomvu: Based on his book of the same title, Ntsikelelo’s masterclass at Flame Studios will take you on a journey of self-discovery, self-mastery and empowerment.