African-Americans find their roots in the city
In a bid to promote the Jazz Africa Heritage (JAH) festival taking place in 2006 in the North West Province, 23 African-American journalists visiting the Newtown Cultural Precinct were welcomed "back to their roots" by Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) CEO Advocate Cawe Mahlati this week.
Mahlati emphasised the significant situation of Gauteng and the North West which straddled the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site.
Mahlati says: "With our colleagues at the North West Parks and Tourism Board, we are actively promoting heritage and cultural tourism - a sector that is fast becoming one of the leading sectors of the tourism industry. The African-American market is of particular interest to our respective provinces."
After the welcoming function at the offices of the GTA, the journalists were hosted to a tour of Soweto - an historic precinct with particularly strong associations with international black consciousness.
