Essence Festival Durban announces lineup
South African artists Black Coffee, Thandiswa Mazwai and Lady Smith Black Mambazo as well as Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter Ne-Yo, Mary Mary and Yolanda Adams will perform at South Africa's first Essence Festival Durban.
Two concerts
The Festival will include two music concerts on 12 and 13 November with the first night dedicated to hip hop talent including award winning AKA & Casper Nyovest, Nigerian born Davido, Whiz Kid, Burna Boy, Riky Rick and Afro-soul powerhouse Thandiswa Mazwai. The lineup also includes house and kwaito music heavy weights such as internationally acclaimed DJ Black Coffee, Tira, DJ Zinhle, Oskido, Biz Nuz and Babes Wodumo.
The gospel stage will be led by Mary Mary, Yolanda Adams and South African bestselling gospel ensemble Joyous Celebration, Sfiso Ncwane, Dr Tumi, Thobeka, gospel powerhouse Hlengiwe Mhlaba & Ntokozo Mbambo and Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
Beauty and Style expo
Free and open to the public, Essence Festival Durban will deliver an all-encompassing lifestyle and empowerment experience which will also include a Beauty and Style expo featuring designers from across the continent showcasing and selling their products. The Arts, Craft and Design pavilion will showcase some of the best visual arts produced in Africa. Attendees will also be treated to the different culinary tastes the festival has to offer. The Money and Technology colloquium including the Durban Business Fair will be the platform for empowerment.
Phillip Sithole, head of Durban Tourism says, “This festival enhances our destination image by creating global awareness and attracting tourism business to generate future inbound travel. We are hoping that through this partnership with Essence, we can infiltrate the USA Market and the rest of The African continent to encourage visitor arrivals to our city. Special tour packages have already been formulated and marketed to the USA as we speak.”
Festival lineup – Saturday 12 November
Riky Rick
AKA
Black Coffee
DJ Tira
Big Nuz
DJ Zinhle
Zoe the Seed
Oskido
Toya De Lazy
Babes Wodumo
Casper Nyovest
Gqoma Mix Artists
Somizi Somgaga (MC)
Minnie Dlamini (MC)
Ne-Yo
Wizkid
Festival lineup – Sunday 13 November
Mary Mary
Yolanda Adams
Ntokozo Mbambo
Lady Smith Black Mambazo
Dr Tumi
Joyous Celebration
Hlengiwe Mhlaba
Thobekile
Sfiso Ncwane
Zanele Mbokazi (MC)
Ayanda Ntanzi
Izinceku
Malusi Mbokazi
Tickets are available countrywide at Computicket and Shoprite Checkers.
