Fourth Edition of Mpumalanga Cultural Xperience attracts large crowds
4 December 2019
MBOMBELA - The curtain will fall on the Fourth Annual Mpumalanga Cultural Xperience with the hosting of the Gospel Music Awards on Sunday, December 8 at AGS Communio Church.
The Gospel Music Awards are a platform used to celebrate, recognize and reward musicians who made their marks in the genre. The awards attract big names in the industry and this year they will be broadcast live on One Gospel – channel 331 - on DSTV. The ceremony will start with a Red Carpet show at 16:00.
“Since its inception, the Mpumalanga Gospel Music Awards have been growing in leaps and bounds and it comes as no surprise that the tickets are selling like hotcakes,” explains the department’s Sibongile Nkosi.
The Mpumalanga Gospel Music Awards are part of the Mpumalanga Cultural Xperience offering. This year’s edition of the Cultural Xperience started on November 22 with a Comedy Xperience at Emnotweni. The likes of Mduduzi Elton Ntuli, Gavin Kelly, Thenjiwe, Ngcozi Yebo attracted a large crowd. The Comedy Xperience was followed by a Traditional Xperience at Esigodlweni, Kahhoyi. The Traditional Xperience was all about preserving the province’s rich cultural heritage from music to cuisine. The Traditional Xperience was followed by Music Creatives Workshop at Mbombela Stadium in which local artists received information on how to make it in the music industry.
The Cultural Xperience shutdown Mbombela CBD with a Street Parade on November 29, which featured dance troupes, clowns and school pupils. Culture, Sport and Recreation MEC, Lindiwe Ntshalintshali then officially opened the event at the Carnival Xperience, which was held at Promenade Centre. The carnival atmosphere reached fever pitch when artists such as Theresa Jacobs Orkes, Abafana BakaMgqumeni and Sai Natraj Classic dance Academy took to the stage.
Then it was time for a big music weekend. First up was Kasi Xperience at Ebukhosi Resort in Nkomazi Friday, November 29. On the lineup were the country’s biggest artists such AKA, Cassper Nyovest and Phumla Music. The following day, locals were treated to a double delight of music festivals. First, it was Choral Xperience at Church on the Hill at Kamagugu in the morning. The day concluded with a Music Xperience at Mbombela Stadium, which attracted a large crowd. The Music Xperience lineup featured Dr Malinga, Kwesta, Mlindo The Vocalist and DJ Zoe. Another huge crowd was in attendance at the Soul Session Xperience at Lowveld Botanical Garden to witness the likes of Samthing Soweto, Musa, Princess Indlovukazi, Wilson B Nkosi and Sweet Mike enthrall them with soulful sounds.
“The department is thankful to all those who bought tickets to attend this year’s Mpumalanga Cultural Xperience events. The Cultural Xperience was a success because of your support. The events were incident-free because patrons were well behaved. We will expect nothing less from each one of you when the department presents the fifth installment of the Cultural Xperience in 2020,” said MEC Ntshalintshali.