WeeklySA_AdminUPCOMING: DSTV Delicious, scheduled to take place at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in September, to celebrate 30 years of democracy…
By Priscilla Malinga
This year the organisers of the DSTV Delicious Festival intend to use the event to celebrate 30 years of creativity and opportunities created since the advent of democracy in 1994.
As usual, the event will be featuring a star-studded line-up to be led by iconic American R & B songstress Janet Jackson complemented by Jill Scott American, singer, song writer, model, poet and actress on Sunday.
Speaking to WSAM about preparations towards the popular annual event, organiser Funeka Peppeta said this year’s bill would include South Africa artists Thandiswa Mazwai and Sjava as part of the festival’s mission to support local talent. Mazwai will take the stage on Saturday, and Sjava on Sunday. The duo will be joined by a strong contingent of South African artists like Boom Shaka, Robot Boy, Focallistic and others on Saturday, while Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, Soweto Gospel choir, Yvonne Chaka Chaka will feature on Sunday.
Peppeta adds: “These are the people that have had a great impact on the music industry in the past 30 years. Putting together a global event of this calibre, where we also celebrate our heritage, the people and talent, takes months and months.
The event brings people all over the world. Hence, a long time ahead was needed to prepare for it and ensure its success, with new planning always happening no sooner had the current festival ended. The organisers also try to learn from the previous years’ shows to gain insight into the latest consumer tastes and trends.
“From that feedback, we build an experience that we want our audience to have,” says Peppeta.
Peppeta said they wanted to ensure that people look forward to the event every year as it grew and evolved with new line-ups that were sensitive to current trends. “The talent South Africa has is current and relevant, and the festival is also a celebration of South African music”.
This event was also geared at exposing and celebrating new genres and new talent. “We also celebrate African food and cuisine while also giving space to the local talent to showcase their food,” she added.
“The concept of food and music has always existed, but our founders really wanted to bring people around South Africa to experience food market events, which is how the idea was born. It started as a food festival in 2013, and it’s now on its 11th year. The whole concept was all about bringing people around to enjoy what they like, which included food and music. It also happens over the heritage weekend by design, when it is time for South Africans to celebrate who they really are.
“We do not just put together a show for entertainment, but are very aware of its impact on our city, province and country,” says Peppeta. There was also a deliberate focus on employing and involving South Africans and building a value chain.
That included creating an environment for the value chain pertaining to organising an event this size to thrive – from involving technicians and security personnel, SMMEs and food traders who will have access to just under 40 000 people attending the show on both days.
Last year, business operators linked to the event mentioned that they had made so much profit over the years that they were able to sustain themselves for months and months thereafter.
“This is all because of the audience and the access that the festival provides,” said Peppeta, adding the spin-offs extended to the festival’s tourism and economic impact as well as its contribution in generating employment opportunities.
