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The 7th annual Ebubeleni goes big

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Moonchild Sanelly (Photo: Gallo)
Moonchild Sanelly (Photo: Gallo)

The Ebubeleni Music Festival has grown substantially since its inception seven (7) years ago.  Reflecting back on the life cycle of the event, once can quickly remenisce on the growth journey of the festival; from the rainy Adcock Stadium in 2014 to the dusty Scribante Racetrack in 2016 and finally, the refreshing Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in 2017 where we will once again host the festival in 2018. Revellers can look forward to a fun-filled and exciting weekend experience showcasing music and comedy as the beautiful Indian Ocean provides the backdrop which makes this festival like no other.

Over fifty (50) artists have been billed for the 2018 edition. Chart topping acts along with exciting emerging performers will light up the 7th annual Ebubeleni Music Festival with spirited performances from Friday 28 December to Sunday 30 December in Nelson Mandela Bay.  As a testament to our success, this year the festival has been expanded to a three-day Arts, Culture, Music and Comedy Extravaganza. The programme of the festival has been expanded for the first time this year to encourage the visitors to Port Elizabeth to extend their stay and plan their festive season holiday in the Bay and surrounding areas, highlighting why the Ebubeleni Music Festival is like no other on the annual calendar. 

The five-tier state of the art stadium, the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium hosted the festival for the first time last year and proved to be a world-class venue for this picnic themed event.

Kicking off the Ebubeleni Programme on a high note that is sure to be packed with youthful energy is the Ebubeleni Urban Festival - Hip-Hop vs Gqom on Friday 28 December at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Monchild of “Nayi Le walk” fame is over the moon to be included in the Ebubeleni line up as she will be performing for the first time in her home ground, Port Elizabeth.  The sure to be incredible performances on the Hip-Hop roster will feature: Nasty C; A Reece; Emtee; Sjava & Nadia Nakai on Gqom is Durban King of Gqom, DJ. Tira; Dladla Mshunqisi; Moonchild Sanelly; Tipcee and DJ Bongs.  House Music Vocalist Lady Zamar will grace and be a cherry on top at this event. The Bay’s talented artists will share the stage with these icons.  Gates at this event open at 2pm and the concert will start at 4pm.

Ebubeleni Comedy on Saturday 29 December at the Boardwalk ICC will leave many in stitches taking load of worries off many shoulders. The Comedy show starts at 6:00pm.

Laugh your lungs out with Joey Rasdien, Funny-man Mpho Popps and actor-cum-comedian Celeste Ntuli.

At the main festival on Sunday 30 December at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, is the vocally powerful singer and producer Zonke Dikana; the country’s Living Legend, Tata Jonas Gwangwa;  Afro-ballads singer Ringo Madlingozi;  top of the charts Afro-Pop singers – Vusi Nova and Nathi; former idols finalist  Amanda Black; latest Gqom Sensation duo,  the Distruction Boyz; the ever hot and energetic Busiswa ; our very own PE born Heavy K and Naak Musiq and last but not least “Amablesser” Hitmaker, Mlindo, the vocalist will be blessing your soul with good music.  Ebubeleni Festival also serves as an important platform to showcase the Bay artists to the rest of the Country.

“Over the 6 years of Ebubeleni’s existence, the festival can pride itself for contributing immensely to the efforts of boosting the local economic and tourism development of the City.  Tourism has seen an increase in visitor numbers in the Bay during festive season especially around the festival dates, and that is a testament to our efforts” said Marc Mahambehlala, Project Manager of Ebubeleni.

“Ebubeleni means a friendly place and PE is known as a welcoming friendly city because of the hospitality of its people towards strangers, hence the name “Ebubeleni”. The Bay has reclaimed its Friendly City status because of this event,” said Marc. “We are committed to local economic development through job creation and the use of SMME’s  e.g. Accommodation, Tour Operators, Caterers and other event Service Providers(Technical, Security etc.) concluded Marc.

As for the community involvement, the festival employs youth who mostly have the requisite qualifications to work for an Events Management company but lack the necessary experience (PR, Graphic Designers, Administration etc.) and their duties include working as interns during the preparations of the event.  We also involve communities and youngsters from the area where the event is held to work  as car guards, marshals, tickets shredders, help with putting up signage and branding etc.  Vendors who have health certificates and are listed on the municipal accredited vendors, are also given an opportunity to sell at the event.  Other service providers from the community include security, cleaners, caterers etc. Preference is given to the community where the event takes place although we still employ other people from other locations in Nelson Mandela Bay. For environmental sustainability the organisers contract local cleaning companies that recycle paper, plastic and cans.

Last year ticket sales showed purchases in all nine provinces. The biggest sales came from the Eastern Cape with sales coming from all towns & cities in the province. It is evident that the event is not just a flagship event of Nelson Mandela Bay but is now thee flagship event of the Eastern Cape. The event is produced and themed as an outdoor music festival with a picnic feel that provides entertainment for the people of Nelson Mandela Bay and the Eastern Cape at large.

Tickets for Urban Festival (Hip-Hop vs Gqom) on Friday 28 December are - for General Access R200, Golden Circle R250 and R800 for VIP;  Comedy on Saturday 29 December is R180 and the Main Music Festival on Sunday 30 December is R265 for General,  R320 for Golden Circle and  R850 for VIP. Cooler Box Tickets are R80. If you want to park your car inside the stadium precinct you can buy a Parking ticket for R50.  There will be plenty of secured parking space outside the stadium, which will be Free and guarded by the festival Car Guards. Strictly no tickets will be sold at the gate but only at Computicket. People are urged to come early to secure their picnic spots. Fans are also requested to buy tickets from Computicket to avoid scams and fraudulent tickets, thus giving them peace of mind to be a part of this exciting Ebubeleni Experience.

The 7th Ebubeleni Music Festival is brought to you and supported by, the National Department of Arts and Culture, Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency, Nelson Mzansi Magic Music, Umhlobo Wenne FM, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Inkqubela FM and Bay TV.

For more information, please contact Mahambehlala Communications [email protected] 041-582-2553.

For Media Enquiries [email protected] 011 487-0402

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