SA’s Arts Alive International Festival is here

Now in its 24th edition, the event will showcase an array of live performances, exhibits, and theatrical productions, starting with the Jazz on the Lake concert. The event celebrates the beginning of spring and launches the entire festival.

Since inception, the Arts Alive International festival has seen artists from other countries come to Johannesburg to showcase their talents at a platform that offers cultural exchange, connections and dialogue between Africa and the diaspora.

This year’s festival will feature artists from India, Portugal, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, the U.S., Zimbabwe and France. Besides music and theatre, the artistic offerings will include literature, poetry, and dance. The music aspect of the festival covers jazz, Afro-beat, hip-hop, kwaito, house, dancehall reggae and many more.

Artists expected at the event include Nigeria's Seun Kuti with his 14-piece band and Ivory Coast’s Paco Sery and his Parisian Band. Paco Sery is regarded as one of the world’s best drummers, and has played with Nina Simone, the Joe Zaiwinal Syndicate, Wayne Shorter, Dee Dee Bridgewater and others. South Africa is to be represented by afro-soul sensation Nathi, Mafikizolo and the jazz trumpeter Lesedi Ntsane and his home grown band, The Azanian People's Movement.

 Time:  10am - 5:30pm

Venue: Zoo Lake, Johannesburg