After two years of reinvention as a virtual event, the popular Hugh Masekela Heritage Festival has changed shape again, this time introducing a name change, HughFest. Picture: Supplied.
Johannesburg - After two years of reinvention as a virtual event, the popular Hugh Masekela Heritage Festival has changed shape again, this time introducing a name change, HughFest, hosted by Assupol and the Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation.
The event is set to take place at Nirox Sculpture Park, in the Cradle of Humankind, on December 4.
In its new persona as HughFest, the festival line-up continues to reflect Bra Hugh’s essential template: a strong leaning towards African tradition, the innovative voice of the African streets and the African soul, and an eclectic African syntax that defies the locked boxes of genre and type.
This year’s music line-up includes the downhome spiritual tones of Mandisi Dyantyis; a township collaboration led by Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse, with the immensely talented vocalist Gugu Shezi; a cross-generational collaboration with the effervescent piano skills of Thandi Ntuli and the well-forged guitar mastery of Bra Themba Mokoena; and the candy-stripe duo of Leomile, of Lesotho, and Muneyi, of Venda.
In the four years since his passing, the Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation has continued to hold high the torch of his biggest legacy obsession: "To show Africans and the world who the people of Africa really are" coming out of the acclaimed "Home Is Where The Music Is" exhibition.
The Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation, established by Bra Hugh in 2015 and a reflection of his lasting commitment to preserve and promote African heritage, tradition, and identity, is proud to be, with the committed support of Assupol, presenting the HughFest with its core values of the growth and promotion of African heritage and culture, and our ever-evolving diversity, to and through a cross-generational, cross-cultural audience.
The HughFest 2022 also features an evocative line-up of music, dance, and spoken word, vibrant with Bra Hugh’s legacy and vision of a cross-generational, cross-cultural conversation of ever-evolving African heritage, culture, and ingenuity with its core values of empowerment, agency, and well-being.
"Assupol has been a proud sponsor of the Hugh Masekela Heritage Festival for eight years. We celebrate the legacy of Bra Hugh, and we honour the diverse heritage that shapes our identity as Africans. Our involvement in HughFest ensures this heritage remains accessible for generations to come," says Velmah Nzembela, Head of Group Corporate Affairs, Assupol.
"As always, the festival will showcase Bra Hugh’s eclectic and broad vision of culture, music, and heritage," says co-organiser Pula Twala, Bra Hugh’s daughter.
Bra Hugh's nephew and festival co-organiser Mabusha Masekela also commented: "For the past years, we have faced a global pandemic that kept us locked indoors. And now, with Assupol’s unwavering support, we can burst into nature once again, with the sun and trees, wind and flowers, as we dance with our children."
Taking inspiration from his audience-favourite 'In The Marketplace', Semopa, the Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation, and Assupol will curate and present HughFest, an open-air festival of music, dance, spoken word, exhibitions, food, and drink in a family-friendly atmosphere of healing, gratitude, and celebration.
The Star