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FOLKLORE FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 4TH EDITION UNDER THE THEME #KINFOLK

Celebrating Deep Cultural Connection and Belonging Through Music, Storytelling and Heritage Preservation on South Africa’s Heritage Month.

LIVE MUSIC | VIP BRUNCH | KIDS AREA | FOOD & CRAFTS MARKET

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – The highly anticipated 4th edition of the Folklore Festival is set to return on 11-13 September 2025, embracing the powerful theme of #Kinfolk – a celebration of the deep, meaningful connections that bind us as a community rooted in African culture and heritage preservation.The concept of “Kinfolk” extends far beyond blood relations; it speaks to the spiritual family we create through shared stories, traditions, and cultural experiences that have been passed down through generations. In a world increasingly fragmented by digital disconnection and cultural erosion, the Folklore Festival’s #Kinfolk theme calls for a return to authentic belonging – to the rhythms that pulse through our collective memory, the stories that shape our identity, and the sacred knowledge systems that anchor us to our ancestors and guide us toward our future.

13 SEPT - FAMILY DAY - R180 kids / R 300 General Access / R750 VIPA transformative day with presenting a vibrant cultural playground featuring a food and crafts market, educational kids’ area with childminding services, a VIP brunch experience, and non-stop live entertainment featuring Mahotella Queens, Buhlebendalo, Jabulile Majola, Odwa Bongo, ForeFathers Ensemble, Ms Niksta and More from 10AM to 10PM.

THE VIP BRUNCH EXPERIENCE

BRUNCH TILL LATE for R750p/pMake the most of your day by joining us early for brunch! Featuring: DJ Bob, Pilani Bubu, and the ForeFathers Ensemble ! The experience includes a bountiful harvest table and grill by Food I Love You from 11am till 3pm. Outdoor dining with VIP table and lounge Seating, VIP Bar, and a prime view of the main stage for the rest of the line up till the festival closes!

ARTIST LINEUP The festival proudly announces its first wave of artists, featuring legendary voices and emerging talent that embody the spirit of cultural preservation and innovation:

The Mahotella Queens – South Africa’s crown jewels of mbaqanga, with a career spanning over fifty years, brought mbaqanga music to a global audience, balancing an emerging urban identity with the nostalgia of traditional cultural practices. The Queens - Hilda Tloubatla, Mildred Mangxola, and Nobesuthu Mbadu - first sealed their place in the legend of urban South African music in the early 1960s.

Buhlebendalo (from The Soil) – Born in Soweto in 1986, this Soweto-born gender activist and former lead vocalist of the multi-award winning, internationally acclaimed and double platinum selling South African A cappella group THE SOIL brings her sentiments of African spirituality and deeply rooted cultural perspective to the festival stage.

Jabulile Majola – one of the rising voices of Afro-Folk, his latest project Isitifiketi talks to identity. rooted in time, movement, and the places and experiences that shape who we are. Growing up at a Children’s Home in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, storytelling was everything — from folk tales to stories about the world beyond. This gifted storyteller discovered his passion for singing in the church before exploring folk music, drawing inspiration from masters like Joseph Shabalala and Leonard Cohen.

Zawadi Yamungu – Known by her Swahili stage name meaning “Gift from God,” Nkosingiphile Mpanza is a remarkable artist who sings and plays a diverse set of traditional, she channels ancestral spirit through song. Another rising star in the blended world of indigenous and contemporary folk music.

Odwa Bongo – Admired for his extensive vocal range and cultural commitment, Odwa is one of the few prominent uHadi players in the country, bringing deep traditional invocations and contemporary jazz expression to preserve and celebrate indigenous musical forms.

+ MORE

SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIPThe Folklore Festival 2025 is proudly supported by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, acknowledging its vital role in cultural preservation and community development.

SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIPSTheFolklore Festival 2025 is proudly supported by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture - MGE,Mzansi Golden Economy, acknowledging its vital role in cultural preservation and community development.

FESTIVAL CONTACTSEmail: info@folklore.community - Sponsorship & MarketingFolkloreCommunityZA@gmail.com - Production & Artist LiaisonWebsite: www.folklore.community / Social media - FB/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/folklorefestival.za

PR & MEDIA CONTACTSAll Media Inquiries : Bonnie MeslaneEmail : bonnie@azania.co / Contact : +27 78 0879681