Gungano Reggae Festival – Coming Together in Celebration of Small Gains and Unity
The inaugural Gungano Reggae Festival will take place at Makhulung Park in Thembisa, the second-largest Township in Gauteng. An area established for resettlement of black people forced to move out of locations deemed to be in white areas during Apartheid. Through resilience the township has become a thriving hub which boosts some famous names in the South African Sports, Arts and Entertainment fields. Today the township hosts a celebratory music festival, The Gungano Reggae Festival in the Park.
Gungano, is a Shona word meaning coming together in celebration, ‘The festival was envisioned to celebrate the collective and steady success and growth of Reggae in Mzansi and to encourage Unity among artists and Reggae lovers;’ explained the founder of the Festival, Don Franco Tafari. The idea was carried over from his schooling days when he and his current manager Munyaradzi Eddie Manzunzu used to host a celebration that they called Gungano, celebrating past successes be it academics, sports or other extra curriculum activities. ‘When we connected years later we said now that we are together again, and we have so much talent in Mzansi from different backgrounds, why don’t we bring back Gungano.’ And thus the wheel was set in motion to re-ignite the festival and the artists invited brought into the idea of unity and the need to celebrate small wins.
The two-day festival, taking place at the picturesque Makhulong Park, has been meticulously planned to give adequate space and time to Dancehall, Reggae and DJ/Sound System Showcase, respectively. Big names in the region have been assembled to light up both the Dancehall and the Reggae Stages.
South African Music Award Winners and Nominees Skeleton Blazer, Blakka Yut, Reign Afrika, Botanist Mr. Lamington, Dimahr form part of the diverse line-up. Artists on the Rise Anela Jahmena, Musical Dynasty, Lyhan King, Ashantikal will also make their presence felt alongside solid artist like Cliftan Mystik, Ras Mashi and many more will add to the colourful and refreshing line up.
The DJ and Soundsystem line up is as diverse and pulls in veterans like Jah Crucial, King Roots Int’l Sound, Royal Lion Sound SA, Vibes Vanguard Ent Commander B alongside the youth DJ Alpha, DJ Thandow, K-One Skater SA; Irie Dread and Abbra Simz, DJ Bobotikal, DJ Jah Tbla, Star Lionz and DJ King Bouga are some of the consistent names in the arena who will be entertaining the crowd.
Goofy Vibez Int. Selector Poto, DJ Ital Bruno, Fussion 3 and DJ Stylez will battle it out at the Soundclash hosted by Vusa V.
This promises to be an eventful celebration, that will also showcase new sounds systems, DJ’s and Artists, injecting fresh energy needed to propel Mzansi Reggae to higher heights.
The Gungano Festival, brought to you by Legion Media and Manzunzu Projects, will take place on 16–17 November at Makhulong Park in Thembisa. Tickets cost R150 for a Day Pass and R250 for two days. Gates open at 4pm on Saturday and at 11am on Sunday.