Maria McCloy : Macufe Festival
The pretty grounds of Loch Logan provided Bloemfonteins perfect Saturday afternoon venue for McCoy Mrubatas appearance with Khaya Mahlangu and the Dillo Band. But the smell of braais getting going was not a fair indicator of the crowd, which was almost non-existent and this pattern repeated itself throughout the weekend.
The cream of South African music was there, and the stage, sound and lighting were good but where were the crowds who had the rare opportunity of seeing Mrubata, Moses Molelekwa, Sibongile Khumalo, Hugh Masekela and Khaya Mahlangu for R10 a show?
Where were the people to watch fine drama like Duma ka Ndlovus Bergville Stones, Athol Fugards Master Harold and the Boys and Aubrey Sekgabis On My Birthday for R1? How about a huge kwaito bash and beauty contest for R5?
Too bad no one bothered to tell Bloemfontein and the rest of the country about the fabulous line-up and the unbelievable prices at the Macufe Festival. Although the print and broadcast advertising was lavish, it was also vague on these important points. Attendance was up by Monday but Bloemfontein didnt have much of a festive vibe and there were only a few Macufe posters and banners. Again, the ads gave no details.
If Bloemfontein had only known about this rare event, perhaps they would have laid siege on the venues and so would people from neighbouring towns and from nearby Lesotho. People might even have come from other parts of the country, just as they do for the Eurocentric and expensive National Festival of the Arts in Grahamstown.
The festival was a nightmare for the media. No computer, phone or fax. There was also no guide and no map to venues outside Bloemfontein such as the township stadiums where Cape hip-hop band Black Noise and Dakars Positive Black Soul were playing and where a gospel concert featuring Tshepo Tshola and Benjamin Dube among others reportedly lured bigger crowds.
Lionel Ngakane opened the African Film Festival to no one. No one came to the exhibition of photographs by Ruth Motau, George Mallet and Andrew October. There is still much to be dealt with at Macufe.
Yet there were glimpses of what the festival might have been. A crowd turned up at the relaunch of Lesedi FM, where people came to see their favourite SABC personalities and watch WinnSpin. But amid the hysteria induced by the arrival of Arthur and Abashante, there were also performances from Free State, groups like the charismatic Tiny Tots from Parys, and Thari, a jazz group from ThabaNchu, as well as traditional Basotho song and dance. It was encouraging to see enthusiastic kids at a workshop run by TV actress Connie Chiume.
There were funny incidents too: beauty contests plummeted to new depths when finalists in the Lesedi Macufe Queen competition arrived on a Christmas foil- bedecked cattle-truck, led by men and women in Lesotho dress singing Sesotho songs.
Bloemfontein, and South Africa, needs a cultural festival like Macufe, a festival that truly has Afritude and is affordable. Next time around they just need to let people know.