The official Women’s Day celebrations, hosted by the Department of Arts and Culture, will be held in North West province.
There will be a two-day programme to mark this year’s celebrations. The first day, August 8, will be characterised by a women’s festival at the Mmabatho Civic Centre. The festival includes exhibitions, film, music, workshops and round-table discussions. Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka will speak at a dinner to honour South African women.
On August 9 there will be an event at Ga-Motlatla Sports field, Motlatla village, near Lichtenburg. President Thabo Mbeki will speak at this event. The programme can be viewed on www.dac.gov.za. Tel: 018 387 3753.
Johannesburg
Newtown Celebrates Women’s Day takes place at venues in the Newtown cultural precinct.
Here, visitors can enjoy a feast of live music, dance, theatre, films, photography, street performances, storytelling, poetry, workshops, crafts, family activities and late-night parties galore. Included on the line-up for the weekend are live music events featuring Lira and Zonke; the dance programme showcases Standard Bank Young Artist winner Dada Masilo in action with Lulu Mlangeni in PJ Sabbagha’s Back at the Dance Factory.
The free Women of the Sun film festival at MuseuMAfricA features movies and documentaries by female directors from across Africa. More on www.newtown.co.za. Tel: 011 833 2363.
The Jozi Spoken Word Fest 2008 will host a Women’s Month special show on August 14 from 7pm in the Amphitheatre on the campus of the University of the Witwatersrand. Contributors include Aviwe Damane, Jessica Mbangeni, Nokuthula Mazibuko, Nomkhubulwane, Naledi Moeti/Blakstar, Sikhumbuzo Hlabangane, Kabelo Mailula, Ancients, Marie Beytell and Khanyi Magubane. The festival happens from August 13 to 16. Check out the programme on www.wits.ac.za. Tel: 011 717 4125.
Fashion TV Café hosts a Women’s Day celebration on August 9 with DJ Milkshake and male dance group Amen. Entrance for women is free. www.ftvsandton.co.za. Tel: 011 783 1864.
Kong Roast restaurant in Fourways has designed a three-course Women’s Day luncheon menu and invited singer-songwriter Melanie Lowe (a previous Idols star) will serenade diners on August 9 from 12.30pm. Price is R250 a person. Confirm a booking. Tel: 082 387 1150.
Cape Town
The 2008 Artscape Women’s Festival in Cape Town takes place until August 9. Catch award-winning British comedienne Francesca Martinez. She has mild cerebral palsy and her life experience ties in with the theme Dynamic Woman with Disabilities.
Choreographer Alfred Hinkel directs BeautyFull, a new work by Ina Wichterich, which includes the Remix Dance Company, the Jazzart Dance Theatre and the South Africa Circle of Dance Academy. The gender equity unit of the University of the Western Cape will stage Reclaiming the P… Word and there will be a photographic exhibition, Look at Me. Vicky Sampson celebrates her homecoming with her latest CD launch concert, Licence to Sing, on August 9 at 8pm. For programme details visit www.artscape.co.za. Tel: 021 410 9800.
Durban
A one-off Celebration of Women is being staged at Durban’s Catalina Theatre on August 9, with a line-up of some of the performers who have performed at the Catalina recently. There will be a tribute to the actor and singer Cindy Ngidi who died earlier this month. Visit www.catalinatheatre.co.za. Tel: 031 305 6889.
Club de Vie and Le Domaine will treat women to a breakfast at 8.30am on August 8. Absa private bank wealth planner Mickey Naidoo will talk about financial fitness for women. At Le Domaine, there will be beauty therapists to demonstrate cosmetics and perfumes and a fashion sale. Tel: 031 716 8000.