From street to stage – Cape Town Arts Festival gives buskers a break and celebrates the Cape’s musical heritage

The Cape Town Arts Festival (CTAF) is home to a host of creativity and cultural diversity. Among the many programmes, workshops and exciting events happening at the Castle of Good Hope on 9 & 10 December, is the eagerly awaited ‘Buskers‘ showcase, which will take place on the Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00.

Busking, or street performing as it is also known, has a long and proud history, going as far back as the Medieval period, or further, when talented musicians were hired by storeowners to promote their wares. Mostly, buskers were travelling entertainers who went from town to town to amuse and divert the people and carrying the news of the day.

Looking to revive the respect this venerable tradition once had, and place buskers firmly on the modern entertainment stage, Yusuf Ganief, CEO of CTAF created the Beyond Busking project two years ago. The project involves a 12-week intensive programme whereby eight (8) buskers from Cape Town have undergone vocal training, stage presence enhancement, life coaching, song writing, guitar lessons, and music production.

Ganief believes that:

“Artists and musicians are the Zeitgeist (national spirit) of South Africa, and they deserve to be recognised as such. Cape Town buskers are diverse and bring their unique cultural perspectives to the city’s spaces, communities, and tourists.”

As an example of the reach and success of the project, in 2022, Khayelitsha-based singer/songwriter Zanie Mdloyi, was spotted and invited to perform and tour Spain for 6-months. Ganief says of this opportunity, that:

“launching one of our Beyond Busking graduates internationally, is a dream come true for what we wanted to achieve with this project.  I believe that in 2023, we will have even more talent ready to take off and showcase their undeniable creativity to the world.”

Buskers performing at this year’s showcase include:

  • Divine Mahara
  • Dylan Red
  • Iviwe Nkopo
  • Thami Baba
  • Nosicelo Mbili
  • Thomas Rynhardt
  • Vukile Moya
  • Vernon White

Other innovation programmes that the CTAF has established include a Digital Media and Marketing course, and an Events and Arts Administration Programme in Philippi.

Formerly known as the Cape Town Festival, the Cape Town Arts Festival has evolved into a year-round initiative featuring projects and a variety of innovative training programmes, the pinnacle of which is the Beyond Busking Day.

The CTAF is a celebration showcasing a vibrant line-up of music, mime, poetry, Zumba, yoga, Tai Chi, live painting, live sculpting, a wellness and food market, and a Cape craft exhibition. Renowned local musicians, including headliners YoungstaCPT, Dee Koala, DJ Ready D, and Candice Thornton, will join top buskers to entertain and uplift audiences of all ages. Best of all, it’s free for all the family.

Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the transformation of busking into a cultural phenomenon and experience the vibrancy of this year’s buskers at the Castle of Good Hope. Join us in celebrating the arts and the rich tapestry of South African talent.

The Cape Town Arts Festival is made possible through the support of its sponsors: The Department of Sports Arts and Culture, Ariva Arts Foundation NPC, the Western Cape Government, the Castle of Good Hope, the South African Human Rights Commission, and the City of Cape Town.

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