The F in Festival is for Family, Fun and Freezing.

by Refiloe Tsitsi (South Africa)

Making a local connection South Africa

In a small town in the deep skirts of the Eastern Cape, a big festival which is attended by over fifty thousand people from all over the world and country takes place yearly. The National Arts festival takes place for 9 days I’m winter, in a small town called Grahamstown which has now been renamed to Makhanda. The long tiering journey to get to Makhanda is a 2 hour flight that lands you to Port Elizabeth Airpot and the further taking another 2 hour drive into the town. Driving in between villages and a mountainous places. The whole way you seem like an anxious young child wanting to ask “are we there yet”. I had been traveling with my 2 friends and they had both been starving and cold during the traveling and more or less the whole trip. Arriving in Makhand, the cold is stinging and is freezing cold. People are filled in the streets in their last number lumbar jackets. And there is a buzz in a town that is known for being still and quiet. Walking in the town there are local cultural dancers on street corners singing and dancing. There are many tall church monumental clocks all over the town, these are some of the venues in which the theatre performances take place during the festival. And these the ones that look amazing on every photograph signifying you at the old Makhanda town The festival is made up of artistic showcases all over and flea-markets, stalls and vendors selling different things. Arts and crafts are being sold by people from far and near. And different plays, music and comedy shows for all ages. There’s something for your 2 year old son and your grandmother. But what brought me to this festival is the state of the art theatre performances. Getting to watch award winning performances leaves one with an amazing cathartic feeling. On my first day, the cold took over so I had decided to stay in at the local backpackers accommodation which I had booked. I spend most of the day snuggling in my small fleece blanket and later on decided to go get some food from the nice local cafe. The owner of the backpackers, Sam, was a local who had been very friendly, helpful and full of energy. He welcomed us in his place and was willing to help us with anything. Sam grew up in Makhanda and took over his fathers business. He had so many stories to tell about growing up in the town and getting to experience the festival for over 25 years. On day 2 my friends and I were keen on going to the market and to at least watch 3 shows a day. We walked the whole trip. As we did not come with a car. Walking seemed not fun, even in the cold. But on nights were we’d go out clubbing. Sam had offered us numbers of a 24/7 meter taxi driver to fetch us. Our long days would be us grabbing quick food and running to be on time to our shows. The shows were amazing and they left us talking after seeing them. We watched over 9 during our 5 days stay in Makhanda. Sadly we could not stay all 9 days of the festival. Even though Makhanda is a cold place. The people there had been so warm and welcoming. We are at the best cafes, made friend with the waiters and as well got well familiarized with the place as we walked. Sam has become such a friend to us and it seemed as if we’ve known him for years. And he had said Makhanda is a small town and mostly everyone knows each other. We had went out at night partying with Sam and had met up with his local friends. We built strong local connections and it seemed that we had gained family. As we wanted to come visit Makhanda again for the festival in the following year. To thank our knew found family with Sam we had bought him a big jacket to say thank you. And so he’d stop running in the cold without a jacket.