Celebrate the Beautiful Game at the Joburg Carnival

29 December 2009

On the cusp of a historic year for South Africa, Joburg is saying “Woza Africa 2010” with an explosion of sound, activity and colour when the Joburg Carnival takes over the city on New Year’s Eve.

Residents are invited to come and join in the fun on the afternoon of 31 December 2009 as stilt walkers, artists, musicians and traditional dancer’s parade through the city’s streets to usher in SA’s seminal Soccer World Cup year.

The Joburg Carnival, now in its sixth year, is hosted by the City of Joburg and aims to create a safe and festive environment for end-of-year revelry, particularly among inner-city residents and the youth.

During the weeks leading up to the event, South Africans and foreign nationals from across the city have been participating in carnival camps and fusing their creative energies in the spirit of tolerance, multiculturalism and social cohesion.

Each of the city’s seven regions was allocated an African country that has qualified for the World Cup – Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Algeria and South Africa, as well as Brazil as hosts of the next World Cup – to inspire their carnival creations. Taking into account the cultures and traditions of their respective allotted nations, each region has crafted a massive mask for the procession’s “dress truck” – sure to be a visual feast.

This year’s carnival procession will start at the corner of Ameshoff and Bertha streets in Braamfontein at 12 noon on 31 December, and will then slowly make its way down Bertha Street, over the Nelson Mandela Bridge, into Carr Street in Newtown, and then into Miriam Makeba Street, finishing off at Newtown Park, where the event will culminate in festivities including dance performances.

Motorists are advised that there will be road closures in Braamfontein and Newtown between approximately 11am and 2pm on the day.

A highlight is sure to be the 2010 Diski Dance performance at the Mandela Bridge, as well as the regional competition to see who will be crowned Joburg’s Diski Dance champions at Newtown Park following the procession. A choreographer will also be on hand to teach members of the public how to do this official World Cup dance – so you can sharpen your moves in the run-up to the big event.

With the South African Police Service keeping a watchful eye on proceedings, the annual Joburg Carnival promises to be a safe and fun way to see in 2010 while celebrating the city’s melting pot of diversity and creativity.