Events, FestivalsNobantu ModiseNaijaHacks, hackathon, education, job creation, citizen safety, Lagos, Nigeria, Nigeria hackathon, ILoveSowetoWeek, Soweto Theatre, Johannesburg, South Africa, poetic thursdays, cheese and wine, bioscope cheese and wine, art and craft, art and craft fair, Soweto art and craft fair, seven colour sundays, DJ Nakata, Mehdi Maghraoui, Tunisian DJ, Casablanca, Morocco, Nobantu Modise, Skybar, Lesotho, Letofe, Tsheop Tshola, Caiphus Semenya, Bongo Muffin, Thaba Bosiu Cultural Village, Afrochella, Accra, Ghana, Afropunk, Solange, Sho Madjozi, Burna Boy, Constitutional Hill, Zimbabwe, Vic Falls Carnival, Victoria Falls, carnival train, secret bush party, electric safari concert, new year's, Summer Palace, V&A Waterfront, Moet & Chandon, Moet & Chandon Golden Tree, christmas lighting ceremonies, MMA, dambe, wrestling, African wrestling, African Warriors Fighting Championship, Battle for Lagos, Jalisco Stadium, Shangri- La, Shangri- La Mauritius, Port Louis, Jazzy Beach Barbecue, private island Africa, Ilot Mangenie, beach chic, Letofe Sounds of Blue, cultural village, Thaba Bosiu, El Wak Stadium, african cuisine, Afropunk Joburg Festival, Soange, new years eve, NYEComment

December Festivities

Events, FestivalsNobantu ModiseNaijaHacks, hackathon, education, job creation, citizen safety, Lagos, Nigeria, Nigeria hackathon, ILoveSowetoWeek, Soweto Theatre, Johannesburg, South Africa, poetic thursdays, cheese and wine, bioscope cheese and wine, art and craft, art and craft fair, Soweto art and craft fair, seven colour sundays, DJ Nakata, Mehdi Maghraoui, Tunisian DJ, Casablanca, Morocco, Nobantu Modise, Skybar, Lesotho, Letofe, Tsheop Tshola, Caiphus Semenya, Bongo Muffin, Thaba Bosiu Cultural Village, Afrochella, Accra, Ghana, Afropunk, Solange, Sho Madjozi, Burna Boy, Constitutional Hill, Zimbabwe, Vic Falls Carnival, Victoria Falls, carnival train, secret bush party, electric safari concert, new year's, Summer Palace, V&A Waterfront, Moet & Chandon, Moet & Chandon Golden Tree, christmas lighting ceremonies, MMA, dambe, wrestling, African wrestling, African Warriors Fighting Championship, Battle for Lagos, Jalisco Stadium, Shangri- La, Shangri- La Mauritius, Port Louis, Jazzy Beach Barbecue, private island Africa, Ilot Mangenie, beach chic, Letofe Sounds of Blue, cultural village, Thaba Bosiu, El Wak Stadium, african cuisine, Afropunk Joburg Festival, Soange, new years eve, NYEComment
December Festivities

The second decade of the century is winding down, providing the perfect excuse to cash in on those leave days and enjoy festivities across the continent. There are many ways to hack in, ring in, sing in, or dance in the new decade from Cape to Cairo. Here are 10 events and festivals worth looking into.

The Summer Palace Installations from recycled and upcycled material at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town. Image: Nick Muzik

The Summer Palace Installations from recycled and upcycled material at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town. Image: Nick Muzik

For families and shoppers, the V&A Festive Season Summer Palace is open from 1- 24 December in Cape Town, South Africa. They will be celebrating sunny African summer and sustainability with the theme “Joy from Africa to the World”. The free festive decoration installations were created by 130 local designers, crafters and artisans from recycled and upcycles materials. In tandem, the V&A will host Kids Christmas Shows daily (12/12- 24/12), Art Pop-Ups (05/12- 29/12), The Moet & Chandon Golden Tree Lighting Ceremonies (13/12 & 20/12) and the special tree will be on display till 06 January 2020.

1300+ people are participating in what is claimed to be Africa’s biggest hackathon, the NaijaHacks Hackathon. Think technology, software development and graphic design being used to create solutions for education, job creation and citizen safety. Starting online from the 07- 14 December and ending with a demo day and awards ceremony on 17 December at Zone Tech Park in Lagos, Nigeria.

The four storey tall Moet & Chandon Golden Christmas Tree at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town is made from 1800 recycled champagne bottles. Lighting experiences will take place on 13 & 20 December.

The four storey tall Moet & Chandon Golden Christmas Tree at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town is made from 1800 recycled champagne bottles. Lighting experiences will take place on 13 & 20 December.

I Love Soweto Week is on from 12- 15 December at the Soweto Theatre, Johannesburg, South Africa. It will feature Poetic Thursdays (12/12), Bioscope Cheese & Wine (13/12), Soweto Art & Craft Fair (14/12) and Seven Colour Sundays (15/12).

DJ Nakata, aka Mehdi Maghraoui, one of the most popular DJs in Tunisia will be at Skybar Casablanca, Morocco on 12th December.

African Warriors Fighting Championship is hosting The Battle for Lagos at Jalisco Stadium in Lagos, Nigeria on 14 December. The tournament will feature energetic bouts of indigenous African styles of combat, like dambe, wrestling and other forms of fighting such as mixed martial arts (MMA).

Anyone for a Jazzy Beach Barbecue on a beautiful private island with family and friends? The Shangri-la’s Ilot Mangénie, Port Louis, Mauritius will take you on a culinary journey to the vibes of their jazz band on the afternoon of Sunday 15 December. Booking is Essential. Dress: beach chic. Enjoy!

Lunch at Shangri- La’s Ilot Mangénie beach restaurant. Image supplied

Lunch at Shangri- La’s Ilot Mangénie beach restaurant. Image supplied

The Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho will host the Letofe Sounds of Blue, Lesotho’s annual cultural festival will take place at the Thaba Bosiu Cultural Village on 21 December. The Festival line-up includes music legends Tsepo Tshola, Caiphus Semenya and Bongo Muffin.

Afrochella Festival will be held at the El Wak Stadium in Accra, Ghana on December the 28th. Afrochellans will be treated to a full musical line up, African cuisine as well as art and creative activations from African creatives and entrepreneurs.

The vibrant and diverse Vic Falls Carnival is ringing in its 9th New Year from 29-31 December.

The vibrant and diverse Vic Falls Carnival is ringing in its 9th New Year from 29-31 December.

For the young rebels and reformers, Afropunk Joburg Festival is here for you. The cultural festival will be taking place at Constitutional Hill, Johannesburg, South Africa from the 30 - 31 December. Headliners include Sho Madjozi, Solange and the African Giant, Burna Boy, amongst others.

Lasty, but certainly not least, the famous Vic Falls Carnival, Zimbabwe is back for its 9th annual edition from 29- 31 December. The Carnival Train and Secret Bush Party tickets (29/12) sell out so book early to avoid disappointment. Electric Safari Concert (30/12) will feature live African, house, indie and electro-pop, as well as other local parties in and around the small town of Victoria Falls. Unity New Year’s Concert (31/12)