African food, traditional dance and sport will be part of this year’s Heritage Day celebrations in Kwanokuthula, Plettenberg Bay, in the hope that the fun activities will help unite the torn community.
About 400 people are expected to gather in Xipula Street for the African experience.
The event has been organised by the Africa Unite-Anti-xenophobia Movement, with the support of the Plettenberg Bay Landlords Forum.
One of the organisers, Asanda Mlamla, said they had come up with the idea to try to quell tensions between foreigners and locals in the community which had led to violent clashes.
Earlier in September, the SA Human Rights Commission had to step in and broker talks to restore calm after homes in Kwanokuthula were torched, an Operation Dudula leader was arrested and some foreigners were forced to flee their homes.
Mlamla herself has experienced intimidation for her role in advocating for peace.
“I know that there are those who hope the event does not succeed, but we will continue with it.
“I am not fazed about the threats,” she said.
“We have met with committees from Ghana, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Malawi, Somalia and SA.
“More than highlighting the differences between the different countries, we want to show the similarities in our cultures,” she said.
“We will also have people talking about their cultures, and the programme has a space for people to talk about each country’s history”
Alfred Sishuba, of the Plettenberg Bay Landlords Forum, said: “We are trying to be [one Africa], we are saying that our africanacity should not be forgotten.”
Resident Ishmail Tanje said the event was the first of its kind.
“We want all the countries in Africa to be represented,” the Ghanaian shop owner said.
“We hope that this event will sensitise the community and it might bring us together.
“It will give us foreigners a voice too.”
The festival starts at 11am on Saturday and is expected to continue until late.
