South African group Mafikizolo is to perform at a gala dinner that will conclude the World Economic Forum in Davos‚ Switzerland‚ on Saturday evening.
The soiree will be attended by 2‚500 delegates from across the world‚ including heads of states and world and civil society leaders. President Jacob Zuma and cabinet ministers who accompanied him to the forum will also be in attendance.
Mafikizolo was invited by Prof Klaus Schwab‚ founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum‚ after he admired their performance during the World Economic Forum Africa Regional Meeting held in Cape Town in June 2015.
Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa sent a message to the band congratulating on it being invited to perform at the gala dinner.
“I wish to congratulate Mafikizolo on this invitation to perform on this world stage. Their music and style crosses boundaries on the African continent and abroad. While the Forum focuses largely on the state of the world economy in order to shape the global and local developmental agenda‚ it also showcases arts and culture in the world.
“I hope that this will open many other doors and present platforms for South African artists in the global arena. All the best for the show‚” Mthethwa said.
He added that performance was supported by the Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) Touring Ventures open call fund of the Department of Arts and Culture.
The fund is aimed at raising the profile of the arts‚ culture and heritage sectors in the country and abroad‚ in an effort to share South African arts and culture with others‚ open up new markets and build sustainable livelihoods for those in the creative industries.
The recent cultural seasons between South Africa and the United Kingdom as well as between South Africa and China‚ have been initiatives supported through the Touring Venture‚ according to Mthethwa.
-timeslive