Joburg takes its place as Africa’s premier events destination
The action never stops in Joburg - with the Johannesburg Tourism Company’s colourful seasonal campaigns designed to package the plethora of events taking place across the spectrum of music, arts, culture, food, fashion, entertainment, sport, and business throughout the year.
“The City of Gold is more than just the economic hub of the continent, Jozi is a leading, global year round lifestyle destination,” said JTC chief executive Lindiwe Kwele, addressing journalists at a media briefing at Cape Town’s Cullinan Hotel, ahead of the Cape Town Jazz Festival.
Some of the forthcoming attractions across a broad spectrum of lifestyle events which residents and visitors to Jozi can look forward to include:
International Fashion Sale [March 31st – April 3rd]
Neil Diamond [April 2nd 2011]
Madame Zingara [until May 2011]
ATP Soweto Open [April 11th – 16th 2011]
International World Holiday & Travel Fair [April 15th- 17th 2011]
The Script Concert [June 24th 2011]
Inanda Africa Cup Polo [July 29th – 31st 2011]
BMW Polo Tournament [August 2011]
Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival [August 2011]
Joburg Luxury Fair [August 2011]
Soweto Festival Expo [September 23rd – 25th 2011]
Joburg Shopping Festival [September 2011]
Arts Alive International Festival [September 2011]
Taste of Joburg [September 2011]
Kings of Leon Concert [October 29th]
RMB Winex [October 2011]
Africa Fashion Week [October 19th – 23rd 2011]
FNB Whisky Live Festival [November 2011]
Sansui Summer Cup [November 26th 2011]
Inanda Africa Cup 2011 – 29th-31st July
The Inanda Africa Cup 2011, the African continent’s glamorous polo spectacle, will mark its return to Johannesburg with a magnificent display of horsemanship in the company of Gauteng’s social and executive circuit – setting the tone to a for an event of glamorous festivities and continental celebrations..
The 2011 Inanda Africa Cup is not only about thoroughbreds – but promises to be a elegant day of fashion, lifestyle and sophisticated culinary style and taste.
Set to take place at the Inanda Club in Sandton from July 29th-31st, with Sunday July 31st being the open day to the public, the Inanda Africa Cup will be a swashbuckling affair with some of the best horsemen on the Continent boasting their polo skills on the field, while the social elite display the latest trends in fashion.
Following its successful launch last year, this event promises to be a visual delight featuring elements like the groom’s race and luxury lane (displaying a diversity of luxury brands), as well as entertainment for children.
Known as the ‘Sport of Kings’, the Inanda Africa Cup is a fast-paced, adrenalin-induced equestrian event, one the most prestigious diary dates on Joburg’s social calendar.
Participants at this year’s knock out tournament will include representative teams from African nations far afield as Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Zimbabwe with the hosts, South Africa.
Tickets to the Inanda Africa Cup Polo are priced from R100 per car and can be purchased at the gate.
For more information on the tournament, head over to the Inanda Club website.
Standard Bank of Joy of Jazz – 25th-27th August
Jazz great Wynton Marsalis – winner of nine Grammy Awards and the first jazz musician to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music – is the headline act at the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz which runs in Johannesburg from August 25th to 27th.
The 2011 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz is produced by T-Musicman and presented by Standard Bank.
Ticket sales for the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz will be available from Computicket in mid-June.
“Standard Bank prides itself on giving jazz lovers a weekend to remember,” said Mandie van der Spuy, head of art & jazz sponsorships Standard Bank.
“Our continued support for Joy of Jazz has seen this prominent social music fixture grow in stature each year.
“We are delighted to help celebrate a rich and warm blend of African and international jazz in the heart of Johannesburg, bringing jazz lovers together in a truly united and global celebration of jazz and its heritage.”
Marsalis is currently the Artistic Director of Jazz at New York’s famous Lincoln Centre.
Festival promoter, Peter Tladi of T-Musicman says: “Wynton’s visit is going to shake up the local jazz scene.
“Three of the Marsalis brothers – Branford, Delfeayo and Jason – have already performed at Standard Bank Joy of Jazz but this is the big one.
“It is a real coup for the festival.
“Wynton Marsalis headline the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz will once again put Jozi on the international jazz map.
“We will be releasing the names of other exciting artists closer to the festival which we predict will be a sell-out like last year.”
Joburg is Open for Business and the city has the capacity to host events across a spectrum of size, scope and price.
The Johannesburg Convention & Events Bureau (CEB) - a division of the Johannesburg Tourism Company (JTC) - remains focused on aggressively promoting the City as a leading global destination for business tourism, as it is a key driver for economic growth and development.
The CEB team is geared to assist with supplying all the necessary advice and solutions relating to meetings, conventions, exhibitions and incentives.
Johannesburg – which has this year been nominated as Africa’s Leading Destination at the prestigious World Travel Awards - is a versatile business and mega-events destination, capable of handling a vast array of events - from small meetings to massive international gatherings, conventions, concerts, sports tournaments and mega-events.
One of Johannesburg’s major competitive advantages is its international recognition as the business and commercial capital of the African continent.
Given its accessibility by air (55 international airlines fly in to Joburg), that 75 per cent of corporate headquarters are based in the city, and being the only city in South Africa that boasts four of the venues, each capable of hosting more than 5,000 delegates – Johannesburg’s success as a tourism destination pivots on business.
Now proudly taking its place as Africa’s second largest city, Joburg is growing at an unprecedented rate – constantly and continuously transforming itself.
It’s seen not only as the economic hub of the Continent, but also as offering a plethora of cultural, leisure, sporting, fashion and lifestyle activities that is fast making us the leading destination for both leisure and business tourists.
Joburg’s legendary shopping, dining, entertainment and nightlife is complimented by fabulous weather, as well as an astonishing array of facilities like spectacular golf courses, gyms, spa’s, wellness centres which add to its appeal as a destination.
Visit the JTC website for a listing of the multitude of events taking place in Jozi.