eThekwini Municipality - Excitement mounts as ESSENCE Festival Durban draws near2017-09-27
With just a few days to go before the start of eThekwini’s biggest international festival, excitement for people of the City keeps mounting. Preparations are well underway for the 2017 instalment of the ESSENCE Festival Durban scheduled to take place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre and Durban Exhibition Centre from 26 September to 01 October 2017.
Amongst the international guests expected to jet into Durban next week are Grammy award-winning musician Jill Scott and the renowned Bishop T.D Jakes. Officials from eThekwini Municipality have confirmed that it is all systems go for this year’s ESSENCE Durban Festival continue smoothly, having sold out all available tickets to The Women Economic Empowerment Engagement session featuring Johanna Mukoki, Lindiwe Rakharebe, Bongi Shangase & Rapaleng Rabana; and the Durban Business Fair Business Conference with Dr. Judy Dlamini, Thulisile Mhlungu, Darrin L. Harris and Vivian Reddy. Festival ambassador Nomzamo Mbatha, who will be Programme Director for some of the festivities, hopes the festival “will bring young people and women [to Durban’s shores], because it is a fun and safe space to be in. It empowers women.†Last year, the festival drew over 60,000 attendees from across the country. Injecting over R230 million into the province’s GDP. This year’s edition is shaping up to be even bigger. Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, Zandile Gumede expressed her excitement on hosting yet another international event. “The ESSENCE Durban Festival programme is diverse, informative, thought provoking and fun. It is focused on talent, cultural, economic and business development - which connects with many people. I have no doubt that the knowledge imparted to our residents, particularly the youth, will empower them and enable them to reach great heights in their respective fields of expertise.†A significant crowd-puller is set to be Bishop T.D Jakes’ sessions on business on the Saturday morning and the Essence All Star Gospel Concert on the last day of the gathering, Sunday. A notably excited Bishop Jakes commented, “I’ll be teaching principles that will escalate your business, your faith and put you in alignment with a systematic and pragmatic approach to help you take your business to the next level. So I urge all the entrepreneurs to join me.†Tickets to his session are still available for purchase at Computicket. The public can still join the fun and activities, tickets remain available for a talk by activist Reverend Al Sharpton and a concert headlined by Jill Scott, Nasty C, Babes Wodumo, MiCasa and Khuzani. Some sessions of the festival are free and open to members of the public. For the full schedule visit http://www.essence.com/durban. Ends For more information visit #ESSENCEFestDBN / ESSENCEFestDBN17 / @dbnexperience |
eThekwini Municipality - Excitement mounts as ESSENCE Festival Durban draws near
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