Ultimate magazine theme for WordPress.

Local artists to rock Afriski fest

 

Mohalenyane Phakela

TWO artistes, Rapper Morena Leraba and DJ Davertz are set to make history as the first locals to perform at the Afriski Winter Festival from 24 to 27 August in Mahlasela in the Butha Buthe district.

Afriski is one of the seven ski resorts on the African continent and the only one in Lesotho. It is the highest ski-resort in Africa at 3 050 metres above sea-level.

The Afriski festival caters for different groups of people from music aficionados to snowboarders.

It has four parts including the Unplugged Stage which allows patrons to get up close and personal with the music and the artistes while enjoying the fireplace and the wine.

There is also the Hot Box Stage where an indoor stage is setup for an intimate but ‘crazy’ music experience.

The Cooler Box Stage is the ultimate outdoor DJ setup with tunes pumping and the slopes running nonstop. This is where people can expect to see their favourite DJs. Lastly, there is the Main Stage which features bands.

The snow-themed festival has never featured local acts since its inception in 2015.

The lineup has been dominated by South African acts and the show was designed with international tourists in mind, given the fact that they constitute about 80% of the visitors to the facility.

The presence of the local duo is in line with the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation’s thrust to promote domestic tourism through the tagline #KnowYourCountryFirst.

According to the Afriski Facebook page, Morena Leraba and DJ Davertz are the only local artistes who have been confirmed on the lineup so far along with foreign acts such as Desmond & The Tutus, DJ Wicks, Rubber Duc, Royal K, DJ Abby Nurock and Gangs of Ballett.

DJ Davertz yesterday told Xpress People that he was pleased that locals were now being considered by the festival organisers which would in turn promote domestic tourism.

“I approached the organisers to sell myself and ask why local artistes were not considered,” DJ Davertz said.

“I was told that the problem they encountered with local acts in the first edition was that of unreliability after they had booked two local acts only for them to pull out two days before the event.

“That impacted negatively on the show. But they said they had considered us for this year’s show and more artistes are yet to be revealed.

“I think the gesture will promote the influx of locals who attend the festival for they feel part of the show by being able to see their favourite local acts perform.”

DJ Davertz said he would be in his element playing for a predominantly foreign audience and he promised a memorable performance that would compel the organisers to recall him next year.

He said he had also advised Afriski to hold promotional roadshows in different parts of the country next year to sensitise the local market about the festival.

 

Comments are closed.