Maskandi Festival promises celebration of music and community

Drums rolled and guitars strummed as top maskandi artists from across the country gathered at the second annual Khayelitsha Maskandi Festival, held at the Khayelitsha Stadium on Saturday, November 8.

More than ten thousand people of all ages and backgrounds filled the venue to capacity, creating an atmosphere charged with excitement. Each performance kept the crowd captivated and eager for more.

The event also offered a valuable opportunity for local vendors from Khayelitsha and surrounding areas to sell their food and products, while a strong law enforcement presence ensured safety throughout the day.

Festival organiser, Thabo Smous, said the event aimed to give people a chance to relax and enjoy themselves as the year draws to a close - an opportunity to momentarily forget life’s daily challenges.

He added that, with the festive season approaching and many preparing to travel to the Eastern Cape and beyond, the festival serves as a symbolic homecoming for the community. 

Highlighting the festival’s benefits, Mr Smous boldly stated that the event continues to play a vital role in creating job opportunities, as local businesses, vendors, and residents are given the chance to offer their services.

A total of 25 local entrepreneurs were granted this rare opportunity to participate. He explained that organisers followed a rigorous process to ensure that all products sold on the day met, and even exceeded, health and safety standards, as their goal was to deliver a top-tier event.

Beaming with pride, Mr Smous added that what makes this festival truly special is its status as the largest event of its kind in Khayelitsha.

He emphasised that the festival helps reshape the negative narrative often associated with the township, proving that Khayelitsha is far from the “jungle” it is sometimes perceived to be. Events like this, he said, give investors and tourists a chance to experience a new and vibrant side of Khayelitsha.

“We are proud to deliver a festival of this magnitude, and we are proud that we do this not for us but for our people.

"Maskandi is one of the biggest genres in the country, and for us, being able to bring top artists we are proud. Seeing the vibe here and the number of people who have graced the event truly shows that people of Khayelitsha love this festival and they own it. We know that people have enjoyed it, and we hope that it grows to even a bigger and exciting event. This is the place to be here,” he said. 

One of the most loved artists, Mafikizolo, who hails from Durban, said he was "extremely proud" to perform for the people of Khayelitsha and loves the fact that he was called again to be part of this amazing show.

He said he truly hopes that he keeps coming to Cape Town and praised the event organisers for their professionalism and tender care. 

Dj Prince said he was grateful that he was part of the artists called, and he was even more excited to share his artistry with the people of Khayelitsha and the province. He firmly believes that this festival shows that Khayelitsha is indeed blessed with an abundance of talent and skills.  

A vendor, Vuyani Cuku, said the event has provided them with an opportunity as a local business to sell their products. He said all his stock had been sold just after 5pm, and today he made a good, reasonable profit, which would have taken him about two or three days to make.