With less than two months left for the Mangaung Cultural Festival (Macufe) to take place, departmental spokesperson Tankiso Zola says the service contractor, which will be the implementing agent for the festival, will be appointed by the end of this month. The preparations for Macufe 2022 will include a district auditions programme that will be implemented in the four districts, including the Mangaung Metro Municipality.

The focus of this programme will be on auditioning local artists within the districts, with the purpose of ensuring full participation of local artists in Macufe at both the development and professional levels.

The department is yet to provide more details on the auditions programme.

The MEC of the department, Limakatso Mahasa, has added that “despite the prevailing economic climate and other challenges, Macufe will remain the flagship programme of the Free State province, and the Department will strive to implement the best programme in 2022.”

In 2021, the department was flirting with the idea of having a virtual Macufe, however, Zola confirmed to OFM News that the idea never saw the light of day. The reasons why the idea was never implemented were not shared.

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However, a written question to the Minister of the department previously revealed that R3 million was allocated for Macufe 2021. The provincial department was at the time sent questions to establish if the money was redirected to another programme.

The poster for Macufe 2022 states this year’s festival follows a two-year absence due to Covid-19. It will be held from 2 to 9 October and include hip hop performances, gospel, comedy, theatre productions and a fashion show.

The Macufe Cup was not mentioned on the poster. If this is the case, it will be the first Macufe without the sporting event. 

Full details on the events during Macufe are expected to be released by the department soon.

OFM News