Joining the parade: mayoral committee member for community development, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza, and Councillor Zama Nkosi launch the Joburg Carnival

The annual Joburg Carnival through the streets of the city set the festive scene to herald in 2008. And the revelry continued into the small hours with a mega party in Newtown.

JOBURG celebrated 2008 in rollicking style – with a carnival through the streets of the inner city, followed by a mega music blast in Newtown’s Mary Fitzgerald Square.

Thousands turned up to witness the annual Joburg Carnival, heralding the start of the City’s celebrations welcoming the New Year. Streets were lined by singing and chanting crowds watching the brightly coloured procession make its way from Hillbrow through the inner city to Newtown, music blaring from the sound systems on the floats.

Colours of carnival: participants strut their stuff down Kotze Street in Hillbrow

Joining in the festivities were Nandi Mayathula-Khoza, the member of the mayoral committee for community development, Steven Sack, the City’s director of arts, culture and heritage services, and Councillor Zama Shezi.

Participants, from all of the City’s seven regions, gathered in Kotze Street, Hillbrow, under the scorching afternoon sun, putting the final touches to their floats and checking that their costumes were just right.

A great deal of preparation goes into the carnival – with the different groups designing and creating their outfits in keeping with this year’s theme ‘Nyakaza – Joburg unplugged’. The event, first held in 2005, is part of a drive by the City’s department of community development to strengthen civic ties and pass on a range of skills at community level.

Officially opening the parade on behalf of Executive Mayor Amos Masondo, Mayathula-Khoza cut the ribbon to “open the way” for the procession.

The parade, she said, was a way of bringing the people of Johannesburg together to welcome in the New Year. “This is also a chance for city residents to display their talent to entertain … as we usher in the New Year, I urge all residents to enjoy themselves in a peaceful way. May the festivities begin!”

Then, with the heat beating down mercilessly on the procession, the parade began a spectacular journey through Hillbrow, Braamfontein and Newtown.

Traffic came to a standstill, with people stopping to watch the performers displaying their dancing and singing talents – each region determined to outshine the others. With some of the performances using the drum beats and sounds of Nigeria, Ghana, Congo and Zimbabwe, the carnival took on a cosmopolitan feel.

Marching through the streets of Joburg

Despite the heat the performers’ spirits never flagged, although some carnival stewards kept a steady spray of water from sachets to cool down the participants along the route.

At the Nelson Mandela Bridge, the parade paused briefly to entertain Mayathula-Khoza and other guests. Amidst cheers and shouts of support, stilt walkers, jugglers and stunt performers took to the stage in a riot of colour and spectacular feats.

Then it was on to Newtown Park, where dance troupes danced and sang songs.

At 6pm, the party moved over across the street to Mary Fitzgerald Square, where the City of Johannesburg and SABC 2 hosted a mega-New Year's bash, featuring artists like Oliver Mtukudzi, Mango Groove, Gang of Instrumentals, Mahotella Queens, Coda and other musicians took to the stage.

The musicians kept the jive going, with revellers dancing well into the New Year. Those who could not be at the bash could nonetheless enjoy the party at home as it was broadcast live.

As the clock struck midnight, a dazzling display of fireworks lit Joburg’s familiar skyline in a seemingly endless range of brilliant colours. The light show lasted for a good 10 minutes, and then the party continued.

Courtesy: Johannesburg News Agency