Under the inviting African sun in the undulating hills of the Manor House in Salt Rock, ZA Fest 2024 with KAMERS/Makers was a spectacular hit, drawing over 9,000 enthusiastic festival goers for the 4-day event. From 14 – 17 June 2024, KAMERS/Makers made their first appearance in KwaZulu-Natal, and apart from the foot stomping performances of the Ndlovu Youth Choir and Johnny Clegg on Saturday 16th June – the artisanal market was a standout feature of the festival.

This bespoke artisanal ‘ZA’ shopping experience enriched the festival with its diverse offerings and showcased a variety of incredibly talented South African artisans. Visitors were greeted with a diverse array of handcrafted goods, jewellery, art, clothing, bags, and more. Jeremy Doveton-Helps from KAMERS/Makers, shared, “We were nervous, we didn’t know what to expect with this being our first foray into KZN and wow! What a great 4 days we had at the Manor House. The ZA Fest organisers were such a great team. We enjoyed the best winter weather you can find in South Africa with great people, smiles, sunshine and shopping. To sum it up in 4 words, ‘we will be back’!”

The festival was blessed with four days of glorious sunshine, boasting an average temperature of 25 degrees in mid-winter. Visual artists displayed some of South Africa’s best talent, featuring vibrant oils, delicate watercolours, ethnic art, and stunning photography. “We were ecstatic about the turnout and the overwhelming support from our amazing KZN community,” said Evan Roberts, ZA Fest co-Founder. “The success of ZA Fest 2024 is a testament to the vibrant spirit of our visitors and the dedication of everyone involved. We’re excited to see how the festival has positively affected the local economy and supported creative spaces around KZN”.

On the 16th of June, the festival featured electrifying performances by Jesse Clegg, the Ndlovu Youth Choir, the talented singer-songwriter Jemma Kate and her troupe of dancers, as well as a captivating performance by the cast of ‘Dream On, A Poppins Tale of Joseph’, featuring talented youths from various schools across the province making up the Young Performers Project (YPP). A notable highlight was the Ndlovu Youth Choir performance. As they took to the stage, their rhythmic dancing and powerful voices resonated deeply with the audience, with the almost 4000 strong crowd being brought to their feet and mesmerised by the ‘ZA’ magic with each song that followed. East Coast Radio presenter Danny Guselli infused the festival with his infectious energy as the Master of Ceremonies, acknowledging the impressive crowd and honouring all father’s at this year’s event. Local musicians, including The Kickstands, Freddy L, the KZN Youth Wind Band, Tara Blake, Matt Davies and Tim Lewis, flew the flag high, keeping visitors entertained throughout the festival.

Adding to the stellar entertainment, ZA Fest partnered with local brands to further enhance festival-goers’ experience. East Coast Radio was the official broadcast media partner, who added to the festival’s dynamic atmosphere with an engaging outside-broadcast by Shaina-Rae on Saturday, 15th June, capturing the excitement and bringing the festival’s vibrant energy to a broader audience. Seaton Estate showed unwavering support to the event as a sponsor and helped to showcase the best of what the North Coast has to offer. An added bonus was the presence of the REMAX hot air balloon which gave locals a chance to enjoy the spectacular Manor House setting from a bird’s eye view as the sun began its decent. Hampshire Hotel sponsored the Ndlovu Youth Choir’s accommodation, providing the charismatic musical troupe with much needed comfort and rest after their electric ZA Fest performance. The festival also featured a South African hand-crafted gin bar where each flavour was an African masterpiece, from the “Wild Blossom” and the “Lost Oasis” gin beverages to the powdery Turkish delight rose salivating taste buds across the festival.

While the festival was a joyous occasion for those who attended it, the tickets purchased also went towards a worthy cause with a percentage of sales being donated to Gift of the Givers and their support relief efforts in the Tongaat area that had been very badly impacted by the recent tornado. “Our commitment to supporting the local community and helping those in need goes beyond what happens on stage,” Roberts reflected. “Seeing the local community and businesses rally together to support our neighbouring community of Tongaat was truly heartwarming. We’re proud to contribute to the relief efforts and assist in rebuilding what has been lost. This is where the saying ‘Ubuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu’ becomes more than just words, but rather a way of life”.

With a perfect blend of world-class entertainment, a bespoke artisanal market, and family-friendly activities, and magnificent KZN winter weather – the ZA Fest 2024 set a new standard for events in the region. The magic of ZA Fest will undoubtedly return next year, promising even more excitement and community spirit – so make sure to save the date for 13 – 16 June 2025. “The infrastructure and staging that our partners, Extreme Events put up was truly world-class without a single security or safety issue reported over the full four days. Furthermore, without the support of Collins Residential through the venue and other funding contributed – we simply could not have achieved an event of this calibre. Festivals like this are powerful unifying moments for South Africans during uncertain times. Art and music, as expressions of human creativity and emotion have the extraordinary ability to transcend language and cultural barriers, resonating deeply within everyone. We are so grateful to all of our partners and each and every person that came out to support this inspiring event,” concluded Roberts.