BACKGROUND TO THE FESTIVAL

The aim of the inaugural Ubuntu Festival to be held in Cape Town during July 2009 is to create massive awareness around the adoption of an ‘ubuntu' code of conduct as a solution to the intolerance and ignorance which exists amongst many people.  The net result of people not embracing transformation and resisting change is leading to aggression, the moral degeneration of society, a non sustainable economy and having a disastrous impact on the environment.

This celebration of cultures and spirit of ‘ubuntu' with a mass call to action is the vision of Kevin Chaplin Director of the SA Ubuntu Foundation and the passion of Alison McCutcheon as CEO of Rainbow Experiential Marketing and Executive Director of Mandela Rhodes Place.

The Festival goes live from 10 am to 6pm on Saturday the 18^th July which is now officially, Mandela Day, appropriately recognized on Mr Mandela's 91^st Birthday.   Sunday the 19^th July sees the Festival continuing once again from 10am to 6pm offering visitors and Capetonians an opportunity to spend a fabulous day of festivities in the inner City.

BENEFICIARIES

The Festival is a not for profit event which is being staged and produced by Rainbow Experiential Marketing on behalf of the SA Ubuntu Foundation who is the primary beneficiary. The Mandela Rhodes Foundation will be a substantial beneficiary by way of a sustainable levy revenue stream initiative adopted by the Festival host venue Mandela Rhodes Place retail and commercial tenants together with the Mandela Rhodes Place Hotel and Spa. 

TARGET MARKETS

• Capetonians of all ages, races, religion, creeds and colours
• Corporate Companies, small and medium enterprise executives, management and employees
• African, international and national visitors to Cape Town,
• Young entrepreneurs
• Cultural & Religious associations representing the heritage of the Western Cape
• The creative arts community and producers
• Musicians, artists and performers

UBUNTU WORKSHOPS       Monday, 13^th July - Thursday, 16^th July

The workshops are aimed at corporate Cape Town and will immerse employees in facilitated scenarios which provide them with tools to cope with ‘cultural/generation clashes' within the workplace.  We will use; comedy, industrial theatre, story telling and life skill interaction to communicate cultural differences in a positive manner with a view to increasing levels of tolerance and acceptance of change in the corporate sector.  Whilst targeting SME's and large Company employees the workshops will be immensely valuable to individuals wanting to learn about interesting cultural traditions of different religions and languages.

Morning option    :               09H00    -   12H00

Afternoon option :               14H00    -   17H00

Costs of Workshops             :               R1000.00 with group bookings of ten and more enjoying a 10 percent discount

Bookings                                :               Mandela Rhodes Place Hotel and Spa

                                                                Telephone: (021) 481 4000

                                                                Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

UBUNTU SEMINAR              Friday, 17^th July

The seminar is designed to establish dialogue amongst business owners and corporate executives around the topic of ‘ubuntu' being a sustainable solution in the challenge of establishing good corporate citizenship in the workplace.   A culture of ‘ubuntu' can be implemented effectively within organsations as a code of conduct thus building healthier and more productive workforces.  In an attempt to understand the importance of ‘ubuntu' we need to look at the three pillars requiring sustainable solutions for humankind, that being social, economic and environmental.

The Invited speakers line up to be confirmed includes; Mfuniselwa J Bhengu, author of Ubuntu ‘ the global philosophy for mankind' , Dr Mamphele Ramphele, Pat Govender (a specialist on social messaging - tag advertising)

Date                        :               Friday, 17^th July, 2009

Venue                    :               Mandela Rhodes Place Hotel and Spa

Time                       :               09H00 - 12H00

Cost                        :               R 1250.00

 Bookings               :               Mandela Rhodes Place Hotel and Spa

Contact                  :               resman@mandelarhodesplace

Telephone             :               (021) 481 4000

UBUNTU DINNER                Saturday evening, 18^th July (Mandela Day)

A dinner which celebrates life, paying tribute to Nelson Mandela as the epitome of a role model whom embodies ‘ubuntu'.  Choosing Mr Mandela's Birthday for the event is recognizing and honouring his legacy in Cape Town which is the philosophy and mission statement around the Mandela Rhodes Foundation. 

Date                        :               Saturday, 18^th July, 2009

Time                       :               20h00

Venue                    :               Ikhamba at Mandela Rhodes Place

Cost                        :               R500.00 per head

Bookings                :               Mandela Rhodes Place Hotel and Spa

Telephone             :               (021) 481 4000

Email                       :               This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

UBUNTU FESTIVAL              Saturday 18^th and Sunday 19^th July

The general public will be encouraged to attend the Festival via an extensive media campaign  This vibrant, eclectic Festival will truly be a celebration of cultures and life, from foods representing all countries and cultures with a heritage in the Cape, to showcasing producers and purveyors of fine products which reflect the enterprising spirit of South Africa and then of course music.  The message of ubuntu and the code of conduct in response to the call to action will be communicated through the media and all stakeholders, role players and entertainers.

Multiple stages will showcase the talent we have reflecting the various genres of music.  Shado Twala will select Cape Town's top talent for the Jazz jamming sessions which will be held in the Rainbow Room at Mandela Rhodes Place basement and central to the food courts and cultural quarters will be a stage to platform contemporary cultural dance and music ... through to the enormously popular Cape Pop Idols. At a trendy and vibrant show, young fashion designers will showcase their creations under the auspices of lead singer and designer, Yolanda of CODA.  This is Cape Town at it's best..one city, many cultures and an abundance of creativity and personality.

Free entry to the Festival ensures that families and individuals of all means can attend and celebrate.  Apart from specialist areas of performance where a cover charge will be instituted, there are no costs, but in the interest of economic sustainability, patrons are encouraged to support the wide variety of food and entrepreneurial retail traders.

Jazz sessions

Date                        :               Saturday 18^th and Sunday 19^th July

Time                       :               14H00 - 18H00

Cost                        :               R75.00 per person over 13 years old

Bookings                :               Mandela Rhodes Place Hotel and Spa

Telephone             :               (021) 481 4000

Email                       :               This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

CULTURAL CUISINE QUARTERS

During the Ubuntu Festival - Church Street will become a vibrant, colourful and eclectic mix of "cultural cuisine quarters' representing the various nationalities and communities which form the tapestry of the Western Cape.

We invite all nationalities and communities of the Western Cape to become involved in the showcasing of their particular cultural cuisine by purchasing a "Cultural Quarter".  Each "culture" can then create and decorate their stylish stall which allows festival goers the opportunity to purchase and savour the food and produce on offer.  All income from the stall sales of produce and food will be retained by the stall holder with a view to creating a profitable enterprise opportunity.

Location                 :               Church Street, between Burg and St Georges Mall

Host                        :               Mandela Rhodes Place

Dates                      :               18 and 19 July 2009

Times                      :               Trading between 10am and 6pm daily

Cape Town plans tolerance workshops and seminar to launch Ubuntu Festival

A series of corporate workshops that teach racial and cultural tolerance, a seminar on the African philosophy of "ubuntu" and a cultural festival are among events planned to mark Mandela Day in Cape Town this July.

The workshops and seminar will take place at Mandela Rhodes Place in St George's Mall and will form part of a broader international Mandela Day celebration while the festival will be over the weekend of Mandela's birthday on July 18 and July 19.

In his recent State of the Nation address, President Jacob Zuma called on all South Africans to mark the 67 years of Mandela's active political life by dedicating at least 67 minutes to those less fortunate.

The South African Ubuntu Foundation is extending its commitment to embracing the philosophy that Mandela embodies by holding a series of workshops, from Monday, July 13 to Thursday, July 16 and a seminar on Friday, July 17.

Kevin Chaplin, managing director of the SA Ubuntu Foundation, said this week that "ubuntu" was an African philosophy that encouraged a "humanness" in interpersonal relationships.  "It's a philosophy that can be adopted very effectively by South African business to ensure understanding and tolerance between employees and between employer and employees."

The workshops are aimed at providing employees with the tools to cope with the cultural and generational clashes that often create so much tension in the South African workplace.

"We think we have embraced change in this country but so much still needs to be done before we are a real Rainbow Nation," Chaplin said.

Through industrial theatre, comedy, music and story telling, workshop delegates will be encouraged to understand difference and change in a positive way.

"What we want to do is to teach tolerance and acceptance of change in the corporate sector," says Chaplin. The workshops will provide a fascinating insight into different traditions, religions and languages.

Workshops will run every day between 9am and 12pm and again in the afternoon from 2pm and 5pm. The cost of each workshop is R1000 per person with discount rates for booking of 10 or more.

The Ubuntu Seminar, on July 17, is also aimed at the corporate sector and small to medium business owners, and will discuss how "ubuntu" can improve employee relationships and corporate citizenship.

"A culture of "ubuntu" can be implemented effectively within organisations as a code of conduct to build a healthier and more productive workforce," said Chaplin.

Among the invited speakers are Mfuniselwa J Bhengu, author of Ubuntu - the Global Philosophy for Mankind, World Bank director Mamphela Ramphele and advertising specialist, Pat Govender.

The seminar will take place between 9am and noon on July 17. The cost is R1250 per person. Both seminar and workshops will be at the Mandela Rhodes Place in the Cape Town city centre.

Bookings for all events can be made by calling (021) 481 4000 or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Jamming for Madiba

Through industrial theatre, comedy, music and story telling, workshop delegates will be encouraged to understand difference and change in a positive way. The workshops will also provide a fascinating insight into different traditions, religions and languages.

Sessions will run every day between 9am and 12pm and again in the afternoon from 2pm and 5pm. The cost of each workshop is R1000 per person with discount rates for booking of 10 or more.

The Ubuntu Seminar, on July 17, is also aimed at the corporate sector and small to medium business owners, and will discuss how “ubuntu” can improve employee relationships and corporate citizenship.