By Everson Luhanga
- DJ Maphorisa, DJ Kabza De Small and more top musicians headline the two-day festival to help children with school needs in Gauteng.
- Organisers say the event has no sponsors and call on the community and government to support children in Alexandra who face poverty every day.
The Alexandra Music Festival is back for its 10th year with a promise of music, joy and charity.
The two-day show is billed as an All-White Party and will be hosted at the Kwabhekilanga Sports Ground in Far East Bank, Alexandra. Big names like DJ Maphorisa, DJ Kabza De Small, Mtee, Benny Mayingane, Khuzani and Lady Amar are on the lineup, alongside many other popular performers.
But the festival is about more than music. Founder Bheki Mahlangu says it is a lifeline for children and those who cannot afford to build their own houses in his community.
He said that every year, the Alex Music Festival builds houses for deserving beneficiaries.
Bheki grew up in Alexandra and faced many struggles after losing his father at a young age. His father, a journalist, was shot and killed in the township. “I had difficulties growing up. This is why the original founders of this show decided to help the most deprived families in Alex and across Gauteng,” he said.
The festival now supports more than 700 children. It provides school uniforms, stationery, haircuts and even food for children in orphanages.
Bheki says the event has no official sponsors. It runs through small donations from well-wishers and the organisers’ own pockets.
He has called on government departments, especially the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Recreation, to step in and support.
“We are doing this solely from our pockets and some well-wishers who help us with bits and pieces to put up a show,” he said.
This year’s show will feature a mix of music genres to reflect the spirit of Alexandra. Tickets cost R150.
Pictured above: Bheki Mahlangu, one of the founders of the Alex All-White Music Festival
Image source: Everson Luhanga
