Days To Go
Our Vision
Expose and empower Khoi and San artists to new audiences / consumers from around the country and the world
Our Mission
Preservation of Khoi and San heritage, culture and human rights through music performances, art exhibitions, photography displays, film screenings, capacity-building workshops and discussions.
Kalahari Arts and Heritage FestivalReturns||Returnsfor its Fourth Edition
Kalahari, 4 December 2024 – The Kalahari Arts and Heritage Festival, a unique celebration of Khoi and San culture, is set to return on 24 and 25 January 2025.
Now in its fourth year, this festival brings together diverse Khoi and San communities from across Southern Africa to honor their shared heritage, language, and identity.
Despite facing centuries of colonial oppression, cultural erasure, and ongoing socio economic marginalization, the Khoi and San people continue to strive for recognition and empowerment. The Kalahari Arts and Heritage Festival provides a vital platform to amplify their voices and promote cultural preservation.
“We are excited to host the fourth edition of this important festival,” said Festival Director Helena Steenkamp. “This event offers a space for Khoi and San communities to reconnect with their roots, heal from past traumas, and celebrate their rich cultural heritage.”
Taking place in the remote Kalahari village of Rietfontein, the festival will feature a diverse range of cultural performances, including music, dance, theater, and art exhibitions. Participants from South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana will gather to share their traditions and stories. The organizers also aim to include Khoi and San communities from Angola and Zimbabwe in future editions.
In addition to cultural performances, the festival will host workshops and panel discussions focused on capacity building and arts development. These initiatives aim to empower Khoi and San artists and provide them with opportunities to showcase their work and connect with wider audiences.
The Kalahari Arts and Heritage Festival is organized by the Africa Human Rights Film Festival, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering marginalized African communities. The festival is supported by the National Arts Council of South Africa and the President’s Economic Stimulus Project.
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For more information, please contact:
Helena Steenkamp – Festival Director
+27 84 655 4197
lucesteen@gmail.com
info@ahrff.com
Wokuri Dance Group
Wokuri Dance Group
The name Wokuri is from a Khwedam word meaning “Play”. This dance group is meant for the youth; to come together, play and be creative.
We wanted to come up with a unique way of doing things so we cannot be stuck to the old ways. Thus Wokuri Dance group was born to unite all San traditional dancing styles into one and also give a little bit of a taste of afro style into traditional dance, to make it fun for the youth to participate. This group not only give entertainment but also gives the youth the platform to learn new things and explore new ideas without despising their original culture.
Ancient different San Traditional dances, mixed with afro dance.
The two different kinds of dances the group performs are as follows:
The Healing Dance – is done during a healing ritual ceremony and is normally done throughout the night.
There are also dance styles the San people do for entertainment purposes when everything is going well with family at home. These kinds of dances are done by both elderly people and the youth.
These dancing styles are most of the time illustrations of what animals do.
Khwe Traditional Dance
The Khwe Traditional Dance Group, founded in 2022, is made up of young people from the Khwe community in Platfontein. Their mission is to celebrate and preserve the culture, language, and traditions of the Khwe people.
Traditional Dance
The group performs dances that showcase the Khwe community’s traditional customs, including ceremonial dances used in healing rituals and other cultural practices. These dances are important for maintaining the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Khwe people.
Modern Dance
In addition to traditional dances, the group also performs contemporary dance styles. These dances blend modern elements with their cultural roots, making them more accessible to a wider audience while still honoring the group’s traditions.
Through both traditional and modern performances, the Khwe Traditional Dance Group aims to keep their culture alive and share it with others.
Khwe Traditional Dance
Richterveld Stoftrap dancers
Richterveld Stoftrap dancers
Richterveld Stoftrap dancers, are from a small town Sandrift in Namakwaland, Richterveld. The group consists of young people who love to entertain their audiences with their cultural Stoftrap dance, which they are very proud of. They have been performed at many events in celebration of who they are and ensuring they do not lose their culture.
Light in Darkness Dance Group
Light in Darkness was established by young school girls in 1995.
They used to perform creative dance at churches, community events and funerals..this dance group grew from generation to generation.
Some of them who are part of the dance group parents were part of the group.
It’s been more than decades since the dance group has been performing at different events and different dances.
This group really makes a difference in our community ..we use our dancing innings for school stationery, toiletries and outfits for the dance group individuals.
Light in Darkness Dancers
LOUBOS DANCE GROUP
This group of 8 girls originated from a small town called Loubos, came into existence during the COVID-19 lockdown.
They start off in August 2020, when they participated in the *Jerusalema* dance challenge, that’s how the dance bug bites them. The founder Yolandi van Wyk saw their talent and potential. They started performing at weddings, also women’s day celebrations in Loubos.
In 2023 they got the opportunity to participate in the cultural exchange program, initiated by the Southern African San Development Organisation (SASDO) in Andriesvale. They also performed at the Kalahari Arts and Heritage Festival 2024 in Philanderbron. They dance Amapiano but also practice and dance traditional dances that are part of their culture and history.
Loubos Dance Group
Kalahari Bronne Dance Group
Kalahari Bronne dance group
We are a dance group from Philanderbron, we originally do nama/polka dance for entertainment and fun, especially at weddings and other celebrations.
This is part of our culture and who we are and has been practising for generations. Our first performance for the audience was at the Kalahari Arts and Heritage Festival at JJ Adams School in 2023 as a group, normally we would just do it as family clans or the community with the same customs and heritage.
As this is part of our heritage, we do our best to keep it alive and transfer it to the younger generation.
DK XAIP Cultural Dance group
For the Khomani San, traditional song and dance has social, religious and ritual significance.
Though DK Xaip cultural dance group performs the dance that are performed solely for pleasure and entertainment. Most of the dances are called after animals, each with a different purpose.
Most commonly, the women will sing whilst the men dance around the fire, rhythmically stamping their feet.
Sometimes women will stand and join in the dance, adding their own energy and driving the dance to a new level, this is all age-old custom this group tries to transfer from generation to generation.
Dk Xaip Cultural Dance group
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