Zambezi Fest brought South African food, music, culture and rugby to Northampton, giving expats and their families a chance to reconnect with the sights, sounds and flavours they know and love.
Image: Videye Media
For South Africans living in the United Kingdom, home could sometimes be found in the simplest things, the smell of meat cooking over a fire, a plate of pap and stew, or even a bottle of green Cream Soda.
These familiar sights, tastes and sounds took centre stage when Zambezi Fest returned to Northampton.
The Southern African cultural festival was held at Overstone Event Field from 27 to 30 August, bringing together food vendors, musicians, storytellers and families.
Some visitors camped for the full four days, while others attended for an afternoon.
Zambezi Fest director Joe Waggott described the event as a celebration of “Southern African music, food, culture, sport, families and friendship”.
From boerewors and bunny chow to music, storytelling and Springboks rugby, Zambezi Fest celebrated the many things that make Southern Africa feel like home – even when home is far away
Image: Videye Media
Now in its second edition, the festival brought together South Africans and the wider community from across the UK for what Waggott described as a “home away from home”.
Food was a major drawcard, with stalls offering favourites including boerewors, biltong, braai meat, bunny chow and pap.
Even Cream Soda became a nostalgic attraction, reminding many South Africans of childhood birthday parties and family gatherings.
“For someone who’s back home, it may just be a bottle of cream soda, but here in the UK, the sight of it takes you back to childhood birthday parties and family gatherings,” said Bheki Dlamini, who grew up in Soweto and had lived in the UK for seven years.
For families raising children in Britain, the festival also offered an opportunity for younger generations to experience the culture they had inherited from their parents.
Dlamini said his child was two when the family moved to the UK and was now nine, meaning much of their connection to home came through family stories and food.
“At the festival, they will be able to experience it for themselves, to taste the food, hear the music and be surrounded by people who share our culture,” he said.
Sometimes home is a song, a plate of pap and stew, or hearing the national anthem surrounded by people who understand exactly what it means. Zambezi Fest brought those moments of home to South Africans living in the UK
Image: Videye Media
The festival marketplace featured handmade crafts, clothing and products inspired by Southern Africa, while the entertainment programme included music, comedy, storytelling and children’s activities.
South African presenter and entertainer MC Crazy Werrie guided parts of the programme. Musical acts included Helen Kendall, Castella and Third Wheel, alongside Hashtags, Black Mamba Man, Alex Cavan, Josh Ansley and Nathan Smith.
Storytelling featured through Heads and Tails, with Andy Copps and John Kirk drawing on Southern African storytelling traditions. A story hunt, summer games, fire-lighting activities, face painting and a family parade were also part of the programme.
Sport provided another major connection to home, with the Springboks’ second Test against the All Blacks screened on a giant screen on Saturday, 29 August.
The watch party, sponsored by Mukuru, was scheduled for the 5.10pm South African time kick-off.
Mukuru country manager Victor Moyo said the Springboks could be a powerful connection to home for South Africans living abroad.
The festival ultimately offered more than headline acts, with everyday moments, from sharing familiar food to hearing a long-forgotten song or watching the Springboks with fellow South Africans, helping to bridge the distance from home.
IOL
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