June 2018 marks 42 years since the 1976 Soweto uprisings. Scores of youth arrested during the ’76 protests were incarcerated in the prisons on the Constitution Hill site. From Thursday, 28 June until Saturday, 30 June, Constitution Hill commemorates the youth of ’76 who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, through its flagship youth arts festival, Basha Uhuru. Each year the festival showcases contemporary art, design, film and music. It is a celebration of young South African creatives and their artistic freedom of expression.

Now in its sixth year, the 2018 edition is brought to you by Constitution Hill in partnership with Nando’s, the Department of Arts and Culture, Gauteng Tourism, Gauteng Film Commission and the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller. This year, the three-day, annual festival takes place from Thursday, 28 June to Saturday, 30 June.

Constitution Hill, together with its partners, is committed to nurturing South African emerging creative talent. The Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival not only showcases art, design, film and music, but it also provides inspirational workshops and entrepreneurial support programmes for young creatives.

Opening on 28 June at 18:30 is a poster exhibition conceptualised by renowned photographer Jodi Bieber in collaboration with 45 young Joburgers, and designer and curator Brenton Maart. A selection of objects from GALA’s archive – Gay and Lesbian Memory in Action – constitutes another exhibition that is also being featured.

Also opening on 28 June at 17:00 is an art and design exhibition featuring four artists from the Nando’s Creative Exchange programme: Christo Basson, Ludumo Maqabuka, Nkoali Nawa and Nkosinathi Quwe opening at 17:00 on 28 June. While the various works exhibited show diversity in medium, technique and subject matter, the underlying thread of ritual ties the works together.

This year, on 28 and 29 June from 10:00 – 16:00, the Basha Bacha creative conversations will evolve into a creative entrepreneurs’ programme supported by the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller. The event is free but registration on www.bashauhuru.co.za is required.

The film element at 20:00 includes The People vs Patriarchy on 28 June and Five Fingers for Marseilles on the 29th. The 29th is also when Words of Freedom, curated by poet Sabelo Soko, will take place at 18:00.

The festival ends on Saturday, 30 June with a concert starting at 13:00 that will feature Black Motion, Sho Madjozi, Samthing Soweto, K.O, Skwatta Kamp, Blk Jks, Moonchild Sanelly, Prokid, Zoe Modiga, BCUC, Urban Village, Sun Xa, Radio 123, Muzi, Joshua The I AM and Big Zulu. On the decks expect iamPH, Speedsta, Akio, Sistamatic, Phatstoki, Rosie Parade, Deniece Marz, Coppashot & Bobotical, DJ Zero and Lubonk. Early bird tickets are R50 on www.bashauhuru.co.za and tickets will be on sale on the day for R75 at the Constitution Hill Box Office.

Provoking and inspiring, Basha Uhuru, the highlight of Constitution Hill’s calendar has grown into one of the foremost urban, creative youth festivals in South Africa. At the heart of Constitution Hill’s philosophy and approach is the curating of unique experiences that bring young people together, while breaking new ground in art and culture. Like Basha Uhuru, all programmes implemented at Constitution Hill aim to ensure that the constitution becomes a living, interactive and demonstrable shared experience.

According to Dawn Robertson, CEO of Constitution Hill:

Constitution Hill is not a static space stuck in time but rather a movement that connects the past, the present and the future through sparks of experiences like Basha Uhuru. Through this festival, we preserve the past and the sacrifices made by the youth of ’76 making it accessible to young people today whilst transforming the future through real inspirational engagement at multiple creative intersections.

Entrance and Tickets

Ticket sales to the concert on 30 June open on 7 June 2018. Early bird tickets go on sale online on the Basha Uhuru website (www.bashauhuru.co.za). Tickets will also be on sale on the day through the Constitution Hill Box Office at R75. All other programmes are free, but registration on the website is required for the Basha Bacha Creative Collisions programme which is open to creative entrepreneurs.

The proceeds from the sale of music festival tickets will be used to further facilitate the growth and development of the creative programmes at Constitution Hill. Safe and secure underground parking will be available on site and dedicated, secure UBER pick-up points have been arranged.