Arts and Culture Deputy Minister, Dr. Joe Phaahla will deliver a keynote address at the Sod Turning for phase 1 of Enyokeni Cultural Precinct to commemorate 30^th anniversary of Reed Dance or ‘uMkhosi woMhlanga'. The event will take place on the Tuesday, 29 April 2014 at Enyokeni Royal Palace, Nongoma in KwaZulu Natal (KZN).

This Multi-facet Cultural Precinct will serve as a living museum of the Zulu nation in providing the people of KZN, local and international visitors with the opportunity to explore and learn about this integral facet of South African history and culture.

This also aims to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Zulu kingdom and to establish a globally recognizable spiritual and cultural destination.

On the 1^st September 2013, Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) officials met with His Majesty, King Goodwill Zwelithini at Enyokeni Royal Palace to brief him on the developments of Ncome Phase 2 and Bhambatha Statue. It was at this briefing that the King further emphasized the need for the development of the Enyokeni Cultural Village for the purposes of the Reed Dance Ceremony and other Ceremonies that are taking place there throughout the year.

The Royal Reed Dance and other ceremonies attract a lot of local, national and international visitors. The department has therefore realised that there is a huge potential and economic spin-offs for cultural tourism if the developments were to be undertaken.

The project has two phases: Phase 1 being infrastructure development that must be delivered by September 2014 to ensure that the Reed Dance Ceremony is of a standard that befits the 30 Year Anniversary of the Ceremony; and Phase 2 which involves finalising the construction of the entire Cultural Village.

2014 not only marks the 20 year of Freedom in South Africa but also marks the 30^th anniversary of one of the most important annual cultural event, ‘Reed Dance or uMkhosi woMhlanga.’

Enyokeni Cultural Precinct is one of the department’s key Culture and Heritage Infrastructure Projects which among others include: Bhambatha Sculpture Project; JL Dube Project; Isandlwana Battlefields Project; Income Museum Project and many others.

These developments are in line with the DAC’s Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) Strategy whose aim is to elevate, map-up and sharpen the economic development and job creation contribution that the arts, culture and heritage sector is making in the country. Members of the media are invited to attend.

Events will unfold as follows:

Time            : 09h00-13h00

Date            : 29 April 2014

Venue          : Enyokeni Royal Palace, Nongoma

Dress Code   : Traditional and semi-formal

RSVP to Patience Mogomotsi: Mogomotsimo@dac.gov.za: 012 441 3083/071 680 6709

For enquiries kindly contact Mr Mogomotsi Mogodiri: 071 687 4984