Huge puppets watched over carnival goers as they made their way through the streets of Orange Farm in Gauteng.
On Sunday, the streets of Orange Farm were filled with music, shimmering colours and dancers as a carnival parade made its way through the township.
“We gain many challenges in a township like Orange Farm and programs promoting the arts can assist with dealing with some of these challenges,” said Nkosana Ngobese, the brains behind the event which was presented by the Nkosana Ngobese Foundation.
“Even for organising a carnival like this, we created many opportunities for work as we needed designers, seamstresses, choreographers, welders and carpenters,” said Ngobese.
He hopes to design the carnival an annual event.
The theme of this year’s event was “Revival Of Ubuntu” to foster unity within the community and cultivate a positive image of the township.
Located around 45km south of Johannesburg, Orange Farm has high unemployment, failing infrastructure, a lack of services and high levels of crime.
“We are really suffering here in Orange Farm. Things just seem to be getting worse and worse every year. At least things like this carnival can bring some joy and fun for the community, especially for the kids,” said resident Themba Khoza.
Members of the Orange Farm Skateboarding Society joined in the carnival fun.
Hundreds of people participated in the carnival and it was well received by residents who congregated in large numbers.
“I am very contented that this carnival was a success and that everything, from the design of the costumes to the music to the organisation, was done by local township artists,” said Ngobese.
Brass band AMC3 from the neighbouring township of Sebokeng came to support the carnival.
Various groups showed off their dance moves as they made their way through the township.
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