The Zambezi Fest brought elements of South African culture, music, food, and rugby to Northampton, giving expats and their families a chance to once again feel familiar smells, sounds, and tastes.
For South Africans living in the United Kingdom, the feeling of home was sometimes found in simple things: the smell of meat cooked over a fire, a plate of pap with ragout, or even a bottle of the green drink Cream Soda. These familiar images, tastes, and sounds became central elements when Zambezi Fest returned to Northampton.
This South African cultural festival took place at Overstone Event Field from August 27th to 30th and brought together food vendors, musicians, storytellers, and families. Some visitors stayed for all four days, while others came for just one day.
The director of Zambezi Fest, Joe Waggot, described the event as a celebration of 'South African music, food, culture, sport, family, and friendship.' The festival highlighted many aspects that make South Africa a home, even when far away, including boerewors, braai-chows, music, storytelling, and the Springboks rugby.
In its second edition, the festival gathered South Africans and the wider public from across the UK, which Waggot called 'home away from home.' Food was one of the main reasons for attending; stalls offered beloved dishes such as boerewors, biltong, braai meat, bani-chow, and pap. Even Cream Soda became a nostalgic item, reminding many South Africans of childhood birthdays and family gatherings.
Bhekis Dlamini, who grew up in Soweto and has lived in the UK for seven years, noted: 'For someone at home, it might just be a bottle of cream soda, but here in the UK, seeing this drink takes you back to childhood birthdays and family gatherings.'
For families raising children in Britain, the festival also provided an opportunity for the younger generation to get acquainted with the culture they inherited from their parents. Dlamini mentioned that his child was two years old when the family moved to the UK, and now he is nine, so much of their connection to home is formed through family stories and food. He added: 'At the festival, they can experience it themselves, try the food, hear the music, and be among people who share our culture.'
The festival also featured a market where handmade goods, clothing, and items inspired by South Africa were sold. The entertainment program included music, comedy, storytelling, and children's activities. South African host and artist MC Crazy Werrie moderated parts of the program. Musical performances included Helen Kendall, Castella, and Third Wheel, as well as Hashtags, Black Mamba Man, Alex Cavan, Josh Ansley, and Nathan Smith.
Storytelling sessions were held with Heads and Tails, where Andy Copps and John Kirk addressed traditional South African narrative traditions. The program also included a story hunt, summer games, bonfire events, face painting, and a family parade.
Sport became another significant link to home: on Saturday, August 29th, the second test match between the Springboks and the All Blacks was broadcast on a large screen. The viewing party, sponsored by Mukuru, was scheduled for the start of the match at 5:10 PM South African time. Victor Moyo, Mukuru's manager in the country, stated that the Springboks could become a powerful link to home for South Africans living abroad.
Ultimately, the festival offered more than just headlining acts; everyday moments, from sharing familiar food to listening to a long-forgotten song or watching a Springboks match with other South Africans, helped bridge the distance to the homeland.