Merging sports and culture
Grahamstown is a small town in the Eastern Cape just about an hour away from Port Elizabeth that is put on the map with Rhodes University and the National Arts Festival. This unique little town that holds more than enough churches and local pubs for its size was once known to be the Cape’s second city back in the 1820’s. It is still known today as the settlers city or the city of saints. Grahamstown is also known for the Egazini battle of Grahamstown. Egazini means “the blood” referring to the blood that was spilt on the land during the war between the British and Xhosa people.
Grahamstown is located in the area of the frontier country, an impressively beautiful region. It is filled with a lively mix of the best of Africa with its diverse ecology. It is also one of the leading tourist routes in the Eastern Cape. With such a time- honoured past and the beautiful scenery, it is no wonder that the Nations arts festival is seated in the town of Grahamstown.
Every year in the months of June and July during the winter season, Grahamstown flourishes into this amazing lively city where the population nearly doubles as people flow in from all over the globe. The streets are filled with culture and cultural goods that are sold to the onlooker. Streets kids find opportunities as they display their own talents next to the stands by the pavement. Restaurants see it as an opportunity to explore and expand their businesses. The university and schools around showcase their brilliant talents in forms of theatre shows and art exhibitions. Halls or rooms become venues for shows whilst the parks and sports fields are transformed into flea markets.
This year has been an exception in terms of the Football world cup 2010.Grahamstown was seen to have merged culture and sport in a single event. In turn this small town also became an accommodation point for the people in attendance at the Port Elizabeth stadiums as well as for those passing through to go to the other stadiums up north. The time frame for the festival was extended by three days making it a full two weeks of exciting and vibrant entertainment. The major beer tent found in the Transnet village green – one of the two main flea markets, accommodated the football fans as well as other pubs around the town.
The Ghana game in the quarter finals of the world cup was a uniting force amongst people from different places as well as countries. One place that stood out in relation to this game was the Rat and parrot restaurant/ local pub. Located in a safe and convenient area just a few seconds away from the university, it has been operating for a long time now. This place is familiar to all including old and new Rhodians, local residents as well as those that return.
On the day of the Ghana game, the Rat and parrot was busy and filled to the stool with people from all over. The Drama students took breaks from their productions to watch the game. People reserved seats and space hours before the game. During the game, everyone was for Ghana and no single brave soul cheered for Uruguay. Everyone was dressed in bright colours. It was like a mini soccer fest in the Rat. Even after the game when Ghana lost and sad faces dominated the scene, the festival spirit was still on and that therefore encouraged the people to celebrate Africa as a nation of vibrant energy
There are many cultural festivals in South Africa and a number of festivals in Grahamstown, yet the Grahamstown’s National Arts Festival still remains the festival of all festivals. Many have experienced a piece of it and in most cases taken a bit of it to their homes whether within the country or outside it. It takes place year after year yet every experience of it is like the first, full of energy and culture. The Eastern Cape’s harsh yet scenic landscape compliments the Arts that are represented in beautiful landscape paintings and prints. It is indeed the city of saints and land of festivals
