Say ‘no’ to inner-city grime
Let’s face it: litter is not cool. And in a bid to reclaim Joburg’s inner-city streets, the city is hosting the Slam Da Trash Festival on Saturday, 28 June 2008, featuring a feast of basketball, hip-hop, dance and street theatre.
This day-long bash takes place at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, from 10am to 6pm. Entrance is free to all, and spectators are welcome.
The City of Johannesburg’s Region F recently launched an educational campaign titled It’s My Inner City – Let’s Keep It Clean, and the Slam Da Trash Festival forms part of this initiative. The concept is based on Newtown Battlegrounds, an ongoing project of the Newtown Management District.
The event aims to bring the youth back into the inner city and provide a platform for them to showcase their talents, while promoting the message of a clean city they can be proud of.
“Sport and culture are powerful ways of galvanising people into action, and we believe that creating a high-energy, positive environment around stimulating activities will help reinforce a can-do attitude among the city’s young people,” says Shaun O’Shea Manager: Communications, Marketing & Tourism Promotion City of Johannesburg: Region F (Greater Inner City).
“It’s healthy and wholesome fun, and it’s showing our youth that looking after our environment and keeping our city’s streets clean is in everyone’s best interests.”
The Slam Da Trash Festival, MC’d by YFM’s Lee Kasumba, promises a non-stop mix of open-air action and entertainment.
In addition to basketball clinics for budding slam-dunkers, the day’s main event will be a thrill-packed basketball match between the two giants of basketball’s League of Pros (LOP): Egoli Magic and Wits Alumni.
Hip-hop heads are well catered for, with ‘krump’ dance clinics, an electrifying hip-hop dance battle, and performances by ProKid and JR. And be sure not to miss the educational and imaginative street theatre performances in between all the day’s other festivities.
The monthly Zasekhaya Market will also be taking place on Mary Fitzgerald Square on the day, so there will be plenty of refreshments and other arty and crafty wares available as well.
Keep it green, keep it clean and head along to Slam Da Trash and root for your team!
Pic courtesy of AirTomo 01 on Flickr BY.
