The Limpopo government says no international music artists will be invited to perform during this year’s Mapungubwe Art Festival.
Government has been heavily criticised for inviting overseas artists as main acts in previous years.
The festival, which was launched on Monday at Mapungubwe National Park, will take place on December 15.
International artists are booked as a crowd-pulling tactic. Artists such as Babyface and Tamia headlined the festival in previous years. They also take a lion’s share of the payments.
This year, only local artists will perform at the festival
Thandi Morake Limpopo MEC for Arts and Culture says American and European artists will not be invited because they normally don’t honour the invitations.
Morake says that inviting them makes tickets expensive.
Meanwhile, Morake has promised tighter security during the festival.
Prolific Zimbabwean singer Oliver Mtukudzi will be one of the crowd pleasers this year.
