All You Need to Know About the First Hazendal Festival | Soil Edition This October

The inaugural Hazendal Festival | Soil Edition takes place from 4 to 6 October 2024 at Hazendal Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. This multidisciplinary event, curated by renowned curator Khanyisile Mbongwa, promises a rich blend of art, culture, and nature, all centred around the theme of soil.

Mbongwa, who is the curator for the Liverpool Biennial 2023 and chief curator of the Stellenbosch Triennale 2025, brings her distinctive vision to this unique festival. Over three days, festival attendees can explore art installations, performances, wine tastings, and culinary events, all centred on the theme of soil as a literal and metaphorical foundation of life.

Guided by the Nguni proverb “Belele nje, Abathulunga” (“They may be asleep but they are not quiet”), the festival reflects on the soil’s connection to memory and time. Below are some of the festival highlights.

A diverse art showcase rooted in the soil

At the heart of the Hazendal Festival is a range of art encounters that showcase the medium’s role as a means of research and questioning. Festival-specific commissions include a sculptural piece from Cape Town artist Thania Petersen and a live intervention from Sethembile Msezane.

Multidimensional creative Sisonke Papu’s ‘ISIKHUMBUZ: Pillar of Remembrance’ is an installation designed to explore and honour the complex relationship between humanity, nature, and the cosmos, through the lens of indigenous African knowledge and spirituality.

At the heart of the installation is a tall, carved wooden pillar placed within an installation of coloured river sand. The festival will also host a gallery exhibition with works by celebrated South African artists including Lady Skollie, Inga Somdyala, Warren Maroon and Stephané E. Conradie.

A symposium on Soil, Environment, and Culture led by Lungi Morrison

Learning and discussion are at the centre of the symposium. The festival’s programme includes a two-day symposium facilitated by Lungi Morrison, art advisor, curator, and granddaughter of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

This thoughtful discussion will deepen our understanding of how our connection to the land can inspire both emotional and intellectual growth. It will also delve into how we can foster a more compassionate relationship with the environment and drive meaningful change.

This symposium will feature discussions between artists and leading South African academics, including Prof. Mark Swilling and Dr Uhuru Phalafala, on topics related to soil, environment, and culture. Public conversations will explore how soil can act as a metaphor for both grief and hope, fostering a sense of shared responsibility for the future.

Food and drink delights

Food and drink will be at the forefront of the festival. As one of the oldest wine estates in Stellenbosch, Hazendal boasts a long tradition of crafting wines that truly express the coastal terroir of this unique corner of Winelands. The estate recently delved into the art of distilling vodka from the grapes.

These include a home-grown dinner created by Chef Vusi Ndlovu in collaboration with Hazendal’s Head Chef Michelle Theron. Also, on offer and to get you in the spirit and tapping your toes, is a wine and vodka tasting and intervention with multidisciplinary artist Queezy Babaz.

Craft workshops at the Hazendal Festival

Get ready for discovery and play with practical workshops that allow attendees to learn by doing. Tapiwa Guzha, the founder of Cape Town’s Tapi Tapi ice cream shop, will use food to show and debate subjects such as the past, Afro-identities and colonial legacies.

Family-friendly activities and fun things to do with kids

Visual artists and designer Faatimah Mohamed-Luke has crafted a series of workshops for children that foster creativity, play and a deeper connection to the environment.

While the adults engage in cultural conversations, the little ones can enjoy their own supervised experience. From playful moments to hands-on crafting, each activity at the Hazendal Festival is designed to inspire curiosity and fun.

The dedicated sessions will take place at Hazendal’s interactive children’s edutainment centre Wonderdal from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday, in parallel with the rest of the festival’s day-time programme.

Film screenings

If compelling storytelling, an original concept, and eye-catching visuals are your bag, then the line-up of short film screenings throughout the weekend should be on your agenda. They include Lerato Shadi’s Motlhaba Wa Re Ke Namile, which takes the viewer on a journey through a semi-fictitious town that combines aspects of Nieu-Bethesda, with a wider, timeless representation of South Africa.

Lebohang used the practice of cut-paper photo-collage, which is then animated in three dimensions to create an almost magical moving piece.

Unwind with a picnic basket at the wine farm

Enjoy a basket on shaded lawns surrounded by outdoor sculptures and entertained by live music. Hazendal picnic baskets come filled with delicacies including artisan bread, herb butter, fresh salads and a tasty selection of cold meats, cheeses, and snacks. Bookings are essential and full prepayment is required as confirmation.

Shop a limited edition Hazendal MCC label designed by Athi-Patra Ruga

For the wine and art aficionados, the estate will launch a special edition Hazendal MCC (Méthode Cap Classique) label designed by artist Athi-Patra Ruga at the Hazendal Festival. Athi’s work spans the mediums of costume, performance, video, and photography.

His colourful, dreamlike imagery of myths and alternative identities can be found in collections worldwide including the Smithsonian Museum of African Art and the Foundation Louis Vuitton collection.

Live performances by Zolani Mahola, Majozi, and more

The Hazendal Estate will come alive for an evening of dance, and DJs Daddy, Gontse and Ghost Bunny will play a mix of genres from Afro to deep house. Bespoke food and drink pairings will reflect the rich flavours of the environment and the bounty of the soil – with each dish thoughtfully crafted to honour the connection between nature and nourishment.

How to book tickets

Tickets for the Hazendal Festival | Soil Edition are available as weekend passes or one-day tickets. Visitors can look forward to a celebration that blends South African culture with global perspectives, all while engaging deeply with the natural world through the lens of soil.

For more information and to book tickets, visit the Hazendal Wine Estate website. Stay connected with the event by following #HazendalFestival2024 on social media platforms.

Cost: R150pp to R250pp | Tickets available via Quicket