Cultural flair at Out of Africa Festival

The first Out of Africa Festival to be held in WA is only 24 days away, and as it draws closer organisers have been busy bringing on major partners to make it the best it can be.

The colour, flavour and dancing of Africa will be out in full force on October 29 when the much-anticipated event takes over Dixon Road Reserve.

Organiser Graham Oosthuizen told theTelegraph that Cricket Australia was supporting the event and would be at the festival with merchandise, signed bats, mini games and a few surprises.

“We’re absolutely ecstatic, everything is in order for the festival and all the boxes have been ticked,” he said.

As part of the festival Mr Oosthuizen is running a cultural exchange program and has organised for 15 dancers from Cape Town’s Indoni Dance Academy to travel to Perth with the help of the South African Department of Arts and Culture.

“This group of dancers have never flown before, they’ve never even had a passport so you can imagine the excitement — for a group of young people like that to come to Australia, it is going to be life changing ,” he said.

“They will come to Perth, do some workshops and perform at the festival — we want that cultural interaction.

“It’s unique, it’s the first time, part of the cultural exchange program and it’s coming here to Rockingham.”

The festival has also received support from a variety of local business and organisations that see the event as a great way to bring to bring tourists into the City.

“We’ve had fantastic support, especially from Rockingham Apartments, Mr Oosthuizen said. “Owner Rob McGavin has come on board in a big way to support us for accommodation for the group.

“I’m so excited about what this is going to do for Rockingham, for tourism —it’s about getting everyone together, having a celebration and learning about African culture.”