By Thembi Moyo
Johannesburg is preparing for a cultural spectacle that promises to be as heartfelt as it is historic. On 4 October 2025, Ellis Park Stadium will transform into a stage of song, rhythm, and movement as the city officially launches Ingoma, a vibrant initiative aimed at uniting communities through dance, dialogue, and heritage.
At a media briefing this week, officials and cultural leaders shared details of the event, which carries the theme “uBuciko Bengoma” “the art of song and dance.” While the performances will showcase traditional dance groups from across Gauteng, the spirit of the event runs much deeper.
Speaking on behalf of MMC for Human Settlements, Mlungisi Mabaso,Melusi Ndima said Ingoma is about building connections that go beyond entertainment. “Ellis Park will not just host a festival it will host a movement,” Ndima explained. “Through Ingoma, we want communities to celebrate their culture, but also engage in meaningful dialogue that strengthens unity in our city.”
For many of the dancers and cultural groups involved, the stage at Ellis Park represents more than an opportunity to perform. It is a chance to share personal and collective stories, to honor traditions passed down through generations, and to create new bonds across diverse communities. “Every song carries a memory, every step carries a message,” said one leader of a participating dance group.
The human heartbeat of Ingoma is its inclusivity. Organizers have ensured that the program combines performances with stakeholder engagement and dialogue sessions, designed to confront real issues facing Johannesburg residents from identity and belonging to social challenges and aspirations for the future. By merging art and conversation, Ingoma aims to become a platform for healing and understanding.
The choice of Ellis Park Stadium a venue rich with history of both sport and unity carries its own symbolism. Where thousands once gathered to witness victories on the rugby field, they will now gather to witness victories of a different kind those of culture, resilience, and togetherness.
Johannesburg, often described as South Africa’s melting pot, is home to people from every corner of the country and continent. Yet in a city that thrives on its diversity, tensions and divisions sometimes linger. Cultural leaders believe Ingoma can help bridge those divides. “This is not just performance; it is dialogue in motion,” said another group representative. “We want people to leave Ellis Park feeling proud of who they are, and more connected to their neighbors.”
As the countdown to 4 October continues, excitement is building across Johannesburg’s communities. For young performers, it will be a chance to stand before thousands and carry forward traditions they learned at home. For elders, it will be a reminder that their heritage still has a voice in modern South Africa. And for families who attend, it will be a day to celebrate the beauty of difference woven together in unity.
“Johannesburg has always been a city of voices and movements,” Melusi Ndima reflected. “Ingoma will bring those voices together in one rhythm, one heartbeat.”
When the drums echo through Ellis Park on launch day, it won’t just be music filling the air. It will be the sound of a city remembering its past, celebrating its present, and dancing toward a shared future.