{"id":1101816,"date":"2026-07-21T03:25:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T03:25:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1101816\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T03:25:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T03:25:18","slug":"mzanzi-festival-brings-spirit-of-south-africa-to-st-helens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1101816\/","title":{"rendered":"Mzanzi Festival brings spirit of South Africa to St Helens"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s only the second time the event has been held in the town, but Mzanzi Festival has almost doubled in size from last year with an expected 1,000 visitors for 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Festival\u2019s taking place this weekend, from Friday, July 24 to Sunday, July 26 at Liverpool St Helens Rugby Union Club in Moss Lane.<\/p>\n

And organiser Jaqueline Jansen says: \u201cIt\u2019s feeling good, and very exciting.<\/p>\n

\u201cFingers crossed the weather will be fine but if not, it doesn\u2019t matter, we\u2019ll just dance and party through the rain.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The Mzanzi Festival is the brainchild of mum-of-three Jaqueline, 43, and her friend, Henk Hattingh, whom she met after she came over to the UK with her family in 2022.<\/p>\n

\"\"Credit: Mzanzi Festival
\n\"\"Credit: Mzanzi Festival
\n\"\"Credit: Mzanzi Festival<\/p>\n

\u201cA few years ago, Henk decided he was going to hold a spit braai (like a spit roast) for a couple of friends and 150 people turned up, and the next year he did it again and 300 people turned up,\u201d says Jaqueline.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s where we met him and became friends, and when he said \u2018I think we need to go a bit bigger\u2019, I said let\u2019s do it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe year after we had the first festival.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jaqueline goes on: \u201cPeople look forward to it. It\u2019s about diversity, and it shows you it\u2019s good to get everybody together for a weekend of South African food, music and culture, and to show the British what it\u2019s all about \u2026 and make friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have all come over here for different reasons and are all really happy here in the UK, we enjoy it and love it here \u2013 but we also miss home, our grandparents, our traditions and the people.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSo for us, it comes from a sense of longing for South Africa and for the things we can\u2019t find here, and to celebrate the spirit of South Africa and share that. We\u2019re very friendly and warm people.\u201d<\/p>\n

There will be plenty of activities like arts and crafts and face painting at Mzanzi along with traditional South African food like potjie kos which is a type of stew, and bunny chow, where you take the inside out of a half loaf of bread and fill it with curry, using the pieces of bread taken out to dip in.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also South African sausages, pancakes, and koek sisters \u2013 a doughnut style plait that\u2019s deep fried and put in syrup, and more.<\/p>\n

A popular husband and wife-led band called Hopeless Romantics is being flown in from South Africa to perform, and The African Queens of Umzansi will play traditional African music.<\/p>\n

\u2018Mr G\u2019 will perform South African drum sessions and storytelling, as well as well as teaching people how to play the drums, and Pieter Dorfling will sing and play guitar.<\/p>\n

\"\"Credit: Mzanzi Festival
\n\"\"Credit: Mzanzi Festival<\/p>\n

More music will come from the Lipstick Band.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a community of around seven families who are all Afrikaans-speaking South Africans and we spend Christmases together, weekends together, and birthdays together, and it\u2019s about us creating a weekend together that feels like home and inviting others to share it with us.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe atmosphere is going to be amazing this year because a bigger festival means bigger and better vibes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a 1,000 capacity and we\u2019ve already sold 800 tickets and, while you can turn up and pay on the gate, we don\u2019t want to have to turn anyone away, so we\u2019d really like everyone to get tickets in advance.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe keep prices low because it\u2019s not about making money but people having a great time so it\u2019s \u00a312 for a day visitor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jaqueline smiles: \u201cIt\u2019s going to be three days of live music, good people and unforgettable memories.\u201d<\/p>\n

Find out more information about Mzanzi Festival 2026 here.<\/a><\/strong>
\nFind out what\u2019s happening this Summer for the kids across Liverpool here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Find out what\u2019s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide.<\/strong>\u00a0
\nFrom the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North \u2013 visit\u00a0thenorthernguide.com<\/a>\u00a0and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram\u00a0HERE.<\/a><\/p>\n