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Boney M, Steve at Innibos
17/03/2008 15:32 - (SA)
Gcina Ntsaluba
Nelspruit - International pop group Boney M will be one of the main attractions at this year's Innibos Arts Festival.
The group is flying to South Africa exclusively for the festival and will share the stage on June 28 with Afrikaans musician Steve Hofmeyr.
The festival, which drew 87 000 people to Nelspruit last year and pumped R29m into the local economy, has received one million rand in sponsorship from Standard Bank for this year's event.
Provincial Director of Standard Bank, Pine Pienaar, said on Monday that it was the bank's biggest sponsorship in Mpumalanga.
"This is the biggest sponsorship by Standard Bank in the province and I'm sure that it will be an economic booster for Nelspruit," he said.
The festival has grown from 25 000 people in 2004 to 87 000 last year.
Festival manager Andy Lubbe said it would be impossible to host the five-day annual festival without the help of sponsors.
"Without the support of the business and public sector, this festival, which has become a major cultural and tourism event in Mpumalanga, would not be possible," he said.
He said it cost about nine million rand to run the festival.
In its fifth year, the festival is expected to draw 100 000 visitors to Nelspruit from June 25 to 29.
The Provincial Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation has donated R4007 000 towards the festival and requested that R50 000 of the donation be used to pay for local artists to perform.
Provincial culture, sport and recreation spokesperson, Sammy Mpatlanyane, said the department fully supported the festival.
The main festival grounds will be at Hoerskool Bergvlam in Nelspruit.
Tickets will be available at the gate and at the Innibos offices at Sonpark from May 26.
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South Africa
