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Johannesburg’s most anticipated creative festival, Constitution Hill’s Basha Uhuru  Freedom Festival is back! This year the festival does a double take with exciting new  program partners for the commemoration of Youth Month. 

Celebrating it’s 14th anniversary from the 24 – 27 June - The Basha Uhuru Freedom  Festival, is a legacy signature event and memorial to honour the youth who fought for  freedom and justice in South Africa and were lost in the June 16th youth uprising. This  year’s theme is 'Commemorating 50 years of Youth activism and Creative  Freedom' and the event has been specifically curated to speak to youth throughout the  month of June through various programs. 

The Basha Uhuru Festival is an opportunity to learn and be inspired, share skills and  nurture talent, network, collaborate, create and monetize whilst driving important  conversations affecting the creative sector. 

"Basha Uhuru is more than a festival – it is a celebration of the power, resilience  and imagination of South Africa's youth. We are thrilled to see thousands of young  people gather at Constitution Hill to commemorate 50 years of youth activism and  creative freedom through music, art, film, entrepreneurship and dialogue. Events  like these are vital because they provide platforms for young people to express  themselves, develop their talents and contribute to Gauteng's growing creative  economy. We look forward to another inspiring and impactful edition of Basha  Uhuru." Vuyiswa Ramakgopa - MEC Gauteng Economic Development, Agriculture and  Rural Development 

Basha Uhuru is known for it’s creative conference program, starting on Wednesday, the  24th of June, that precedes the Sounds Of Freedom Concert and one day music festival  that attracts music lovers, youth, change makers and the movers and shakers of  Gauteng to celebrate all things creative. 

The much anticipated annual music festival hosted at Constitution Hill’s newest venue  – The People’s Park opens at 10h00. Visitors are invited to spend the day supporting the  performances of emerging artists; exploring the Creative Youth Expo; engaging with the 

designers of locally made fashion and goods at the Curated Market; visiting the  museum exhibits and resonating with our liberation heritage through creative culture. 

The Basha Uhuru Legacy Award was created to recognise and celebrate South  Africa’s artists who over the years have driven creative freedom through their music  and are heralded as our music icons whose music is timeless in both our heritage and  culture. Previous winners include Mandla Spikiri; Thebe, Alaska and the 2025 awardees  Boom Shaka. 

Don’t miss Mzanzi’s star-studded talent and catch Nasty C; Zee Nxumalo; DJ Tira;  Bucie; DJ Cleo; Skwatta Kamp; Lia Butler; OSMIC; HitBossSA; Atmos Blaq and Maline  Aura, Lochive and upcoming local talent to the main stage 

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Basha Uhuru will be unveiling a very special mural honouring celebrated designer,  publicist, and creative icon Maria McCloy. Maria held a very special relationship with  Constitution Hill over the years. She was integral in championing the publicity of the  Basha Uhuru Festival and performed for the first time on the Basha stage in 2025! The  mural , designed by local accomplished artist and creative maker Lazi Mathebula ; who  is well recognised for his unique style both in SA and globally. This mural will sit next to  that of our music legend Bra Hugh Masekela on the public facing mural wall along  Joubert Street at Constitution Hill. 

“Our partnership with the Basha Uhuru Festival reflects Joburg Tourism’s  commitment to leveraging culture, heritage and creativity as powerful drivers of  economic growth and destination promotion,” says Belu Mabandla, Executive  Head: Destination Marketing & Events, Joburg Tourism Company. “As we  commemorate 50 years since the 1976 Soweto Uprising, we are equally focused on  the future — supporting youth-led innovation, strengthening SMMEs and  showcasing Johannesburg as Africa’s leading hub for both business and leisure  tourism.” 

“Basha Uhuru’s and Conhill’s Creative Uprising always on program delivers  capacity building programming that unlocks potential and empowers youth  through the event’s Creative Conference. The conference brings though provoking  dialogues, masterclasses and design workshops to its audience and allows for  knowledge sharing. The event and concert create market access opportunities for  MSMEs at the Gauteng Curated Makers Market and generates approximately 150  gig work for local artists, production crew, content creators and more. The Creative  Conference Program will also accommodate approximately 600 youth during the 3  day event.” Reuben Pasha – Constitution Hill - Education, Heritage and Public  Programs Manager. 

What’s on the Program? 

Visit www.bashauhuru.co.za to register!

24 & 25 June: Closed Sessions 

The Youth Summit presented by WeThePeopleSA & Chapter 9 institutions: 

Under the theme “Constitutionalism in Action: Youth Shaping the Next 30 Years”, the  summit seeks to reposition young people not merely as beneficiaries of democracy, but  as active custodians, participants and builders of South Africa’s constitutional  future.The summit responds to several interconnected challenges identified both  nationally and within WeThePeopleSA’s theory of change: 

The summit seeks to bridge these realities. By uniting historical Strategic Problem /  Opportunity Statement. 

Thirty-two years into democracy, South Africa faces a critical paradox: young people  inherit one of the world’s most progressive constitutions while simultaneously enduring  acute inequality, unemployment, and democratic disillusionment. 

As we approach thirty years of the Constitution and the 50th anniversary of the 1976  uprising, we are reminded that the fight for dignity remains unfinished business.  Honoring that legacy means ensuring the radical courage of 1976 and the rights  enshrined in our Constitution co-exist as active drivers for change, rather than  historical artifacts. 

At the same time, a powerful opportunity exists: Today's youth are not passive. They  continue organising, mobilising, and creating change across climate justice, education,  gender equity, community activism, and entrepreneurship. 

Memory with constitutional values, the platform will empower youth to transform  systemic frustration into practical civic action—building a socially cohesive and  prosperous South Africa where no young person is left behind. 

25 JUNE 2026 

17h30 – 21h00 FREE Attendance 

The Basha Uhuru Visions of Freedom Film Festival – showcasing a range of short films  and a feature films, all made and produced by local filmmakers. 

26 JUNE 2026 

Back to the Future: Remembering Freedom in 2026, presented by Iqhawe Magazine 10h00 – 17h00 FREE Attendance 

A full day conference that speaks to topics such as: “The Women Who Opened The  Door” – An intergenerational conversation reflecting on 70 years since women marched  and demanded visibility, dignity and agency, “The Youth Who Refused Silence” - Youth  Assembly — “What Must Change In The Next 30 Years?” - Reflecting on the spirit of  1976 and asking what youth resistance looks like now. From protests to TikTok,  independent publishing; digital protest and cultural organising.

Music Masterclass: Presented by Groove Academy 

10h00 – 17h00 FREE Attendance 

Want to get paid every time your music plays, streams, or sells? The Music Masterclass  brings the decision-makers to you. We’ve got *SAMPRA* for needle-time royalties,  *SAMRO* for performance royalties, *CAPASSO* for mechanical + digital royalties,  *RISA* for label + anti-piracy, *Non Club Record Bar* on physical distribution + vinyl  culture, *Royalty Mate* on tracking + admin, and *Radio 101* on how radio actually  picks music. No fluff, just direct answers on registration, splits, claims, and getting your  music heard + paid. If you’re serious about owning your career, pull up. 

Theatre: 50 Years On: Aluta Must No Continua - Masingita Masunga 

18h00 -19h00, Women’s Jail 

Inspired by George Twala’s Story. The production challenges the repeated chant “Aluta  Continua”, echoing across generations, and repositions it as a warning rather than a  victory slogan. Fifty years later, the play asks: 

If the struggle has become a permanent condition, did we win — or did we inherit  unfinished freedom? 

Words of Freedom Poetry Showcase presented by: WordUP Sessions 19h00 – 22h00, Women’s Jail 

FREE Attendance

Kick off your weekend by joining Basha Uhuru for this immersive live poetry session that  brings meaningful art through words to the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of  the June 16th Youth Uprising. 

Let the movement that moved youth for freedom of choice create visions for the future  for youth in South Africa. 

Curated by Sabelo Soko, this powerful gathering features Mak Manaka; Xabiso  Vili; Modise Sekgothe; Solly Ramatswi; Torsten Rybka; Tshepo Molefe; and Zama  Madinana—artists who continue to push the boundaries of poetry as a tool for social  dialogue, identity, healing and transformation 

27 JUNE 2026 

The Sounds of Freedom Music Festival! 

10h00 – 02h00 

Patrons are invited to indulge in art; the makers market and creative expo whilst  indulging in good food; music and fashion! Don’t miss Mzanzi’s star talent and catch  Nasty C; Zee Nxumalo; DJ Tira; Bucie; DJ Cleo; Skwatta Kamp; Lia Butler; OSMIC;  HitBossSA;; Atmos Blaq and Maline Aura, Lochive and upcoming local talent to the  main stage 

Stay tuned to our social media handles: 

Facebook: Constitution Hill (South Africa) 

Instagram: @Constitution_Hill 

X: @VisitConHill 

www.bashauhuru.co.za