Flux Festival
Encyclopedia
The Flux Festival was a New Year music festival staged between 2001 and 2005 in Kwa-Zulu Natal
Province, South Africa.
Essentially a youth market event, the Flux Festival was held in a picturesque area known as the Hidden Valley, some 230 km inland from the province's main city, Durban
. In terms of the number of patrons attending the event it would be considered a small event, but by no means lean on talented performances. At its height the event attracted approximately 5 000 patrons hailing from all corners of South Africa.
, and especially those held in rural areas, were frequented by patrons of European origin, the Flux Festival attracted a multiracial crowd - a result of the events' eclectic line-up. An important factor which had contributed to the racial orientation of outdoor and rural music festivals up until this time was the perception amongst urban 'black' youth that rural areas represented the 'farm', as in the districts that their parents and grandparents came from, with all the negative connotations that forced removals and dispossession that some of these areas were associated with. Conversely, white youth had an opposite and favourable impression, linked in part to the precedence of 'white' music festivals in Europe and the U.S.(e.g. Woodstock, Glastonbury, Lollapalooza, Reading et al.) which served as reference. With a new democratic dispensation and an easing of racial tension, the youth of South Africa began to outgrow their entrenched viewpoints, enabling outdoor events to begin attracting audiences of greater diversity.
at the time. Among the acts hosted were luminaries such as
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
, Selaelo Selota, Bed On Bricks, Judith Sephuma, 340ml, Jabu Khanyile, Vusi Mahlasela
, Max Normal, Brasse Vannie Kaap, Springbok Nude Girls
, Tidal Waves, Sipho Gumede, Blk Sonshine and BOO! Beyond the selection of live acts, DJ's also featured prominently and reflected a comprehensive selection of urban musical mores: Ready D, Krushed & Sorted, Sibot, Toine, Rob (206 Allstars), Boogieman, Kliktrak, Blunted Stuntman, Bionic, Mimi K, Redwood, King Skaza, Inertia, Pepsi, Blaze, Impact (London), Earth, The Joynd Sons, Mbuso, Dodgy Rodge, SomeOne, Absolute (New York), Rawkiss, Oskido, Tira
, Sox
, Fistaz and many more.
Ultimately the event ceased to be held after the 2004 New Year event due to financial constraints, a result of sponsors re-orienting their assistance along demographically and racially focussed lines. For an event whose lifeblood was the multiracial integration of the youth market, this meant a change was necessary. With the reputation of the event intact as one which celebrated the diversity of culture and the changing nature of South Africa as it established itself in the new millennium, the organisers have taken a sabbatical to consider their options. Rumours of an imminent move to greener pastures are yet to be confirmed.
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
Province, South Africa.
Essentially a youth market event, the Flux Festival was held in a picturesque area known as the Hidden Valley, some 230 km inland from the province's main city, Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
. In terms of the number of patrons attending the event it would be considered a small event, but by no means lean on talented performances. At its height the event attracted approximately 5 000 patrons hailing from all corners of South Africa.
South Africa's first racially integrated music festival
The most remarkable aspect of the event (much commented on in media coverage of the time) was the mix of patrons. At a time when almost all other music events in South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, and especially those held in rural areas, were frequented by patrons of European origin, the Flux Festival attracted a multiracial crowd - a result of the events' eclectic line-up. An important factor which had contributed to the racial orientation of outdoor and rural music festivals up until this time was the perception amongst urban 'black' youth that rural areas represented the 'farm', as in the districts that their parents and grandparents came from, with all the negative connotations that forced removals and dispossession that some of these areas were associated with. Conversely, white youth had an opposite and favourable impression, linked in part to the precedence of 'white' music festivals in Europe and the U.S.(e.g. Woodstock, Glastonbury, Lollapalooza, Reading et al.) which served as reference. With a new democratic dispensation and an easing of racial tension, the youth of South Africa began to outgrow their entrenched viewpoints, enabling outdoor events to begin attracting audiences of greater diversity.
Outstanding content
A major contributing factor to the popularity of the Flux Festival was a progressive line-up which favoured no particular genre or race group in its content and indeed portrayed a snapshot of contemporary South African musicMusic of South Africa
The South African music scene includes both popular and folk forms. Pop styles are based on four major sources, Zulu isicathamiya singing and harmonic mbaqanga...
at the time. Among the acts hosted were luminaries such as
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a male choral group from South Africa that sings in the vocal styles of isicathamiya and mbube. They rose to worldwide prominence as a result of singing with Paul Simon on his album, Graceland and have won multiple awards, including three Grammy Awards...
, Selaelo Selota, Bed On Bricks, Judith Sephuma, 340ml, Jabu Khanyile, Vusi Mahlasela
Vusi Mahlasela
Vusi Sidney Mahlasela Ka Zwane is a Sotho South African singer-songwriter.His music is generally described as "African folk". His work was an inspiration to many in the anti-apartheid movement. His themes include the struggle for freedom, and forgiveness and reconciliation with enemies...
, Max Normal, Brasse Vannie Kaap, Springbok Nude Girls
Springbok Nude Girls
The Springbok Nude Girls is a rock band from Cape Town, South Africa.An alternative rock band, the Nude Girls introduced punk, ska, acid jazz and metal into their songs, introducing a new world of music to the youth of South Africa in the early 1990s.They played their first big gig in September...
, Tidal Waves, Sipho Gumede, Blk Sonshine and BOO! Beyond the selection of live acts, DJ's also featured prominently and reflected a comprehensive selection of urban musical mores: Ready D, Krushed & Sorted, Sibot, Toine, Rob (206 Allstars), Boogieman, Kliktrak, Blunted Stuntman, Bionic, Mimi K, Redwood, King Skaza, Inertia, Pepsi, Blaze, Impact (London), Earth, The Joynd Sons, Mbuso, Dodgy Rodge, SomeOne, Absolute (New York), Rawkiss, Oskido, Tira
Tira
Tira , "The Fort" is an Arab city in the Center District of Israel in Israel. At the end of 2009 the city had a total population of 22,600. It is part of the triangle....
, Sox
Sox
Sox may refer to:* Socks or sox, garments worn on the feet* SoX or Sound eXchange, a computer program for audio manipulation* SOX genes, a family of transcription factors that bind to the minor groove in DNA...
, Fistaz and many more.
Ultimately the event ceased to be held after the 2004 New Year event due to financial constraints, a result of sponsors re-orienting their assistance along demographically and racially focussed lines. For an event whose lifeblood was the multiracial integration of the youth market, this meant a change was necessary. With the reputation of the event intact as one which celebrated the diversity of culture and the changing nature of South Africa as it established itself in the new millennium, the organisers have taken a sabbatical to consider their options. Rumours of an imminent move to greener pastures are yet to be confirmed.