This quaint Eastern Cape city is transformed into the country's creative crucible and for 11 days in July it's the only place to be. From theatre to dance, opera to cabaret, fine art to craft art, classical music to jazz, poetry readings to lectures, every art form imaginable is represented in one of the most diverse festivals in the world. And there's something for every taste, with techno raves, Mediaeval banquets, craft fairs, cyber cafe's, carnivals, buskers and walking tours. The National Arts Festival, which is organised by the Grahamstown Foundation, started in 1974 with 60-odd items. These days there are about 600 events on the Main and Fringe programmes and close to 1800 performances on offer.
Many factors explain the festival's popularity.
Not the least of these is its location, for Grahamstown is an unusual place. Founded in 1812 by Colonel John Graham as a military headquarters for British troops during a series of bitter clashes with Xhosa fighters, it grew as a commercial centre after the arrival of several thousand settlers in the 1820's. However, the city declined in importance when the Frontier Wars came to an end, and diamonds and gold were discovered in the interior. Largely untouched by modern developments, Grahamstown is an English 19th century cathedral town in a setting that is unmistakably African. It's a bequiling contrast.