Dr Criselda Kananda is approaching this year’s “Tribute to Women” festival with a clear sense of what it represents beyond a day of live music.
As the “Tribute to Women” ambassador and chairperson of the Malibongwe Arts Festival Foundation, Kananda is helping steer the annual Women’s Month event, which returns to Mark’s Park in Emmarentia on Saturday, August 29.
This year’s line-up features Msaki, Sjava, Mafikizolo, Nomfundo Moh and Busiswa, with the festival once again bringing together music, culture and conversations around women.
The 2026 edition also arrives in a significant year for South Africa, marking 70 years since more than 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings in protest against apartheid pass laws.
Speaking to “The National” ahead of this year’s festival, Kananda reflected on the significance of the 1956 Women’s March, the responsibility that comes with commemorating its legacy and the work required to create cultural spaces where women can be celebrated while difficult conversations are not avoided.
“For me the 70th anniversary is a deeply personal reminder of the courage and sacrifice that paved the way for the work we do today,” she said.
Commemorating Legacy
Honouring the march through a festival, she added, allows that history to remain public, joyful and accessible while connecting it to the lives of women today.
That idea of celebration alongside reflection is central to how Kananda describes “Tribute to Women”. While music remains at its heart, the festival has also incorporated panels, historical exhibitions, intergenerational conversations and workshops into its programming.
She shared that the festival also uses its platform to recognise women whose contributions have shaped South African culture.
This year, it will honour Mama Mildred Mangxola, one of the surviving original members of “Mahlathini” and the “Mahotella Queens”, for her musical legacy.
This year’s programme however, has also brought a more difficult conversation to the surface.
“Tribute to Women” is a festival centred on celebrating women, yet the inclusion of Sjava has drawn criticism on social media because of rape and abuse allegations previously made against him by his former girlfriend Lady Zamar.
Sjava Criticism
His booking has prompted questions about what accountability means for an event that positions itself around women’s empowerment and safety, and what conversations took place before he was included in the line-up.
Responding to the criticism, Kananda said she understands the hurt and why people have raised concerns.
She maintains that allegations of gender-based violence must be taken seriously, while also pointing to the principle that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.
“I understand the hurt and why people would raise concern. We take allegations of gender-based violence very seriously, and I believe in the principle that everyone is innocent until proven guilty; the matter was addressed in court and was not proven. Sjava was not found guilty in the court of law,” said Kananda.
According to her, his booking followed consultation with stakeholders, curators and long-standing female supporters of “Tribute to Women”. She also points to the festival’s code of conduct, safeguarding measures and on-site support as part of its approach to accountability.
“We will continue to review our processes in light of feedback so our festival continues to reflect our values and keeps women safe,” she said.
Festival's Meaning
Beyond the festival itself, our conversation turned to what the Malibongwe Arts Festival Foundation means when it speaks about creating meaningful cultural experiences.
For Kananda, that work is not limited to putting on a good show. It includes commissioning work that engages with social issues, creating spaces for talks and workshops, and opening up mentorship and marketplace opportunities for women artists.
The foundation also partners with service organisations to provide support at its events, while safety and accessibility remain part of how those spaces are created.
That approach is closely tied to what has kept Kananda advocating for women and community development over the years.
She said she continues to draw inspiration from the resilience and leadership she sees around her, particularly among artists, activists and young women who refuse to be sidelined.
Sometimes, she said, the impact is found in seemingly small moments.
“A young artist getting a platform, a survivor finding support, a conversation that leads to a new partnership. A female exhibitor selling out her stock at the festival. Honouring the legacy of those who marched in 1956 and building a better future for the next generation keeps me going. I am because they were,” she concluded.
Excited Artists
Artists on the line-up also see the festival as an important part of Women’s Month.
For Nomfundo Moh, the month is a reminder of the role women play in society and why they should be celebrated beyond a single occasion. She said she is grateful to return to “Tribute to Women” having performed at the event before, and sees it as a celebration of the women who raised them and paved the way for their lives today.
“It’s always a pleasure to be part of this event because it’s a celebration of women, queens, people who raised us, people who paved the way,” she said. She added that she is looking forward to the “very vibey” atmosphere.
Nontokozo Mkhize sees Women’s Month as an opportunity to celebrate the strength of women, particularly those who quietly hold families and communities together.
“Women’s Month is truly celebrating God’s strength in us, encouraging women to remember that they are seen, loved and supported,” she said.
nomathamsanqa.sithathu@nationalmg.co.za