Local radio pushes cultural and business platforms for Mahikeng creatives
Mahikeng FM has unveiled #MakeMaftownGreatAgain, a multi‑faceted campaign intended to create more opportunities for the city's creatives, entrepreneurs and community storytellers. The station described the initiative as a practical effort to place the creative economy at the centre of local recovery and development, rather than simply celebrating past achievements.
The project will bring together cultural, musical and business platforms through a series of public events and formats. Mahikeng FM reported that the programme will include evening and weekend experiences aimed at boosting visibility for artists and entrepreneurs, creating market access and opening pathways for partnership with local businesses and communities.
What the movement includes
- HHP Thursdays — described as a regular nightlife and culture slot;
- Soul Garden Experience — a live music and community gathering platform;
- Creativity Without Barriers — a showcase which will spotlight artists with disabilities;
- The Art of Business — an outdoor podcast and market concept giving entrepreneurs a space to connect; and
- Village to Village — a series taking the station and programming into surrounding communities.
These elements, Mahikeng FM said, are intended to knit together the cultural and commercial strands of the city, offering artists a route to monetise work and entrepreneurs opportunities to trade and network.
"The project is about investing in Mahikeng's future rather than simply celebrating its past,"
the station said, linking the campaign to broader ambitions for civic renewal.
How this links to larger arts activity
The announcement comes as national theatre programming also touches on the North West region. The Market Theatre in Johannesburg will stage Crowned: The Comedy Shutdown — Reloaded on Saturday, 29 August at the John Kani Theatre. Though staged outside Mahikeng, the event is part of the theatre's 50th anniversary programme and offers a platform for emerging and established performers — an example of the circuits that Mahikeng organisers hope to connect with.
| Event | Date | Venue / Notes | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crowned: The Comedy Shutdown — Reloaded | 29 August | John Kani Theatre, The Market Theatre; audience clapometer decides part of the result | R250 (tickets via Webtickets) |
The comedy show will feature a knockout format with a R20 000 cash prize for the winner, hosts Celeste Ntuli and Siphelele "Pele Pele" Mchunu, and judges David Kau and Trevor Gumbi. The Market Theatre said previously purchased tickets for the postponed 7 August date remain valid and that doors open at 18:30.
Practical implications for Mahikeng residents
Mahikeng FM's initiative seeks to serve three practical aims for local residents and creative workers:
- Provide regular performance and trade platforms where artists and entrepreneurs can sell work and grow audiences;
- Ensure underrepresented creatives — including those with disabilities — have visible access to stage time and public promotion; and
- Create networking and business development opportunities through formats such as The Art of Business, which combines live podcasting with an informal market.
For Mahikeng's creative sector — from musicians and visual artists to market traders and small business owners — the campaign promises coordinated activity that could help bridge the gap between local talent and external markets. The station framed the work as long‑term investment in the city's cultural economy, offering tangible touchpoints rather than one‑off events.
Organisers and participants will need to demonstrate how the platforms convert exposure into income and sustainable opportunities. For now, Mahikeng FM's launch signals a renewed focus on cultural entrepreneurship and on using local media to drive economic inclusion in the city's creative sectors.
