"The truck was my Festival. I would spend the whole day there. I would be scarce in the locations and watch every act that would present there. Basically, the Transnet Foundation truck was my Festival," said Grahamstown resident Simphiwe Badi.
"The truck was my Festival. I would spend the whole day there. I would be scarce in the locations and watch every act that would present there. Basically, the Transnet Foundation truck was my Festival," said Grahamstown resident Simphiwe Badi.
He was recalling a time when the Transnet Foundation used to bring the truck to the Village Green as free-to-watch entertainment during the Festival.
However, it has been absent from the Festival since 2011 and both local artists and arts supporters are complaining about its absence.
They feel it made the festival vibrant and gave it life. Few local artists now have a platform that would give them such exposure. "It is not great for local artists.
For us it was a big platform. Now we are lacking development, because we have nothing to look forward to.
Back then we knew that the Festival was coming, so we must release some singles in preparation for the performances on the truck," said musician Siyabonga 'Spozewell' Yafele.
He said the truck used to attract people from all walks of life and bought them together.
Sihle Mlonyeni spoke of the dancers, singers, magic and plays local acts provided at the truck and said its absence made Festival boring.
"Back then I knew that I was going to meet people from different places who would do different things, now I have no interest in going to the Festival," he said.
"Artists do not get the same chance. It is a huge loss," said former fan, Lunga Mona.
"It is boring without the truck. The level of the Festival has gone down. There's nothing that pulls me to go to the Festival any more," said another Grahamstown resident, Vuyolwethu Mbonde.
Attempts to get comment from the Festival organisers were unsuccessful.
