A Toffie for All

This past weekend of the Cape Town Jazz festival, I attended the Toffie Pop Culture Festival, which is hosted at the Cape Town City Hall, once every year. Though I missed out on the tickets to the Jazz fest, I was quite happy when I landed up being invited to attend Toffie, which was worthwhile.

Toffie, like the Jazz fest, is a three day festival. It showcases contemporary pop culture, design, music and everything else that is hip and happening with art today. This festival was not only for the community of artist and creatives but it was also user friendly for anyone with curiosity, kids, and those who are just there to hang out. There were workshops and seminars for students and professionals, and those willing to pay a couple of hundreds; while exhibitions, and artisanal stalls were open to those on a budget. 

The festival had the best venue in the city, the Cape Town City Hall, a building opened in 1905, not only a well aged building, but also historically inclined. It is most famous for Nelson Mandela's first public speech only hours after he was released from prison on the 11th of February 1990. The grand size of the City Hall ensured that all exhibitions would be housed comfortably, while the thick walls and intimacy of each room made it easy to absorb the individual exhibits without distractions from others. There was even room to hold jumping castles for the young at heart.

Team Switzerland had a collage of posters, and Team South Africa had a stall on display

There were displays by notable international artists. There were themed exhibitions where students were given the opportunity to showcase their potential. There was also a design competition, where 6 teams from Spain, South Africa, Netherlands, Switzerland, UK, and Argentina had to showcase their creativity. There was a market in the middle of all of this, where one could buy clothes, sit down to eat or chill out in the balcony while admiring the view of the city. All the electronic beats play in the background by the in-house DJ.

Team Spain showing their ceramics, while Team Netherlands' display shows their relations to South Africa

What I absolutely enjoyed about the experience is the very relaxed atmosphere, people were ready and willing to mingled and make new acquaintances. The food was amazing, and the crafts where local and affordable. The occasional bump-in with a few friends was surprising and welcome. An interesting observation, most if not all people who attended the festival where either from around the country or international, no one was from Cape Town. Speaking to one of the organisers, Adele, she jokingly said that events like this are a good space and opportunity for outsiders to meet and feel at home.

Boycott by David West

A stall selling locally made bags

Revolution stand, sells skateboard decks that  represent local artist  for 'Music Saved My Life' by Verb

Going Camping? One of many artist display their concept of camping

Something to do with shark attack prevention, thought it was a cool display of surfboards

'Faces' by Paul Ward

The jumping castle room. When you were done jumping you were rewarded with ice cream

The Toffie Festival, though only in its third year, is potentially one of Cape Town's events of note.

For more information about Toffie, click here