EMALAHLENI — Thousands of people gathered at Puma Stadium on 02 May 2026 for the Kota Festival, a touring national event celebrating township food, music and entrepreneurship, with organisers and sponsors highlighting its growing role in youth empowerment and small business development.
At the centre of the festival is the kota — a popular township meal made from a quarter loaf filled with chips, egg, polony, cheese and other variations reflecting the creativity of local food entrepreneurs. What was once regarded as a simple street-side meal has now evolved into a structured platform that elevates vendors into recognised business owners while showcasing township cuisine on a larger scale.
The event was supported by sponsors including Albany Bakeries, Capitec, Daily Sun, Base Pulse and Nyama Choma, whose involvement continues to strengthen the festival’s focus on youth empowerment, small business development and community-driven growth.
Speaking on the vision behind the initiative, co-founder and chief executive officer Xolani Mashele said the festival has grown into a national touring platform steadily expanding across the country.
Mashele said the current edition forms part of a 13-stop national tour across six provinces, including Limpopo, Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
“This is our third stop on a 13-city journey,” Mashele said. “We started in Johannesburg and the East Rand, and those shows were a bang. Every stop is about building something bigger than the last.”
He added that the long-term goal is consistency and growth for township-led creative economies.
“We are building a standard,” he said. “Each stop must grow. Each stop must improve. That’s how we scale township culture into something sustainable.”
From a financial empowerment perspective, Dumisile Mpofu said the festival plays an important role in linking informal traders to formal financial systems.
“This is about real impact,” Mpofu said. “When vendors use digital payment systems, they are not just selling — they are building financial footprints that can open doors to funding and expansion.”
Khanyisile Thokoa and Khumo Seboge said the brand’s involvement is rooted in community upliftment and opportunity creation.
“This space allows young entrepreneurs to be seen and supported,” Seboge said. “That is where real impact begins.”
The festival atmosphere was further amplified by MCs Napo Modise and Somizi, who ensured a seamless flow between performances, vendor showcases and audience activations, maintaining the energy throughout the day.
The stage featured a dynamic line-up of artists including Naledi Aphiwe, Mlindo The Vocalist, Kabza De Small, Danya Devs, MaWhoo, Elaine, Mörda, Emtee, K.O, Makhadzi, EeQue, Supta, Blxckie, Ezra and Aymos, delivering performances that kept festivalgoers entertained throughout the day.
Beyond the music, the heart of the festival remained with its 30 competing vendors, who showcased innovation through flavour and presentation, transforming a simple township meal into a competitive culinary showcase. Leles Fast Foods was crowned the overall winner and walked away with R5 000.
Keke’s Kitchen, founded by Keketso Mosiya from Katlehong, also made its mark after finishing second in the competition and receiving R3 000.
“I’ve always loved cooking. Being part of a platform like this gives me a chance to grow what I started from home and share it with different communities along the tour,” Mosiya said.
Artist Supta said the platform continues to play an important role in changing mindsets among young creatives.
“These events show people that where you start doesn’t limit where you can go,” he said. “It’s about exposure and opportunity.”
He also reflected on his latest single, Amagama, describing it as a song about persistence and holding onto purpose even during uncertain moments.
For attendee Lethu Simelani, the festival represented something deeper than entertainment.
“It feels like home,” Simelani said. “The food, the music, the people — it all connects in a way that stays with you.”
As the day came to a close, the Kota Festival once again proved its growing influence as more than just an entertainment event. It continues to travel across the country as a cultural and economic platform that elevates township food, music and entrepreneurship into a national conversation.
