Monday, September 16, 2024

“We Are The Money” Movement: Pioneering Township Arts & Creative Economies– A New Chapter with Smoking Dragon Festivals














“We Are The Money” Movement: Pioneering Township Arts & Creative Economies – A New Chapter with Smoking Dragon Festival


Johannesburg, South Africa, September 2024 — We Are The Money, a dynamic movement born out of Soweto, is set to embark on a groundbreaking journey, cementing its role as a transformative force within South Africa’s creative landscape. Our upcoming pilgrimage to the legendary Smoking Dragon Festival this New Year’s Eve is not just a moment of triumph for township and rural artists—it is the beginning of an enduring partnership that will elevate marginalized voices and redefine creative economies in South Africa.


Founded on the principles of unity, mutual support, and township empowerment, We Are The Money has spent years fostering a network of creators who actively share skills, resources, and platforms. Our mission is simple but profound: we believe that the arts, music, and culture can heal communities and uplift economies, and that by investing in ourselves and one another, we become the very engines of our collective success.


A New Chapter: “We Are The Money” x Smoking Dragon Festival


We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with the prestigious Smoking Dragon Festival, where We Are The Money will be curating an exclusive stage. This marks not only a significant achievement for our movement but also the start of a continuous relationship that promises to create more opportunities for township and rural artists to shine on global platforms.


Our stage at Smoking Dragon - “RED ALERT” will be the official stamp of arrival. Its where there will be a celebration of homegrown talent, featuring an eclectic mix of live performances, visual arts, and cultural exhibitions. This pilgrimage is part of a broader mission: to build a circuit of creative experiences across township South Africa, starting in Johannesburg and expanding outward. Our line-up will feature some of the most authentic show-stoppers of our time the likes of, Ms Funkedellic, Siza Nkosi, Lerato Phiri, Dollarman Masaka, Gift Nkomo, Izangoma Zezulu, Njabz, Drain Brain Experience, Soul Gumede, Sthokzo, Shadee Infinity, Dr. Equinox Funkie Freddie and many more. Our incredible deejays include Dj Flex, Scratch Tuesday, Bio Mechanikal Dj Makeshyft, Vinyl Vine & many more here as well. 



Road to Smoking Dragon: Join the Journey

In the lead-up to Smoking Dragon, we will be hosting a series of events and activations under the “Road to Smoking Dragon” campaign. These include creative showcases at Emagine Audiovisual headquarters and Urban Zulu, where the public, artists, and sponsors are invited to experience the energy, passion, and vision that fuels We Are The Money.


This journey is more than a moment; it is a movement. It signals the beginning of a continuous transition, where township creatives work hand-in-hand with platforms like Smoking Dragon to forge sustainable careers in the arts. We invite everyone—creatives, businesses, and supporters—to join us, contribute, and become part of this revolution in South African culture.


Your involvement helps us cover logistical and administrative costs while empowering our artists. To make this vision a reality, we urge you to purchase your tickets to Smoking Dragon and support the artists who will take center stage in a performance unlike any other.


About “We Are The Money”


We Are The Money is a township-based movement that believes in building economies from within. Our collective of creatives from Soweto and beyond actively shares resources, knowledge, and platforms to create self-sustaining opportunities for one another. We advocate for a working group economics model that celebrates creativity, unity, and self-empowerment.

LEND A HAND TO A GREENER FUTURE!

GET YOUR TICKET TODAY ON THE FOLLOWING LINK, OR SCAN THE QR CODE

RED ALERT TICKET PLUG

For press inquiries, artist participation, sponsorships, or more information on how to support the movement, please contact us at:


We Are The Money 

Phone: +27 69 248 4230 / +27 (63) 008-1839

Facebook: 

We Are The Money

Instagram:

@wearethemoneygroup


We Are The Money – The revolution is priceless, at all costs.




Monday, September 2, 2024

We Are The Money - Smoking Dragon

 


Amplify the Unheard: Support Township Creatives at Smoking Dragon Festival


On Behalf of the We Are The Money Collaborators 


We came together and created an event circuit that is to work together in creating creative experiences across the different available spaces in township-SA, beginning with Johannesburg and its peripheries. 


In our short existence, we have been invited to expand on our enterprising by creating an unforgettable experience - through curating one of the 7 world-class stages at Smoking Dragon (New Years Eve) Festival. Is proof of us having a thriving movement, at the same time, at test. We believe we are ready, and that it is time. 


Join us in sparking a creative revolution! This year, we’re bringing township and rural artists to the forefront at South Africa’s largest music festival, Smoking Dragon. With your help, we can make this a game-changing moment for the arts. Purchase your ticket today and directly support our efforts to cover all logistical and administrative costs, ensuring our movement thrives and dignifies the talent of underrepresented communities.


We kick-off our activations on the 5th of September at the all amazing Urban Zulu roof top in Marshalltown, with a great installation of music through both digital and analogue mediums from the most amazing of DJs including the legendary dj Flex of the Dungeon Shack crew. Arts, Music literature and permaculture will be a huge part of the days observation. Come connect and share positive vibration towards an opportunity for unity again.


Then, on the 27th of September will be celebrating the birthday of Dr. Equinox at the Emagine Audiovisual headquarters in Dlamini. We will be celebrating heritage in our creative style. Musical performances, exhibitions and much more will be explored to bring about the great spirit - which to carry us to do something together that we can be proud of. 


The festival runs for an incredible 5 days this year, from the 27th December to the 1st of January 2025 and we are heavily on the drawing boards to bring about an incredible program like never seen before. 


Before the festival arrives, we will be putting all out thoughts on raising funds through this “Road To Snoking Dragon” campaign. While will still be building our line-up, we have and are still planning more activations to meet, engage and create with you. We hope to hear from you through the ways that we will continue to make available.


GENERAL TICKETS  will go up in price

  as the different phases are sold out


*EARLY BIRD = R500

19th July - 30th August 


* FIRST PHASE = R750

31st August - 5th October 


* SECOND PHASE = R850

6th October - 10th November 


*FINAL PHASE = R950

11th November -  27th December



🎟️ Buy your tickets now and be part of a movement that empowers township creatives. Every ticket you buy directly funds our cause!



#WeAreTheMoney #AmplifyTheUnheard #SupportTownshipCreatives #SmokingDragonFestival #CreativeRevolution #BuyTicketsSupportArts