Creative SMEs steal the show at Basha Uhuru Festival

Constitution Hill was this weekend transformed into a living canvas as the 13th instalment of the Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival took centre stage, casting its spotlight on creative small and medium enterprises.

Born from the spirit of 1976, the festival has become more than a remembrance—it is a stage where art, music, film, and entrepreneurship weave together. This year’s theme, “Celebrating the Legacy of Creative Expression,” was not just an idea, but a pulse that moved through the monumental venue, echoing against its history with soulful music and the vibrant hum of artisans at work.

Amid the colours, textures, and rhythms, YNews caught up with some of the entrepreneurs whose crafts carried stories of resilience, vision, and cultural pride.

– The Modern Us –

A lifestyle brand born from a school project, The Modern Us embodies the beating youthful vibrance of Braamfontein.

Founder Lebohang Tsinyane, first captured the suburb’s culture through a blog before translating that energy into fashion.

“As a lifestyle brand, we are currently focusing on clothing, fashion and leather accessories, and at times we are privileged enough to do furniture here and there,” Tsinyane said.

For him, platforms like Basha Uhuru are invaluable—spaces where creatives can learn, connect, and be seen.

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– Different Stories Creation –

For Bongi Kubheka, creativity was born out of necessity. Facing unemployment in 2016, she turned to crochet, inspired by memories of her parents’ craft.

“No one really taught me how to crochet. Growing up, I used to watch my mother weave sun hats from dry grass and my father make shoes by hand,” she recalled.

Today, Different Stories Creation has evolved into a homegrown brand of accessories and garments that fuse tradition with modern design.

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– Homegrown Shandis –

Blending history with innovation, Scelo Siyabonga Mabuza founded Homegrown Shandis, a footwear brand rooted in ancient African shoemaking methods. Customers are invited to co-create their own pairs, making each piece personal.

“For exposure, these types of events are good—they’re a start. But we need more initiatives for long-term impact,” Mabuza reflected.

He says for him, festivals like Basha Uhuru open doors, but true sustainability requires deeper alignment with markets.

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As the sun set over Constitution Hill, these stories revealed more than creativity. They embodied resilience, reinvention, and the power of craft to shape economies.

Written by: Lebohang Ndashe