Last year, South Africa united for one very special day to celebrate, honour and pay tribute to South African music. Due to an overwhelming response to the first South African Music Day, the power of music will again draw the nation together in musical celebration. But this time the festivities offer an entire week of activities from August 28 to September 2 to encapsulate, celebrate and highlight South Africa’s true multicultural and diversely musical talents.

Having successfully created an awareness of South African music with the national day in 1999, this year the organisers will turn last year's beats into a rhythm that will take that awareness to an even greater height. They are the National Arts Council (NAC) and the Music Industry Development Initiative (MIDI Trust) together with the support of the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (DACST), Business Arts South Africa (BASA), the Association of South African Music Industry (ASAMI) and the South African/Norwegian Music, Education and Development Project (MMINO).

The first South African Music Week aims to boost the profile of South African musicians, enhance skills and strengthen networks within the industry while taking South African music to live music venues, retail outlets, radio, TV and in print as well as into homes, conference rooms, studios, schools and community centres on the street.

South African Music Week will comprise educational workshops, artist instore appearances, live showcases and performances. The week officially ends on September 2 with radio stations countrywide playing a higher percentage of South African music than normally programmed.

For more details, check out http://www.samw.co.za