After three years of successful festivals, there was some debate as to whether another would be possible in 1977. Economic recession and petrol rationing, to say nothing of a tumultuous political situation, had led to financially challenging times across the country. The programme’s opening note, by Professor Guy Butler, explains the motivation to forge ahead:

“The current recession and the advent of petrol rationing caused the Festivals Committee and the Council of the Foundation to question whether the Festival should not be abandoned until the economy recovers, but they concluded that it would be short sighted to lose the momentum gained by previous celebrations. Continuity is an important principle in growth, through good years and bad; because our Festival, unlike many others, has a serious vein beneath its gaiety…”

The aims and vision of the Festival have broadened and shifted over the passing years – as they should – but this principle remains as relevant to us today as it was then, and the Festival continues to adapt and grow to changing and challenging times. 

In 1977, the solution was a shorter and smaller event. At only five days, this was the shortest in the Festival’s history, but the programme was still rich in variety. A serious of lectures on Xhosa poetry featured prominently, with such prolific speakers as Dr Richard Rive, David Yali-Manisi, Melikaya Mbutuma and Randall Langa Peteni. Andrew and Janet Buckland appeared in Skywers, Pieter Dirk Uys returned with Paradise is Closing Down, and a series of performances were given by the Edward Cook Methodist Choir. It was also the first time a film festival had been incorporated into the programme, and was split into three strains – a competition for the best South African shorty, a series of documentaries entitled A View of Africa, and a programme of Charlie Chaplin classics. The programme from 1977 references Charlie Chaplin as the last, great silent comedian still “alive today,” although he was to die only a few months after the festival.