Fireworks for Africa has wowed international crowds again! They have just returned home from the resort town of Knokke-Heist in Belgium and have brought gold back with them. They placed first in the International Vuurwerkfestival Knokke-Heist, an international fireworks competition where they represented South Africa for the second time. They were there in 2003 when they narrowly missed gold and were determined to make up for that this year.
The hugely impressive show was designed by Fireworks for Africa owner, Nick Mitri and his long time Canadian friend and colleague, Philippe Girard. Philippe assisted Nick with his show design for Hannover in Germany last year and they proved to be a formidable team, producing an epic display for the German crowd. They subtly reworked that magical spectacle, changed two songs and blew Belgian audiences away with the result!
Nick and Peter Vrey flew to Belgium early to set up the display and were assisted by a brilliant team from Hendrickx Fireworks in Belgium. The local weather was determined to challenge their skill as they endured 5 hours of intense rain on the morning of the setup and worked until 9.00pm that night, to ensure that the show would be ready. Fireworks for Africa again proved that they’re ahead of their time by using a brand new, wireless firing system that needs no cables. Multiple chase sequences and as many different types of effects as possible were used in the show. Some sequences had as many as 30 effects being fired in 2.4 seconds, leaving the audience gasping for air!
The show used a medley of traditional African music to set a rich, dramatic mood and the fireworks and special effects dazzled the spectators and judges alike. After competing against Spain, Italy, Thailand and Sweden, Nick and his team have shown them what South Africans are made of!