SOUTH AFRICA — Thousands of South Africans recently attended the first sexually-themed exhibition held in their country. Sexpo South Africa featured lingerie and lingerie models, adult novelties, and porn DVDs along with classes on pole dancing, female ejaculation, sensual massage, and many other topics. Adult production powerhouse Private was a major sponsor of the show held at the end of September.

During apartheid, porn was routinely confiscated by local authorities and those who attempted to import it were occasionally arrested. Since the end of the regime in 1994, the adult industry in all of its facets has boomed.

Sexpo South Africa organizer Julie Swart said in a statement, “South African adults are becoming more comfortable with their sensuality. The focus is on sexual fun as well as sexual health and Sexpo will include free workshops on topics such as pole and lap dancing, relationship advice and tantra. It’s four days of sexy fun, shopping, and entertainment that aims to bring the South African sex life out into the open. It’s an event for all South Africans adults and interest in the Sexpo Web site has been phenomenal.”

The health, sexuality, and lifestyle exhibition is reportedly the world’s biggest event of its kind. It takes place in the United States, Singapore, Australia, and Europe. In Australia, the event has been running for more than a decade and takes place five times a year, attracting about 1.5 million people.

Information booths were set up by local health advocacy groups to send a strong safe sex message during the Sexpo. The nation has one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the world, with 12-percent of adults testing positive in a nation of 47 million people.

The show will take place in Durban in four months time, and then move to Cape Town four months later, before returning to Johannesburg again next year.

The aim, said Expo Works director Silas Howarth to the local media, is to start with three shows a year and then increase the frequency as it grows in popularity.

For information on exhibiting at or attending Sexpo South Africa, visit Sexpo.co.za.