As you read this the final cultural shows of National Arts Festival are possibly on stage in Makhanda. The National Arts Festival came back in a face-to-face format for the first time in two years. The event, held in Makhanda every year since 1974, was forced to go online in 2020 as the industry could not gather physically due to the restrictions associated with Covid-19. This year, the 11 days-long festival was held from Thursday, June 23rd until Sunday, June 3rd.
The event is said to be the biggest annual celebration of the arts on the African continent providing space for artists and audiences to get together, engage and create unique cultural experiences. The Festival programme offers a variety of cultural activities including drama, dance, physical theatre, comedy, music, jazz, films, exhibitions and industry conversations.
This year’s programme included what the Festival organisers termed ArtsTalk which allowed various organisations and cultural practitioners to engage with the audiences about pertinent industry issues. The South African Cultural Observatory took part in the ArtsTalk and held a lively and engaging conversation about the industry’s contribution to the country’s GDP and the impact of Covid-19 on sector.
Sporting events are more than moments of competition, national pride, and entertainment. They are economic activities that can stimulate tourism, create employment, support local businesses, and generate revenue across multiple sectors of the economy.
Umntwana womgquba a term traditionally used in the Nguni language that means “born out of wedlock,” but nowadays it is used to emphasise that one is born kwisintu. As lontwana, I look back on my own adventures: sometimes I pat myself on the back, and sometimes I wish I could redo them.
Each September, South Africa turns its attention to the rich cultural tapestry that defines our nation. Heritage Month is a time to honour the traditions, languages, histories, knowledge systems, customs and creative expressions that have been passed from generation to generation, while recognising that our heritage is not confined to the past.
My first encounter with heritage at the Mandela Bay Development Agency was, appropriately, somewhat uncomfortable. It began with cleaning. The Gale Monument, the Horse Memorial and the Queen Victoria statue became my first practical introduction to the business of preserving history.
