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As we celebrate heritage month, as we visit various heritage sites, as we remember the journey walked and traversed by our forebears, it is wise to take to heart the words of the Spanish philosopher and essayist George Santayana when he said that “those who do not remember their past are condemned to repeat their mistakes, and those who do not read history are doomed to repeat it”.

Various partners have come together to do their bit to encourage and engender the culture of book reading. During the month of September the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the South African Book Development Council (SABDC), Exclusive Books and Bargain Books all participated in initiatives to encourage South Africans to buy and read books.

Every other year as we celebrate heritage month in September, South Africans are spoilt for choice of arts, heritage and cultural experiences. With our rich heritage, we have a wide variety of cultural consumptions to feast on.

In order to support the growth of the industry, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture continues to invest substantial resources in the sector. The Department has invested over R13 million to assist the Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa (CCIFSA).

At a recent SA Cultural Observatory workshop in the Vhembe district in Sibasa, Limpopo, we came across the definition of an artist- Mr Avhashoni Mainganye. Currently based at the Vhembe Arts and Culture centre in Thohoyandou, the unassuming Mainganye is an accomplished painter, printmaker, sculptor, photographer, arts teacher and mentor with more than 30 years’ experience in the industry.

This month we celebrate Gabi Ngcobo, an independent curator, creative researcher and educator who was the curator of the tenth Berlin Biennale for contemporary art in Germany. Ngcobo, who teaches at the With School of Arts joined an illustrious list of past curators of the Berlin Biennale, among them Hans Ulrich Obrist and Ute Meta Bauer

Thandi Ntuli could be described as one of the few young musicians barking the trend with her talent and love for the genre of music that is jazz. This is genre that is not so popular with young artists.

Eastern Cape has gifted the country and the arts and culture industry with the sensational soprano opera musician, Zandile Mzazi. Probably more widely known and celebrated abroad, Mzazi hails from a musical family in Elliot, and has performed to the A-list audiences across the globe.

The Cape Town vocalist duo that makes Thesis ZA comprising Ondela Simakuhle and Ayanda Charlie made it into the final list of the Mail and Guardian 200 Young South Africans 2019.

At her advanced age (83), Dr Esther Mahlangu is still making a significant impact in the world of arts. She was last month bestowed with the award of Officier de L'Ordre Arts et Lettres (Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters) by the French ambassador to South Africa

This year the International Women’s Day theme was #BalanceforBetter. It essentially talks to a balanced world being a better world.

The 26th Zwakala Festival has been given a new lease on life with a vision that will reach out to more artists and audiences. The revamped Zwakala Festival is also more attractive to its funders, the Department of Arts & Culture, with whose support through the Arts Incubator Programme the Festival is being relaunched in an exciting new format.