Sakhuluntu arts and cultural group hosted a fundraising event in Extension 9 recently. Oozing with talent, the vibey Sakhuluntu traditional and gumboot dancers set off some dynamite with their interactive and appealing presentations.
Sakhuluntu arts and cultural group hosted a fundraising event in Extension 9 recently. Oozing with talent, the vibey Sakhuluntu traditional and gumboot dancers set off some dynamite with their interactive and appealing presentations.
The event showcased the varied talent of the members and was also a second-hand clothes sale to raise funds for the group.
The clothing was donated by local businesses and friends of Sakhuluntu and was sold to the community at reasonable prices, the cheapest item being R2.
The money raised will assist the group with transport and food during the National Arts Festival where they will be performing street theatre as well as daily dance performances at the Ilam amphitheatre.
Due to financial problems, the group couldn’t make the trip to Bathurst in May, where they had planned to hold their annual opening together with the Trappes Valley arts group.
The Trappes valley group forms part of Sakhuluntu under the leadership of their chairperson, Merran Marr. “When we get our registrations sorted and the National Lottery has approved our application, then we will be able to run our programmes with no problems.
“For now we rely on food and cheap material from local businesses and friends of the group,” says Marr.A number of funding applications have been lodged with many local businesses but none have responded.
Last year Sakhuluntu were successful enough to collect donations of R7 000 but this year the response from local businesses has declined. “We have had no success with donations this year.
“Businesses like Birches and Fruit and Veg assisted us tremendously last year. Fortunately we have savedup enough for transportation and catering during Festival,” says Marr.
Vuyo Booi, the development officer for the group, is a dedicated community worker who finds no problem in accommodating artists in his home.
“I am looking forward to accommodating visiting artists during the Festival and also give them the platform to perform.”
Nevertheless, due to this lack of space, the group has lodged a proposal to use the newly built hall in Extension 9 during Festival.
Marr, who is willing to share the spacein the hall with other community groups, says “We need more space for our rehearsals and performances and Vuyo also needs his privacy at home.”
According to Marr, since the hall is in the centre of Extension 9 and Transit Camp, it will bring the two communities together with the love of community art.
In support of the young group, Sakhuluntu urges local businesses and individuals to make donations. The group has a page on Facebook and you can contact Efese Betela on 078 850 3239.
