By Ovayo Milisa Novukela
The 2023 National Arts Festival (NAF) launched on the evening of 22 June. Local and provincial leaders were present at the opening ceremony which was quickly disturbed by audience members who expressed their anger and disappointment with the Makana Local Municipality service delivery, particularly the water crisis.
The Executive Mayor of Makana Municipality, Yandiswa Vara, indicated that the Festival is the perfect platform for Makhanda to showcase its talents and skills as a town. “We are excited to host this event for the 49th year, and we are hoping our visitors from all over the country will experience the beauty of Makhanda and its people,” said Vara. She added that safety is a top priority with police working round the clock to ensure all civilians enjoy the Festival to the fullest.
As Vara continued with her speech, giving an update on the water crisis, the audience broke out in ‘boos’, to which Vara replied, “I will stop talking about the water.” This did not stop the chants which lasted till the end of the address.
The Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture MEC, Nonceba Khontsiwe, indicated that the Department had contributed R14 million to the National Arts Festival. “We believe that the National Arts Festival is the platform where we not only show the beauty of Makhanda but the beauty of the Eastern Cape and is where our artists can market themselves to the world,” shared Khontsiwe.
NAF is renowned as a career-making platform, with artists such as choreographers Gregory Maqoma, Mamela Nyamza, and theatre-maker Rob van Vuuren being just a few of the artists who’ve risen to fame through the Festival. The Deputy Chairperson of the National Arts Festival Board, Siphiwo Mahala, shared his own experience of this phenomona. “I, who came from a tough background, was inspired by the National Arts Festival to do more, and that is why the festival motto is ‘It Will Change You’ because it can spark how you see art, but it can change an artist’s career,” said Mahala.
Although the formalities of the Festival kicked off on a somewhat positive note, the event also highlighted the on-going unhappiness of the Makana community.
