By Siliziwe Mahambehlala
The NAF injects enjoyment and joy into this very small town. Suddenly, the locals, who typically have nothing going for them during the year, find their schedules filled with diverse activities to partake in.
The never-ending honking of taxis and the electrifying energy show the town’s sudden change into this energy-driven factory. Overwhelmed with excitement, I find it in me to pardon this town for the moments it once drowned me in boredom.
The NAF means the absolute world to me. It is a time in the year where I experience pure excitement in all aspects of my life. The joy of seeing people that walk past you every day now showcasing their raw talent. The different art works displayed around Makhanda showing how vibrant and ecstatic this town can be. From the moment the Festival starts, my heart pumps and jumps with joy. For a two-week period we forget about the lack of youth unemployment and lack of service delivery here. For two weeks we have it all – water for endless amounts of time, many of us get an opportunity to work, everything seems to be perfect.
Every time I travel to town, it feels like I’m journeying to a completely different city. The moment one drives into town, the energy is completely different than the usual. You see young boys carrying cotton candy, shouting “R10 uboya!” From a very young age, the first stop for me has always been Fiddlers Green.
The playland there is always filled with joy and laughter from young ones. Just by looking at the adults, you can see the weight being lifted from their shoulders as they witness their children filled with delight from the rides. For a moment, money does not matter; only happiness does. The first thing I do when I get there is calculate how much I have versus how much I am willing to spend. When I am with friends, I only pay for one ride – the adrenaline-filled disco ride. For the moments I’m on board, my thoughts are only preoccupied by the next high it will provide and I cannot help but scream with joy. I then spend the remainder of my time watching people play around while I indulge in (usually) blue cotton candy. However, when I am with family, there are no calculations or savings needed as the adults pay for everything. All I do is get on the disco ride as many times as I like and enjoy being young and vibrant.
Everyone knows not to eat before visiting the playland so the next stop is always the food and clothing stalls at Village Green. This is where one gets the full experience of the National Arts Festival. The food stalls offer a range of cuisines from various cultures and countries, including Asian, Italian, and various African dishes. I love trying out different foods, depending on whether I have the money. Chips on a stick have won over my heart for two years running; hopefully, this year something else can captivate me.
Through experiencing the different foods, I have formed strong bonds with friends who share the same culinary interests as I do. I have also connected with people from outside Makhanda over our shared love for mini donuts and ChipNDip. That’s the essence of this Festival: bringing people from different backgrounds together over something as simple as food. The jazz performances sponsored by Standard Bank entertain me while I indulge in delicious treats. It’s always a pleasure to stroll around, admiring the different clothes, even though I know I can’t afford them. However, discussing the clothes with friends also always brings us closer together.
Although my relationship with the National Arts Festival has been fairly pleasant, one cannot deny the overwhelming changes that have come post COVID-19. The National Arts Festival has become a time where certain spaces have become exclusive to certain people. Moving the Village Green to Victoria Girls High School has left a large part of the population feeling excluded as there has been the perception that it is only for those who can afford. The public also feels this way because some of the stalls that could be found by the Cathedral are now only exclusive to Village Green. Sibongile Matebese is one who has openly expressed this view. “So many stalls have moved to Village Green and the Cathedral side of the Festival is left with fewer stalls but it is the side where most of the population have easier access to.”
Matebese, who claimed that this has been the reason for her love-hate relationship with the Festival, added, “The Festival is exclusive to the elites of this town.”
According to Nomawethu Frans, a lifelong resident of Makhanda, the Festival post-pandemic has been notably different, characterised by fewer stalls and higher prices for food, clothing and art works. Frans recalls that, before the pandemic, the Festival was a venue where she could purchase clothes and curtains for her home. However, the dramatic rise in prices has discouraged her from attending Festival altogether.
This sentiment is shared by many residents. The Festival has become extremely expensive, making it impossible for the average resident to fully enjoy all aspects of it. Despite this, I have personally found solace in the musical shows, which, post-pandemic, have been more affordable compared to spending time at Village Green or Fiddlers Green.
The National Arts Festival breathes life into this monotonous town. It gives the residents something to anticipate. And the exposure and money it generates for this town cannot be denied.
