By Aphiwe Ngowapi The 2024 National Arts Festival in Makhanda is currently showcasing a powerful performance of “Sarafina!”, a musical that vividly brings to life the struggles faced by students during the 1976 Soweto uprising. Performed by a vibrant all-black cast from the Sonwa Sakuba Institute for the Performing Arts, this rendition of “Sarafina!” is both energetic and poignant, ensuring audiences experience a whirlwind of emotions from exuberance to deep sorrow. “Sarafina!” follows the story of a fictional class at Morris Isaacson High School, with a focus on a girl named Sarafina who inspires her classmates with her unwavering commitment…
Author: Aphiwe Ngowapi
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By Aphiwe Ngowapi The Makhanda Kwantu Choir captivated audiences with their “The Offering (to our other selves)” performance at the Amazwi Museum on Monday, 24 June. Returning to the National Arts Festival, the beloved community choir presented a repertoire that deeply resonated with the human experience, exploring themes of othering, forgotten memories, and inner truths. The concert, held in the heart of Makhanda, aimed to transport the audience to the “deep shadows of lived experiences,” guiding them through places often overlooked but crucial in shaping our better selves. “The Offering” paid tribute to memories that long to be forgotten, emotions…
By Aphiwe Ngowapi Rhodes University proudly presents a captivating visual art exhibition titled “In Conversation: Four Decades of Artworks by Current and Former Staff of the Rhodes University Fine Art Department.” The exhibition will be held from 20 to 30 June at the Rhodes Fine Art Department’s main building on Somerset Street. It is curated by Dominic Thorburn, Maureen de Jager and Robyn Munnick. De Jager mentions: “It occurred to me – sometime into the process – that the three of us are separated in our appointment dates by exact 20-year intervals: 1982, 2002 and 2022.” This unique event is…
By Aphiwe Ngowapi A remarkable and thought-provoking photography exhibition, proudly sponsored by Lewatle Magazine and featuring Organic Live, recently graced the vibrant art scene at The Black Power Station on 27 and 28 October. The Black Power Station invite the exploration of Black creativity. This was the second edition of the Hairitage exhibition, a celebration and investigation of Black hair. Art enthusiasts were delighted with a captivating blend of visual art, live music, and documentary screening. The artist, Lithemba Nziweni, talks about the exhibition being, in part, a response to his experiences navigating his hair expression growing up. He said,…
By Aphiwe Ngowapi Senior Lecturer at Rhodes University’s Politics and International Relations Department and book author Dr Cecilia Lwiindi Nedziwe’s latest book titled, Transnational Activities of Women-Focused Civil Society Actors in Southern Africa, is co-authored by Dr Oluwaseun Tella from the University of Johannesburg’s Institute for the Future of Knowledge. The book was launched in September this year in the form of a panel discussion, which included discussants Prof Siphokazi Magadla and Refiloe Msibi at Rhodes University’s General Lecture Theatre. The debate was a convergence of scholarship, activism, and a burgeoning public interest in the role of civil society actors…
By Aphiwe Ngowapi In photography, talent is not limited to age, and Lithemba Nziweni, a 23-year-old local photographer who hails from rural iXesi in the Eastern Cape, is living proof of this adage. This young artist has swiftly risen to fame, capturing the essence of celebrities like Msaki, Kholeka Putuma, Ami Faku and the late AKA. Through his lens, he has secured work opportunities in the media industry that may leave many envious of the young photographer. “I want to make photography the same way Msaki makes music,” says Lithemba Nziweni who has a Hairitage exhibition was featured in a…
By Aphiwe Ngowapi A group of dedicated learners from Victoria Girls’ High School (VGHS) and Graeme College in Makhanda have embarked on a mission to honour the legacy of anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko by submitting their application to Makana Municipality to have Beaufort Street renamed to Steve Biko Street. The students believe that renaming the street would serve as a powerful reminder of Biko’s contributions to the struggle for equality and justice in South Africa. “The reason that we come to you today is that we believe there is a specific street here in [Makhanda] that holds huge significance, not…
By Aphiwe Ngowapi Entrepreneur, rapper, producer, and hip-hop presenter at Rhodes Music Radio (RMR) are some hats multitalented Azlan Makalima wears. Fueled by a passion for artistic collaboration and community empowerment, Makalima, together with other local hip-hop artists, celebrate 50 years of hip-hop by hosting a one-of-a-kind “Rap-Akademy Xperience” show on 12 August at the Fingo Library Hall. The event, aptly titled “The Rap-Akademy Xperience,” is a testament to Azlan’s dedication to fostering artistic connections and nurturing emerging talents. The function is an exciting convergence of various creative expressions, with a primary focus on showcasing the potential of the local…
By Aphiwe Ngowapi On 28 July, development agency Kagiso Trust held an awards ceremony for 20 out of 25 Makhandans who participated in and completed two workshops: the Capacity Building and Asset Based Community-Led Development (ABCD), which took place between 24 April and 27 July this year. The purpose of the workshop interventions was to strengthen and support Makhanda East’s civil society. On the podium, Mike Makwela of ABCD and some of the other stakeholders were present at the awards ceremony. Photo: Aphiwe Ngowapi. Kagiso Trust’s goal is to work towards “a prosperous, peaceful, equitable and just society”. They also…
By Aphiwe Ngowapi On the morning of 25 July 2023, eNkanini residents blockaded roads. They stopped an empty water truck that had just delivered water to Extension Six, while they had not had water delivered to them since Friday, the week before. “We blockaded the water truck to get attention from the municipality because they never have time for us and do not take our grievances seriously,” said eNkanini resident Sivuyile Kulati. The strategy seemed to work because the drivers eventually returned to the community with water on the same day. “Anything that involves this municipality is tiring; they only…