By Thubelihle Mathonsi and Ndalo Mbombo The National Arts Festival countdown has begun. Artists are nearing the final stage of their rehearsals, organisations are confirming partnerships and funding applications, and audiences are sitting at the edge of their seats booking tickets from the 2025 NAF programme online. Monica Newton, CEO of Grahamstown Foundation and the National Arts Festival, spoke to Grocott’s Mail and RMR this week. The customary chaos of preparations will soon transform into Makhanda’s richest feast, and we await the 51st festival “with breathless anticipation”. Newton said that at the heart of the Festival is the commitment to…
Author: Thubelihle Mathonsi
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By Thubelihle Mathonsi Prof Emeritus Alan Kirkaldy walked into the Eden Grove Blue Lecture Theatre, almost packed to capacity with family, friends, colleagues and students this week. There were also attendees on Zoom. They had come to hear Kirkaldy discuss the book that won him this year’s Vice-Chancellor’s Book Award, Everyday Communists in South Africa’s Liberation Struggle: The Lives of Ivan and Lesley Shermbrucker. Also in the room were the couple’s daughter and daughter-in-law. “This was not part of the script, but I am very emotional today, not only because I’m nervous,” Kirkaldy began. He talked about having received a brown…
This week’s contribution was submitted by a writer who prefers to be anonymous It Says, Be BraveBy A Writer I Know A heavy ache in my chestrunsfrom the shoulder to the toes.It takes control,lets out a wail,and leads me into an open field.“Kneel down,” it says, “Be brave.” It hums, a song I’ve never heard,to a drum I never see —a song that is not mine alone,piercing into my ears.A notein the open field:“Open your ears,” it says, “Be brave.” It whisperswords, foreign, unheard words,in my ears.It carves them into a small stonethat glistens,tucks them beneath my tongue.“Repeat after me,”…
By Mmathabo Maebela and Thubelihle Mathonsi How was the idea for this book born? It was supposed to be a one-page article. I had gone out drinking with some of my students, and we were talking. I’ve kind of got a history of being involved with the ANC and the Communist Party. One of them said, “Do you know my grandfather?” Later, I discovered that he should have said ‘my grandfather and my grandmother’ because in fact his grandmother was also involved in the struggle. But she kind of hid it, pretended that she was this housewife, although they both…
By Goitsimang Moshikaro The curtains were pushed open. Sunlight poured into the room with a strength that could weaken any shadow. The fuzziness of deep, comforting sleep faded with each shout and shake. “Shamal, wake up! Wake up!” Miara tapped his face again and again, her voice rising with each call. For someone rarely joyful, this must have been a big deal, judging by the excitement in her eyes. “Come on! Baba said we’re having special guests! I wasn’t told who, but come on!” She lowered her voice and stood tall like a commander. “I’m not seeing them without you, Prince…
By Thubelihle Mathonsi The obsession with youth has made it synonymous with beauty. There is a desire to always appear younger, and most of the influencers on our screens have Botox. I am not against these, but I’m curious about the goal. Why is everything always about looking vaguely young? People in their late teens and early 20s feel they have to buy expensive creams to have ‘good skin’. Okay, so humans have been searching for a way to fight the ticking of time since long before this. In the 16th century, a Spanish explorer, Juan Ponce de León, set out…
By 16-year-old who wants to be anonymous for now “Hey, Alistair,” I say, giving him an awkward wave, “how are you?” I stare at his shoes like they’re about to answer for him. “I’m okay… are you okay?” he asks, scratching the back of his head like he’s unsure if the words are right. “Yeah,” I say, but it doesn’t stop there. “Yeah… yep… yes… I am goooood.” He awkwardly laughs. So I awkwardly laugh. Now it’s just the two of us, standing and laughing awkwardly. My friend Maira’s watching us from a distance. I don’t know if she’s…
By Ndalo Mbombo & Thubelihle Mathonsi The National Arts Festival and Standard Bank have finally released the long-awaited list of artists who have been awarded a 2025 Standard Bank Young Artist Award. Bonga Sebesho, Standard Bank’s group head of sponsorship, said, “We are proud to support this new generation of visionaries as they continue to shape the future of our cultural landscape and ensure that our creative heritage thrives for decades to come.” The recipients of the SBYA award are: Siyasanga “Siya” Charles for Jazz Asanda Ruda for Dance …
Two poems by Oyintanda Phetshetwa who says “I wrote These poems as a way to express my feelings I will be sending more your way. I’m doing Grade 12 at Mary Waters High School.” Soulmate It all started with a smile, Looking so innocent, yet hiding contempt. Never intended for me, yet I caught without consent. You said, “I like you.” My heart heard, “I love you.” How I get lost in your smile, How I seem to smile when you’re around. You feel the same way, I know, Not that you’ve said it, But your actions tell tales. Our…
Mr. Earth and I Noluthando Mampuru I’ve seen the world through the lens of a newborn things forming that weren’t there yesterday, things you’d stand in my way of discovering tomorrow. Siring the bond between Mr. Earth and me, In my eyes, the world unfolds just for me and my newness. See how civil I am in the way I squish and mash things between my stubborn fingers to create something new something you’ve never discovered. Taste how this feels. Look what I’ve made – my discoveries. Rushing to plant flags on concepts foreign only to me, the founding…