DSG Auditorium Jazz Festival By Farirai Dangwa Youth jazz takes centre stage with the performance by Stirling High, which left the audience excited for the future of jazz music. The band was formed by Alan Webster in 1992, with over 80 students selected to play in the national band over the years. They have performed and toured 25 towns nationally and internationally, including Zimbabwe, Namibia, The Netherlands, Germany, and Britain. Previous band members are still active in the South African jazz world. The show had an overwhelming turnout, with filled-in seats and people standing by the door and outside to…
Author: Selenathi Botha
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By Tanya Maswaure “Remember, if you want to heal, you need to receive the trauma… so let us begin the trauma!” – Namaste Bae. Rob van Vuuren, also known as Namaste Bae, blessed the audience with an incredibly memorable and fully immersive experience. Blessings and Kombucha is a show one cannot easily forget, and this is due to both his infectious energy and the perfect audience. It is not common for an audience to be included in a review, but audience participation is an integral element of Blessings and Kombucha. There is no difference between the stage and where the…
By Nondumiso Thwala In an engaging conversation with comedian Khanyisa JamJam, the rising star of South African comedy, we delved into the inspiration, process, and personal journey behind his latest show, Sorry for the Weight. With his infectious energy and relatable humour, JamJam shared insights into his life, creative process, and the challenges he’s faced along the way. When asked about the inspiration behind Sorry for the Weight, JamJam said he thought it was a catchy name. “I think it’s a very catchy name. It was just about me apologising for taking this long to do a show. But I…
Where art and justice meet By Devon Koen Cue Editor Merging art with justice to forge a way forward is what former justice of the Constitutional Court, Albie Sachs, regards as a means to achieve full cultural integration in a democratic society. Taking time out after hosting a walkabout of the A Luta Continua art exhibition at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda on Thursday, Sachs, a staunch arts collector and activist, said there was a feeling of wholeness emerging from the festival. “It is beginning to feel like a real South Africa is being engaged with. We have the…
Silent Catastrophe Theatre City Hall, June 24 Fringe By Singisa Mdungwana A masterpiece that delves into the complexities of womanhood, spirituality, and mental health, Silent Catastrophe is one to watch. The narrative presented by the character uMama Nondlela is a moving reflection on the state of our nation, acknowledging the darkness that has become all too familiar, but also offering a beacon of hope and light for both men and women in our society. Through a powerful narrative, uMama Nondlela shares her personal experience, juxtaposing the joys of her youth with the struggles of the present. Her story is a…
By: Nothando Yolanda Tshuma The Social Employment Fund (SEF), in collaboration with the National Arts Festival (NAF), has launched a significant initiative to foster dignity and empowerment through the creation of job opportunities. The project, implemented in Makhanda, where the high unemployment rate is rife, aims to make a positive social impact by providing much-needed employment to those in dire need. The initiative seeks not only to create jobs but also to inspire a sense of dignity and purpose among the residents of Makhanda. By focusing on the arts as a medium for social change, the NAF aims to leverage…
nomthandazo: amahubo Music Guy Butler Theatre Curated By Malikhanye Mankayi A truly transformative experience awaited those fortunate enough to have attended the performance of Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner Zoë Modiga on the weekend. Performed in the Guy Butler Theatre at 1820 Settlers National Monument, Modiga presented a collection of classics from her discography, the debut album Yellow: The Novel, the celebrated, award-winning sophomore album Inganekwane along with the wildly anticipated new work Nomthandazo. Modiga’s collaborative work with Kwantu Choir, whom she first met during last year’s Masicule project, added an ethereal dimension to the performance. The synergy between…
By Ovayo Novukela Rhodes University is celebrating 120 years of academic excellence this year. Rhodes University’s Department of Visual Arts is having an exhibition that looks at four decades of artworks by current and former staff of the Fine Art Department. One of the organisers of the exhibition, Maureen De Jager, said that they were to devise a strategy for the assessment and oversight of the Rhodes University (RU) art collection, which comprises of numerous artworks scattered in buildings across campus. “We collected some of the best artwork the university has to offer, and we will be able to talk…
By Tanya Maswaure With her face still freshly smudged and energy seeping through her pores, Sophie Joans took a break from her on stage antics to share valuable antidotes about her love of the National Arts Festival. With adrenalin still pumping from her latest performance, AÏo, Joans spoke about her craft, passions, and everything that goes into her clownery. Sophie Joans, a character who wears many hats, literally and figuratively, has much to offer with her wits and smarts. By profession, she is a clown, improviser, comedian, puppeteer, actor and playwright. Her portfolio is artistically extensive, and her experience goes…
Mattering: 50 Years of the Festival Visual Art, Monument Gallery, Daily 9am – 5pm Curated By Farirai Dangwa The ties that bind the past and the present of the National Arts Festival are embodied through the artworks at the 1820 Settlers National Monument, displaying the interconnectedness between different art and artists throughout the decades. Fifty years of art are celebrated throughout this exhibition, which displays artworks from every decade to honour the artists that have come before and appreciate those who are here now. The blend of visual, digital, immersive, and optical media demonstrates the evolution and transitions of art…