National Arts Festival Review 2021 by National Arts Festival

national arts festival experience

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

L e t M y L o v e B e He a r d C o n c e r t . S t u d e n t s o f R h o d e s Un i v e r s i t y C h a m b e r C h o i r c o m b i n e d fo r c e s w i t h t h e KWA N T U C o m m u n i t y C h o i r fo r a n d Re s t o r a t i o n . M a k h a n d a . Ph o t o : M a r k We s s e l s

OUTSIDE COVER IMAGE: BUNTU FIHLA CONTENT: SASCHA POLKEY ( RABBIT IN A HAT ) DESIGN & COMPILATION: STEPH DVORAK ALL IMAGES UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED BY MARK WESSELS

r a c o l l a b o r a t i v e c o n c e r t o f Ho p e , H e a l i n g

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

I N T RO T O N A F 2021 C r e a t i n g a s n a p s h o t o f a Fe s t i v a l h e l d i n a t i m e o f g r e a t c h a n ge s p a r k s i n t e r e s t i n g t h o u gh t s a b o u t how the current unpredictable trajector y will look r e t r o s p e c t i v e l y. Wi l l s o m e o n e o n e d a y r e a d t h i s m a ga z i n e f r o m a f u t u r e w h e r e o n l i n e t h e a t r e i s s t i l l a p e r v a s i v e o p t i o n ? Wi l l t e c h n o l o g y m e e t r e a l l i fe t o c a r r y e x p e r i e n c e s t h r o u gh t h e d i g i t a l s p a c e a n d i n t o p e o p l e’s l i v e s w i t h s e n t i e n t t e c h? Wi l l t h e l i n e s b e t w e e n ge n r e s a n d s p a c e s c o n t i n u e t o b l u r ? A s w e f i n d o u r s e l v e s n o w, g r a p p l i n g w i t h c h a n ge a n d r e i m a g i n i n g t h e a r t s l a n d s c a p e , i t d o e s fe e l a s i f w e a r e a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f a gl o b a l s h i f t , t h e s p a r k of a slow -burning f ire that we will need to sit be side a n d s t a r e i n t o fo r s o m e y e a r s t o c o m e . T h a t w e h a v e people alongside us who are willing to experiment and a d a p t f u e l s u s fo r w a r d . O u r s e c o n d e d i t i o n o f t h e o n l i n e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l w a s a n o t h e r s t e p i n t o t h e f u t u r e . We i n t r o d u c e d a l i v e s t r e a m i n g p l a t fo r m t o o u r o f fe r i n g, h e l d s p a c e fo r a r t i s t s t o t r y i n t e r e s t i n g n e w t h i n g s a n d dipped a toe back into the water of live shows. The ar ts world came home wherever they were. May we all f ind a p l a c e a t t h e f i r e a s w e go fo r w a r d i n t o t h e u n k n o w n .

- THE NAF TEAM

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

CONTENTS 06

LETTERS...

THE 2021 NATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL ADAPTS TO A CHANGED AND CHANGING WORLD BY LINDIWE MNGXITAMA

A FESTIVAL OF SURVIVAL AND HOPE BY RUCERA SEETHAL

LISTENING IN | GALACIAN SOUNDS | CROSS BORDER COLLABORATIONS

VOICES OF WATER AND WIND AN ODE TO THE ARTISTS WHO HELP US LISTEN BY VANGILE GANTSHO

EXPERIMENTATION IN FORM A FESTIVAL COMES TO YOU

NATURE IS LOUDER IMAGES BY MARK WESSELS

STANDARD BANK JAZZ FESTIVAL BY ALAN WEBSTER

STANDARD BANK YOUNG ARTISTS 2020

STANDARD BANK OVATION AWARDS: FRINGE 2021

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

THE FRINGE STOKES OUR CREATIVE FIRE BY ZIK HONA MONAHENG

MASKED HEROES IMAGES BY MARK WESSELS

NEW PLAYS IN MOTION FROM THE 2020 DISTELL NATIONAL PLAYWRIGHT FINALISTS

ANOTHERKIND ARCHIVE BY AMY LOUISE WILSON

THE ARTS AND GRIEF BY MATHAPELO MOFOK ENG

EASTERN CAPE CALLING VISIT THE ADVENTURE PROVINCE

RICH POOL OF LOCAL TALENT CELEBRATED IN EASTERN CAPE SHOWCASE

THE FESTIVAL OF THE FUTURE BY MABEL MNENSA

CREDITS

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

LETTERS... E a c h a n d e v e r y N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l i s t h e product of countle ss hours of creation and dedication but none of it would be possible without the commitment, f idelity and passion of our sponsors and par tners. Despite all the slings and arrows of the pandemic, they have remained our suppor ters and made these las t two online Fe s t i v a l ’s p o s s i b l e . We o w e o u r s i n c e r e t h a n k s t o o u r ke y p a r t n e r s t h e E a s t e r n C a p e G o v e r n m e n t , Standard Bank and the Depar tment of Spor t, Ar ts and Culture who continue to assis t us in bringing t h e a r t s t o l i fe a t t h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l . We a l s o h a v e e xc e l l e n t r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h s e v e r a l other valued sponsors and par tners who bring ke y p r o j e c t t o l i fe a n d w e w o u l d l i ke t o e x t e n d o u r h e a r t fe l t g r a t i t u d e t o e v e r y o n e w h o m a d e #NAF2021 possible.

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

MONICA NEW TON C E O O F T H E N AT I O N A L A RT S F E S T I VA L

R i d i n g t h e c r e s t o f t h e w a v e s o f c h a n ge w e have all experienced since 2020 is an extreme s p o r t b u t i t a l s o s p a r k s c r e a t i v i t y, c o l l a b o r a t i o n , invention and inspiration. The 2021 National A r t s Fe s t i v a l E x p e r i e n c e w a s a n o p t i m i s t i c a n d determined project that could not have been d o n e w i t h o u t t h e i m m e n s e go o d w i l l t h a t c a m e a t u s f r o m s o m a n y d i r e c t i o n s t h i s y e a r. O u r funders and par tners were equally determined t o m a ke t h e Fe s t i v a l h a p p e n , d e s p i t e m o v i n g l o c kd o w n p a r a m e t e r s , s o c i a l u n r e s t a n d a devas tating third wave of the Coronavirus. T h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l t e a m w a s b o l s t e r e d by the enthusiasm and dedication of our a r t i s t s , t h e i r e n d l e s s a g i l i t y, r e i n v e n t i o n a n d i m a g i n a t i o n , t h e i r w i l l i n g n e s s t o c h a n ge d i r e c t i o n a s c i r c u m s t a n c e s o n c e a ga i n fo r c e d t h e Fe s t i v a l t o p i v o t i n a v e r y s h o r t s p a c e o f t i m e . We w e r e a m b i t i o u s , w e t r i e d t h i n g s , w e experimented and we evolved. The new l i v e s t r e a m e l e m e n t o f t h e p r o g r a m m e b r o u gh t a n e xc i t i n g d i m e n s i o n t o t h e o n l i n e e x p e r i e n c e a n d t h e fe w l i v e s h o w s w e m a n a ge d t o s t a ge b e fo r e e n t e r i n g L o c kd o w n L e v e l 4 w e r e a promise of better things to come. As always, our audience is an e ssential par t of why we do this; connecting ar tis ts to people who come to seek stories, inspiration, healing and humour is endle ssly rewarding and the fuel that ke e p s u s a l l go i n g l a t e i n t o t h e n i gh t . Our sincere gratitude to ever yone who was i n v o l v e d i n t h i s y e a r ’s N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l , 2 0 2 1 t h r e w e v e r y t h i n g a t u s b u t w e c a u gh t i t a n d c a m e t h r o u gh! We h o p e t o s e e y o u a l l a ga i n i n 2 0 2 2 !

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

T h e 2 0 2 1 N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l w a s s t a ge d a t a t i m e w h e n , w e a r y f r o m t h e o n go i n g c h a l l e n ge s of the pandemic, we mos t needed to f ind solace, h e a l i n g a n d i n s p i r a t i o n . E i gh t e e n m o n t h s i n t o t h e d e v a s t a t i o n c a u s e d b y C OV I D - 1 9, i t w a s a c h a l l e n ge t o i m a g i n e t h a t w e c o u l d ga t h e r a ga i n , b u t t h o u gh o u r o n l i n e l i v e s t r e a m s a n d t h o s e l i v e e v e n t s w e d i d m a n a ge t o s t a ge , w e m e t a n d c o n n e c t e d w i t h a u d i e n c e s o n c e a ga i n . T h o u gh a p a r t , w e ga t h e r e d i n s u p p o r t , w a t c h i n g a n d absorbing the s torie s that were told.

AYA N DA M J E KU L A C H A I R M A N O F T H E N AT I O N A L A RT S F E S T I VA L B OA R D

Our proude s t achievement of the 2021 National A r t s Fe s t i v a l i s t h a t a r t i s t s w e r e g i v e n t h e s t a ge a ga i n . I n a n e n v i r o n m e n t w h e r e t h e r e a r e c u r r e n t l y s o fe w o p p o r t u n i t i e s , t h e r e w a s w o r k fo r a r t i s t s , c r e w s , p r o d u c e r s a n d t e c h n i c i a n s – and there was a place to put work so it could be s e e n a n d h e a r d . I n a c h i e v i n g t h i s , w e m a n a ge d t o sustain our 47 year-long purpose of suppor ting the ar ts in South Africa, shaping careers and proving oppor tunitie s and networks. O n b e h a l f o f t h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l B o a r d , I w o u l d l i ke t o t h a n k a l l t h e a u d i e n c e s w h o b o u gh t t i c ke t s a n d s u p p o r t e d u s i n t h e s e s t r a n ge a n d intere s ting time s. Our immense gratitude to the sponsors who remained close and suppor tive as w e t r a v e l e d t h i s j o u r n e y. To t h e h a r d w o r k i n g ar tis ts and technical crews and the team who b r i n g s t h e Fe s t i v a l t o l i fe e a c h y e a r – o u r deepe s t gratitude and appreciation. T i l l w e m e e t a ga i n

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

N AT H I M T H E T H WA M I N I S T E R O F S P O RT, A RT S A N D C U LT U R E

“The Coronavirus pandemic has te s ted the re solve, skills and creativity of all of us, the ar ts s e c t o r i n p a r t i c u l a r. Fa c e d w i t h a n u n p r e c e d e n t c r i s i s , e v e r y o n e a c r o s s t h e w o r l d h a d t o c h a n ge , l e a r n a n d a d j u s t t o a d i f fe r e n t w a y o f d o i n g things. The Depar tment of Spor t, Ar ts and C u l t u r e t h r o u gh t h e M z a n s i G o l d e n E c o n o m y (MGE) programme is proud to have suppor ted s o m e o f t h e c o u n t r y ’s m a j o r fe s t i v a l s a s t h e y created digital versions of themselve s to ensure that South African ar ts and ar tists could also expand into this space. It is thanks to technology that the National A r t s Fe s t i v a l w a s s t i l l a b l e t o p r o v i d e a n a r t s e x p e r i e n c e o n l i n e fo r a s e c o n d y e a r, a n d i t ’s been intere s ting to see what creative s have d o n e i n t h i s s p a c e . A s t h e w o r l d c h a n ge s a n d w e e v o l v e a l o n g w i t h t h e Fo u r t h I n d u s t r i a l Re v o l u t i o n , t h i s w i l l b e c o m e a n o r m a l h a b i t a t fo r t h e a r t s . T h e fe s t i v a l a n d i t s l o n g - t i m e suppor ters, the Depar tment of Spor t, Ar ts and Culture, Standard Bank, the Eas tern Cape P r o v i n c e a n d m a n y o t h e r s , n o t o n l y ke p t s o many ar tis ts and technicians in work during the grip of the pandemic but it has also become a t r a i n i n g g r o u n d fo r u s t o t e s t n e w i d e a s . I t ’s o u r h o p e t h a t t h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l w i l l soon return to a live experience, with digital e l e m e n t s - a n d t h a t w e w i l l o n c e a ga i n m e e t a t t h i s e xc i t i n g a n n u a l ga t h e r i n g; b u t u n t i l t h e n , we are united on our screens in the appreciation of the work of our ar tis ts.”

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

The Eas tern Cape province has been a par tner o f t h e N A F fo r d e c a d e s i n r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n t h a t t h e e v e n t m a ke s t o t h e a r t s sector of the countr y and the province. The people and the economy of Makhanda benef it tremendously as well.

FEZEKA N KO M O N Y E - B AY E N I M E C F O R E A S T E R N C A P E S P O RT S , R E C R E AT I O N, A RT S A N D C U LT U R E - E A S T E R N C A P E G OV E R N M E N T

O n c e a ga i n , t h i s y e a r, d u e t o t h e p a n d e m i c , we were not able to fully realise the economic i m p a c t o f t h e Fe s t i v a l fo r M a k h a n d a o r t h e p r o v i n c e . T h e r e i s , h o w e v e r, n o d o u b t t h a t t h e i m p a c t c o n t i n u e s t o b e fe l t i n t h e a r t s a n d r e l a t e d t e c h n i c a l c o m m u n i t i e s w h o w e r e o f fe r e d oppor tunitie s to create and pre sent work as par t of the NAF 2021 Experience. Good par tnerships are dynamic and adapt t o c i r c u m s t a n c e s . G o o d p a r t n e r s d o n ’t l e a v e when things are complicated, risky and diff icult and I am proud to say that the Eas tern Cape Province, and of course, long term suppor ter Standard Bank have been great par tners to the N A F, t h r o u gh t h i c k a n d t h i n , a n d e v e n t h r o u gh a gl o b a l p a n d e m i c ! T h e E a s t e r n C a p e S h o w c a s e w h i c h w a s a ga i n p o p u l a r t h i s y e a r t h r o u gh i t s o n l i n e p r o g r a m m e , b r i n g i n g t h e b e s t j a z z , i n d i ge n o u s d a n c e a n d music, literature, visual ar ts, craf t and de sign from all dis tricts of our vas t province to a u d i e n c e s . I a m gl a d t h a t w e t r i e d n e w i d e a s and models to bring ar tis ts closer to audience s t h r o u gh , fo r e x a m p l e , t h e c r a f t p o p - u p s h o p i n B a y We s t M a l l . T h e E a s t e r n C a p e s h o w c a s e c o n t i n u e s t o b e a m a j o r fe a t u r e o f t h e N A F a n d is par t of the programme s that the Depar tment o f S p o r t , Re c r e a t i o n , A r t s a n d C u l t u r e r u n s annually to identif y and nur ture talent.

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

E n ga g i n g t h e h e a r t s a n d m i n d s o f S o u t h A f r i c a n s a n d t h e w o r l d a t l a r ge h a s a l w a y s b e e n e ssential – and is even more valuable in the se challenging and uncer tain times. A s w e n a v i ga t e o u r w a y t h r o u gh o f t e n - s t o r m y waters towards a more jus t and prosperous s o c i e t y fo r a l l S o u t h A f r i c a n s , a r t t h a t c h a l l e n ge s a n d e n c o u r a ge s o p e n d i a l o g u e i s c r i t i c a l . T h e a r t s , i n a l l t h e i r v a r i e t y, i n s p i r e , embody and enrich that e ssential conversation.

DESIREE POOE HEAD OF SPONSORSHIP S TA N DA R D B A N K

T h e s e a r e a fe w r e a s o n s w h y w e a r e p l e a s e d t o h a v e s u p p o r t e d t h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l t o explore new ways to bring the second vir tual e d i t i o n o f t h e fe s t i v a l t o t h e h o m e s o f p a t r o n s , ensuring that the public is s till able to enjoy e xc e l l e n t e n t e r t a i n m e n t a n d b e p a r t o f t h e fe s t i v a l w h i l e s a fe a t h o m e . We w o u l d l i ke t o e x t e n d o u r g r a t i t u d e t o all the ar ts and music lovers in South Africa a n d a c r o s s t h e c o n t i n e n t , a n d a b r o a d , fo r their continuous suppor t of the National Ar ts Fe s t i v a l . We a r e e s p e c i a l l y p l e a s e d t h a t w e w e r e a b l e t o showcase the work produced by the 2020 winners o f t h e S t a n d a r d B a n k Yo u n g A r t i s t Aw a r d s a n d their succe sse s continue to inspire us all. T h e S t a n d a r d B a n k J a z z Fe s t i v a l i s a n o t h e r o f o u r f l a g s h i p e v e n t s a t t h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l a n d t h i s y e a r ’s e x t r a o r d i n a r y a n d u n m i s s a b l e ar tis t line-up is te s timony to our commitment t o m a ke w o r l d - c l a s s t a l e n t a c c e s s i b l e t o m o r e S o u t h A f r i c a n s . We a r e e s p e c i a l l y e xc i t e d b y t h e e m e r g i n g t a l e n t t h a t c o m e s t h r o u gh t h e S t a n d a r d B a n k N a t i o n a l Yo u t h J a z z Fe s t i v a l . The se young dreamers are reimagining and g r o w i n g n e w a u d i e n c e s fo r t h i s ge n r e . On behalf of all of us at Standard Bank, we w o u l d l i ke t o t h a n k a l l t h e p a r t i c i p a t i n g a r t i s t s and production crew and, e specially the team a t t h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l fo r t h e i r t i r e l e s s e f fo r t s i n p u t t i n g t h e fe s t i v a l t o ge t h e r.

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

ASHRAF JOHAARDIEN

T h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l r e m a i n s a v i t a l m e e t i n g p l a c e fo r t h e a r t s , a n d a l t h o u gh t h e s e l a s t t w o y e a r s have te s ted this time-honoured ins titution to its fo u n d a t i o n s , t h e y h a v e a l s o u s h e r e d i n i n t e r e s t i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s a n d a r t i s t s h a v e o n c e a ga i n r i s e n t o t h e o c c a s i o n w i t h t h o u gh t - p r o v o k i n g, c h a l l e n g i n g w o r k . O u r Su p p o r t i n g Gr a n t fo r t h e D i s t e l l N a t i o n a l P l a y w r i gh t project continue s to be based on the notion that new work mus t be made from the ground up if we are to enrich our creative and cultural fabric. At BASA, we celebrate par tnerships between the ar ts and busine ss a n d t h i s w r i t i n g d e v e l o p m e n t p r o j e c t i s o n e o f v e r y fe w i n t h e c o u n t r y. We’d l i ke t o t h a n k N A F a n d D i s t e l l fo r h o l d i n g s p a c e fo r n e w w o r k a n d n e w v o i c e s .

C E O B U S I N E S S A N D A RT S S O U T H A F R I C A

ANDRÉ OPPERMAN D I S T E L L H R A N D C O R P O R AT E A F FA I R S D I R E C T O R

A s a p r o u d l y S o u t h A f r i c a n c o m p a n y t h a t ’s b e e n i n v e s t i n g i n a r t s a n d c u l t u r e fo r o v e r h a l f a c e n t u r y, a n d r e m a i n s a s c o m m i t t e d a s ever to developing new talent, we commend t h e o r ga n i s e r s o f t h e 2 0 2 1 N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l ( N A F ) fo r h a v i n g fo u n d a n i n n o v a t i v e w a y t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e fe s t i v a l go e s a h e a d , n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g, t h e m a n y c h a l l e n ge s p o s e d b y Covid-19 – which include re s trictions on social ga t h e r i n g s . B y b l e n d i n g t h e p h y s i c a l a n d d i g i t a l ( p h y g i t a l ) , t h i s h a s m a d e i t p o s s i b l e t o s t a ge t h e a w a r d - w i n n i n g w o r k b y A m y L o u i s e Wi l s o n , the 2020 winner of the annual Dis tell National P l a y w r i gh t C o m p e t i t i o n fo r h e r p l a y, A n o t h e r K i n d o f D y i n g. We w o u l d h a v e l i ke d t o h a v e A m y ’s s c r i p t s t a ge d i n t h e c o n v e n t i o n a l m a n n e r i n M a k h a n d a a t t h i s y e a r ’s N A F, b u t w e a l l k n o w t h e c o n s t r a i n t s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h C o v i d - 1 9. We a r e , h o w e v e r, h a p p y t h a t s h e c o u l d s t i l l m a n a ge t o d o t h i s b y p u t t i n g t o ge t h e r a l i v e - c u r a t e d w o r k fo r s t r e a m i n g v i a t h i s y e a r ’s fe s t i v a l ’s d i g i t a l c h a n n e l s . We t r u l y a d m i r e t h e t e n a c i t y a n d d e d i c a t i o n o f t h e o r ga n i s e r s o f t h i s y e a r ’s N A F in creating a suitable environment to enable the p o s i t i v e e v o l u t i o n o f p e r fo r m a n c e a r t .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

T E D P I L L AY M U N I C I PA L M A N AG E R

T h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l i s a n i n t e g r a l p a r t o f t h e calendar of events in our dis trict. The Sarah Baar tman Dis trict is an area rich in his tor y and culture which f i n d s e x p r e s s i o n t h r o u gh a r t a n d c u l t u r a l e x h i b i t i o n s , s u c h a s t h o s e s h o w c a s e d d u r i n g t h e fe s t i v a l . A s t h e S a r a h B a a r t m a n D i s t r i c t Mu n i c i p a l i t y, w e w o u l d l i ke t o c o n g r a t u l a t e t h e o r ga n i s e r s fo r d o i n g a s t e r l i n g j o b o f h o s t i n g t h e s e c o n d o n l i n e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l . T h e c o n t r i b u t i o n o f t h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l o n t h e G D P of Makana and the Eas tern Cape is ver y signif icant. We a p p r e c i a t e a l l t h e e f fo r t s m a d e b y t h e o r ga n i s e r s i n c r e a t i n g e m p l o y m e n t o p p o r t u n i t i e s . T h a n k y o u fo r c r e a t i n g a p l a t fo r m fo r o u r y o u t h , a r t i s t s , m u s i c i a n s , a n d a l l p e r fo r m e r s t o e x p r e s s t h e i r t a l e n t , e s p e c i a l l y during this worldwide pandemic.

S A R A H B A A RT M A N D I S T R I C T M U N I C I PA L I T Y

V U YA N I DAY I M A N I C E O E A S T E R N C A P E PA R K S A N D T O U R I S M AG E N C Y

W h e r e e l s e i n t h e w o r l d c a n y o u s u r f t h e w o r l d ’s b i g ge s t w a v e s , go o n a b i g s e v e n s a f a r i , v i s i t t h e b i r t h a n d r e s t i n g p l a c e o f Ne l s o n M a n d e l a , b u n ge e j u m p o f f t h e h i gh e s t b r i d ge i n t h e s o u t h e r n h e m i s p h e r e a n d m a ke a s n o w m a n i n t h e s o u t h e r n h e m i s p h e r e – o n l y i n t h e b e a u t i f u l E a s t e r n C a p e - a d e s t i n a t i o n fo r a l l s e a s o n s . O n t h e b a c kd r o p o f a s u c c e s s f u l 2 0 2 1 h y b r i d N a t i o n a l A r t s fe s t i v a l w h i c h i s o n e o f o u r m o s t i c o n i c i n t e r n a t i o n a l e v e n t s t h a t u n i q u e l y o f fe r a t a s t e o f l o c a l hospitality and culture, it give s me great pleasure to fur ther cement the splendor that is Eastern Cape with its vast natural, cultural and historical experiences, endle ss coas tal line, myriad of outdoor activitie s, a d v e n t u r e s p o r t s , u r b a n l i fe e x p e r i e n c e s s p r e a d a c r o s s d i f fe r e n t r e g i o n s . A s w e c l o s e t h e b o o k s o n t h e 2 0 2 1 A r t s Fe s t i v a l w e l o o k fo r w a r d t o w e l c o m i n g y o u b a c k i n 2 0 2 2 t o f u r t h e r e n j o y o u r s t a r r y n i gh t s a n d m a g n i f i c e n t 8 0 0 km coas tline. Eas tern Cape yours to explore!

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

I n i t i a t i o n - I s’ T h a t h a D a n c e P r o j e c t . A n A f r i c a n j o u r n e y i n t o t h e w o r l d o f t h e u n k n o w n .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

T H E 2 0 2 1 N AT I O N A L A RT S F E S T I VA L A DA P T S T O A C H A N G E D A N D C H A N G I N G WO R L D B Y L I N D I W E M N G X I TA M A

Fo u n d e d i n 1 9 74 , t h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l (NAF) has been, and continue s to be, a beloved annual event in South A f r i c a fo r a r t i s t s a n d ke e n consumers of the ar ts a n d t h e a t r e a l i ke — w i t h hundreds of thousands of avid ar t consumers making their annual descent to the small sleepy town of Makhanda as it comes alive with colourful creativity of all expre ssions. As I w r i t e t h i s , m y o w n fo n d m e m o r i e s o f t h e fe s t i v a l — which I star ted attending i n h i gh s c h o o l t h r o u gh to university — swirl w i t h v i v i d i m a ge r y a n d s c e n t i n m y m i n d . Fr o m fe e l i n g s e v o ke d b y p l a y s

s u c h a s Ph a l a O o ke d i t s e Ph a l a’s K a f k a’s A p e ( 2 0 1 9 ) , “ w h o s e go a l w a s t o e x p l o r e theme s around otherne ss in a South African postapar theid context.” And FIGS (2016), a beautiful play co- written by Puleng L a n ge S t e w a r t a n d N a m i s a O w e t h u Md l a l o s e , t o b e i n g greeted by warmth and hear ty smells as you enter T h e L o n g Ta b l e o r h e a t e d debate s with now familiar s t r a n ge r s a f t e r a l o n g day at Rat and Parrot. Ho w e v e r, a s C OV I D - 1 9 continue s to plague our lives, economies and indus trie s, the National A r t s Fe s t i v a l h a s h a d to fur ther adapt to the diff icult conditions of o u r p r e s e n t m o m e n t fo r

its 2021 iteration. Last y e a r, s a w N A F ’s s u c c e s s f u l transition into an online fe s t i v a l , d r a w i n g a gl o b a l audience of over 83 000 visitors and breaking new g r o u n d fo r t h e S o u t h A f r i c a n a r t s s e c t o r, a n d 2021 sees the continuation o f t h a t fo r m a t a s C E O Mo n i c a Ne w t o n e x p r e s s e s : “Online experiences are here to s tay and we a r e e xc i t e d a b o u t f u r t h e r integrating this element i n t o o u r o f fe r i n g. T h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l h a s a d a p t e d i t s fe s t i v a l experience to bring the ar ts to audience s where they are, and at a time when we s till need to be ver y careful about where

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

w e go a n d w h a t w e d o t o prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.” 2 0 2 1 ’s N A F — w h i c h k i c ke d o f f o n T h u r s d a y, Ju l y 8 — h a d initially been conceptualised b y t h e fe s t i v a l ’s o r ga n i s i n g b o d y i n a h y b r i d fo r m t h a t w o u l d t a ke p l a c e b o t h online and away from the ke y b o a r d ( A F K ) i n i t s home city of Makhanda, to pre sent a multi-layered ar ts e x p e r i e n c e . “ We a r e c u r a t i n g a t i gh t e r, m o r e i n t i m a t e Fe s t i v a l i n M a k h a n d a a n d we do have to work ver y carefully around the Covid protocols, but we think it will be an oppor tunity to fe e l t h e p u l s e o f a C o v i d impacted ar ts world and to hear ar tis ts speak from live s t a ge s . We i n v i t e a u d i e n c e s to come and share this impor tant moment with

u s . ” S h a r e d Mo n i c a Ne w t o n ( N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l C E O ) . Ho w e v e r, a s o u r c o u n t r y ’s C OV I D - 1 9 c a s e s continue to escalate at rates re sembling the quick spread of uncontained wildf ire s, t h e fe s t i v a l o n c e a ga i n t o o k place entirely online. As with previous iterations, this y e a r ’s N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l programme is an abundant o f fe r i n g o f p e r fo r m a n c e , ar t, theatre and more, but t h i s y e a r ’s i t e r a t i o n h a s a n e w o f fe r i n g i n a s e r i e s o f live-s treamed shows that happen at a specif ic time and date. One of the name s that immediately piqued my intere s t when looking at this y e a r ’s Fe s t i v a l p r o g r a m m e w a s t h a t o f t h e a t r e - m a ke r, p e r fo r m a n c e a r t i s t , w r i t e r and liberation activist Qondiswa Jame s — a Black, q u e e r, fe m m e f r o m t h e

M a n d i s i D y a n t i s p e r fo r m i n g a t S t a n d a r d B a n k P r e s e n t s C a p e To w n .

Tr a n s ke i — w h o s p e a k s o f S o u t h A f r i c a a s a p o s t - T RC nation. J a m e s’ l a t e s t w o r k , Nd i n x a n i w e i s a contemporar y adaptation of C r e d o Mu t w a’s T h e C o m i n g o f t h e S t r a n ge O n e s f r o m h i s internationally acclaimed collection of African tales Indaba, My Children. The p i e c e fo l l o w s t h r e e t e e n a ge r s who attend a Catholic school i n t h e fo r e s t o f a r u r a l t o w n in the Eastern Cape and are troubled by a shadow of their pas t selves which calls t h e m d e e p e r i n t o h i s t o r y. T h r o u gh d r u g - i n d u c e d hallucinations, the boys slip into a deep sleep and arrive in the past, at the f irst point of contact between the white colonialists a n d t h e B l a c k i n d i ge n o u s p o p u l a t i o n . J a m e s’ w o r k

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

N i d i n x a n i w e b y Q o n d i s w a J a m e s , p e r fo r m e d a t S t a n d a r d B a n k P r e s e n t s C a p e To w n .

is a critical analysis of t h e e f fe c t s o f p a t r i a r c h a l conf lict, the conque s t of the African continent, and its i n s i d i o u s e f fe c t s o n p r e s e n t day rural boyhood. In a r e v i e w a b o u t Nd i n x a n i w e , M i a A r d e r n e w r i t e s , “A r t a s a r c h a e o l o g y, a s e xc a v a t i o n ’ is the approach director/ producer Qondiswa Jame s uses in devising this stor y t h r o u gh i t s i t e r a t i o n s , ‘rewriting the archive, we tell o u r o w n s t o r y ’ . Nd i n x a n i w e is a radical, tragic stor y that r e c o g n i s e s t h e f u c ke r y o f the Rainbow Nation lie, and e xc a v a t e s t h e t r u t h o f t h e past.”

2 0 2 0 S t a n d a r d B a n k Yo u n g A r t i s t fo r Mu s i c , N t h a t o Mo k ga t a ( S p o e k M a t h a m b o ) pre sented a dynamic audiovisual show conceived from his long s tanding love affairs w i t h H i p - Ho p a n d S o u t h African Jazz. The rapper and producer has curated Afro Jazz Giants as a celebration and tribute project to explore the South African J a z z s o n gb o o k w h i l e c r e a t i n g new conversations around “ c l a s s i c s” a n d “ s t a n d a r d s” , as well as introducing the canon to new listeners. Mo k ga t a s a y s “ We h o p e t o b r e a t h e n e w l i fe i n t o t h e brilliant ideas of some of S o u t h A f r i c a’s g r e a t e s t

composers, improvisers a n d i n s t r u m e n t a l i s t s” . D e s p i t e t h e m a n y c h a l l e n ge s faced by the National Ar ts Fe s t i v a l ’s o r ga n i s i n g b o d y and par ticipating ar tists, p e r fo r m e r s , m u s i c i a n s and theatre practitioners a l i ke , w h a t w a s l a i d o n t h e t a b l e w i t h t h i s y e a r ’s N A F programme is bountiful and f illing online spread that is s u r e t o p r o v o ke , e v o ke a n d move audience s far and wide.

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

K ga n y a b y S BYA 2 0 2 0 L u l u M l a n ge n i . Ph o t o : S h u d u f h a d z o L u b e n go

A F E S T I VA L O F S U RV I VA L A N D H O P E RU C E R A S E E T H A L A RT I S T I C D I R E C T O R O F T H E N AT I O N A L A RT S F E S T I VA L T h e 2 0 2 1 N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l w i l l a l w a y s be a reminder of how extraordinar y people c a n b e w h e n t h e y c o m e t o ge t h e r i n c o m m o n p u r p o s e . Ju s t w h e n y o u t h o u gh t t h e c h a n ge s c o u l d n ’t b e m o r e e x t r e m e a n d d e m a n d i n g and just when you had dusted yourself off from the las t one and squeezed out a new r o u t e , e v e r y t h i n g c h a n ge s a ga i n . R i d i n g t h i s r o l l e r c o a s t e r h a s b e e n n o m e a n fe a t b u t t h e agility and integrity of the people – the ar tis ts, producers, colleague s, co-creators, par tners, s tor y tellers and crew - who threw ever y ounce of their being into putting the 2 0 2 1 N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l i n t o t h e w o r l d , w a s t h a t ke p t u s a l l b r e a t h i n g t h r o u gh i t , reminded of purpose. O u r p r o g r a m m e e m e r ge d i n r e s p o n s e t o t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s . Wo r k s h a d t o b e c o n s i d e r e d in practical terms, could they be s treamed or f ilmed if they could not be live, where was t h e g r o w i n g ge n r e o f o n l i n e w o r k t a k i n g u s a n d h o w c o u l d w e s h a p e t h i s i n t o a fo r m t h a t c o u l d h e l p p e o p l e m a ke s e n s e o f i t a l l ?

We t h o u gh t w e m a y s e e m o r e a n ge r, m o r e d e f i a n c e , b u t r a t h e r w h a t e m e r ge d w a s a m o o d o f r e f l e c t i o n a n d s u r v i v a l – go i n g within to f ind the s trength of our re ser ve s, tuning into our ar tis tic core to f ind solace, g r i e f, v o i c e a n d h o p e . Su r r o u n d e d a s w e w e r e b y t h e c a r n a ge o f C OV I D - 1 9 a n d a v o l a t i l e c o u n t r y, i t s e e m e d t h a t o u r a r t i s t s w e r e r e a c h i n g d e e p, ga t h e r i n g a t t h e f i r e s i d e t o t a l k o p e n l y a n d h o n e s t l y. S o m e ge n t l y l i t t h e w a y, o t h e r s s h o u t e d , o t h e r s i m a g i n e d d i f fe r e n t l i v e s a n d t i m e s a n d s o m e l o o ke d fo r w a r d t o t r y t o m a ke s e n s e o f w h e r e w e’r e h e a d i n g. I t t a ke s t i m e t o u n p a c k a p r o j e c t t h a t happens at warp speed. There is much to r e f l e c t o n a n d h i n d s i gh t w i l l a d d f u r t h e r layers of meaning as we see how the threads o f t o d a y w e a v e i n t o t h e s t o r i e s o f t o m o r r o w. T h i s w a s a Fe s t i v a l o f s u r v i v a l a n d c a p t u r i n g a moment of hopefulness.

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

To n y M i y a m b o i n C o m m i s s i o n C o n t i n u a .

Tr a c e s o f Me m o r y p r e s e n t e d b y Un m u t e D a n c e C o m p a n y.

Fa i t h K i n n i a r p e r fo r m i n g i n A n t i e Wi ’o e k a l ( Su p p l i e d ) .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

LISTENING IN O n e o f t h e e xc i t i n g n e w a s p e c t s o f o u r o n l i n e a r t s e x p e r i e n c e i s t h e p o d c a s t fo r m a t . Wi t h t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e Fr e n c h I n s t i t u t e o f S o u t h A f r i c a , a n e p i s o d e o f t h e p o d c a s t Po i n t s o f E n t r y w a s p r e s e n t e d a t t h e 2 0 2 1 N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l . Po i n t s o f E n t r y i s a c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h c u r a t o r s , a r t i s t s , a n d o t h e r r e s e a r c h e r s f r o m a c r o s s t h e gl o b e a b o u t w h o t h e y a r e , w h a t t h e y d o, a n d h o w w e c a n c o l l e c t i v e l y ( r e ) i m a g i n e t h e r o l e s o f c u l t u r a l o r ga n i s a t i o n s i n a r a p i d l y c h a n g i n g w o r l d . I n t h i s e p i s o d e , h o s t K a t i e K h e r i j i - Wa t t s s p e a k s w i t h O g u t u Mu r a y a , a N a i r o b i - b a s e d w r i t e r a n d a t h e a t r e m a ke r w h o s e a r t i s t i c w o r k fo c u s e s o n o r a t u r e a n d t h e p o l i t i c s o f m e m o r y. S a y s I FA S C u l t u r a l A t t a c h é a n d D e p u t y D i r e c t o r S o p h i e B o u l é , ‘ W h a t t h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l w a s a b l e t o a c h i e v e d u r i n g t h e C o v i d - 1 9 p a n d e m i c w a s i m p r e s s i v e . Mo v i n g a fe s t i v a l o f this magnitude online and allowing ar tis ts to continue to share their ar tis tr y with audience s w h e n t h e w o r l d n e e d s i t t h e m o s t i s a c o n t i n u o u s t e s t a m e n t t o t h e fe s t i v a l ’s c o m m i t m e n t t o g r o w i n g a n d s u p p o r t i n g t h e a r t s . We a r e p r o u d t o h a v e p l a y e d o u r p a r t i n m a k i n g t h i s p o s s i b l e , a n d w e l o o k fo r w a r d t o t h e n e x t s h o w c a s e i n t h e b e a u t i f u l t o w n o f M a k h a n d a , w h i c h w e h a v e n o d o u b t w i l l b e e v e n m o r e i m p a c t f u l t o t h e c o m m u n i t y a n d t h e c o u n t r y a t l a r ge . ’ A n o t h e r g r e a t t h i n g a b o u t t h e p o d c a s t fo r m a t i s t h a t y o u c a n s t i l l l i s t e n t o i t , f i n d i t r i gh t here

GA L AC I A N S O U N D S Wi t h t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e S p a n i s h E m b a s s y, t h e s e c o n d a l b u m o f G a l i c i a n p r o d u c e r B a i u c a w a s p r e s e n t e d a t t h e # N A F 2 0 2 1 t h r o u gh a f i l m e d w o r k w h i c h p r e m i e r e d w o r l d w i d e a t t h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l . T h i s w a s a l s o t h e f i r s t i n t r o d u c t i o n o f B a i u c a’s w o r k t o S o u t h A f r i c a n a u d i e n c e s . T h e a l b u m , c a l l e d “ E m b r u xo” w a s c u r a t e d b y B a i u c a w h o i s a c c o m p a n i e d b y t h e c a n t a r e i r a s L i l a i n a a n d t h e p e r c u s s i o n i s t Xo s é L o i s Ro m e r o. A r e v i e w o f t h e a l b u m b y R i c h a r d Vi l l e ga s s a y s t h a t ‘ t h e p r o d u c e r c o l l i d e s G a l i c i a n fo l k l o r e a n d m y s t i c i s m w i t h c u t t i n g e d ge c l u b s o u n d s , o f fe r i n g l i s t e n e r s a m a g i c a l t o u r t h r o u gh n o r t h w e s t e r n S p a i n a s w e l l a s t h e r i c h c u l t u r e t h a t r a i s e d h i m . ’ A s t h e A f r i c a n a r t s w o r l d m e r ge d w i t h a gl o b a l c o m m u n i t y s h e l t e r i n g f r o m t h e pandemic, a little bit of Spanish energy added spice to the mix. Sample the sounds of Baiuca on Soundcloud

C RO S S B O R D E R C O L L A B O R AT I O N S P r o He l v e t i a Jo h a n n e s b u r g h a s l o n g b e e n a s u p p o r t e r o f t h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l a n d t h e S t a n d a r d B a n k J a z z Fe s t i v a l . 2 0 2 1 h a s b e e n a d i f f i c u l t y e a r fo r t h e a r t s , y e t b o t h P r o He l v e t i a a n d t h e Fe s t i v a l h a v e c o n t i n u e d t o f i n d w a y s t o c o l l a b o r a t e fo r t h i s y e a r ’s p r o g r a m m e s a s w e l l a s p l a n fo r f u t u r e e n ga ge m e n t s . T h e E c s t a t i c b y Je r e m y Ne d d a n d I m p i l o M a p a n t s u l a a n d t h e Ke e n a n A h r e n d s Tr i o fe a t u r i n g D o m e n i c L a n d o l f a n d Lu k a s T h o e n i a r e b o t h w o r k s r e f l e c t i n g P r o He l v e t i a Jo h a n n e s b u r g’s p r o g r a m m e fo c u s o n c o l l a b o r a t i o n a n d e xc h a n ge b e t w e e n S o u t h e r n A f r i c a n a n d S w i s s c o n t e x t s . Wi t h e m p h a s i s o n r e l a t i o n s h i p b u i l d i n g a n d m e a n i n g f u l e xc h a n ge , t h e c o n t i n u e d p o s s i b i l i t y t o p r e s e n t t h e r e s u l t s o f S w i s s a n d S o u t h e r n A f r i c a n a r t i s t i c e f fo r t s a n d o r ga n i s a t i o n a l p a r t n e r s h i p i s a c u e fo r o p t i m i s m a s w e c h a r t p r o g r a m m e a n d p a t h s a h e a d .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

K ga n y a b y S BYA 2 0 2 0 L u l u M l a n ge n i . Ph o t o : S h u d u f h a d z o L u b e n go

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

VO I C E S O F WAT E R A N D W I N D A N O D E T O T H E A RT I S T S W H O H E L P U S LISTEN B Y VA N G I L E GA N T S H O I AM THE PEOPLE FROM WHOM THE LOSS OF THE EARTH IS T HE LOSS OF EVERY T HING – POEM/ XAM, SAN

As people, we have s u f fe r e d g r e a t l o s s . L o s s o f l a n g u a ge a n d culture and land, loss of loved ones and things a n d m e m o r y. To b o r r o w from 2017 Standard Bank Yo u n g A r t i s t ( S BYA ) h o n o u r e e , Mo n a ge n g “ Vi c e” Mo t s h a b i , w e h a v e been “disintegrating fo r o v e r f i v e h u n d r e d y e a r s” . Pe r h a p s w e c o u l d say that by the time 2020 h a p p e n e d , w e h a d p e a ke d . Our inequality levels were a t t h e h i gh e s t t h e y h a d ever been, civil unre s t was a raging f ire waiting in the wings, and mental illne ss and subs tance abuse had become a normalised part of our e v e r y d a y e x i s t e n c e . We were sick.

When South African pre sident, Cyril Ramaphosa, announced that we were in a State of Disaster and did not have the re source s or infras tructure as a countr y to absorb the potential d e v a s t a t i o n o f t h e C OV I D 19 pandemic, something m a g i c a l h a p p e n e d . Fo r a brief moment, we saw how we could be as people. Schools opened their boarding facilitie s to house homele ss people, b a n k s i n s t i ga t e d p a y m e n t breaks, those with r e s o u r c e s fo u n d w a y s t o share with those without. We u n d e r s t o o d t h a t w e were all in this pandemic t o ge t h e r. D i f fe r e n t l y, b u t t o ge t h e r, t h e o n l y w a y t o sur vive was/is if we were all able to comply with the

n a t i o n a l s t r a t e g y t o ke e p u s s a fe . Fa s t - fo r w a r d a y e a r p l u s , a n d w e h a v e fo u gh t t o go b a c k t o t h e l o s s . T h e i n e q u a l i t y, t h e s e l f i s h n e s s , t h e l u x u r y o f C OV I D fatigue. The moment that a s ke d u s t o s t o p a n d l i s t e n a n d c h a n ge p a s s e d a n d w e have made it ver y clear that we are committed to the inequality and unsustainable capitalist patriarchal society that allows us to put our b l i n ke r s o n a n d c a r e o n l y a b o u t t h o s e w h o a f fe c t u s d i r e c t l y. In an inter view about h i s p r o d u c t i o n , A n ko b i a , Mo t s h a b i s a y s h e i s intere s ted in “who we are potentially” as

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

Mo m m y, Mo m m y, a m u l t i d i s c i p l i n a r y t h e a t r e d a n c e w o r k t h a t t e l l s t h e s t o r y o f m a n h o o d , s e x u a l i t y, a b u s e a n d a u t h o r i t y. P r e s e n t e d b y T h a m s a n q a M a j e l a .

people who are dislocated and disconnected. In acknowledging our disintegration, he asks: “ w h a t i s o u r s t r o n ge s t p o i n t historically and what can w e l a y c l a i m t o ? . . . Ho w are we harne ssing all that understanding into becoming b i g ge r a n d h i gh e r t h a n w e’v e been?” ** The f ir st time she at tends the festival, it takes her cautious mother two and a half hours to make the dr ive from East London to the small settler t o w n t h a t i s a l s o a u n i v e r s i t y.

The y do not see any of the ticketed shows, but the g irl and her younger brother convince umama to buy them popcorn and share a sausage roll before visiting an exhibition. On the dr ive back, her brother is still excited about the stor ytelling and the games and the craft m a r k e t . He p a s s e s o u t w i t h a smile on his face before the y ar r ive. The g ir l and her mother share bread and chicken while listening to Sibong ile K h u m a l o ’ s An c i e n t E v e n i n g s . In y e a r s t o c o m e , s h e i s a t t h e Na t i o n a l S c h o o l ’ s Fe s t i v a l . Id i Am i n i s B i g D a d a . A s s h e w a l k s out of the theatre, Afr iend from

a previous school bursts out of the theatre, relie ved she can f i n a l l y g o t o s u p p e r. T h e g i r l cannot understand how Afr iend f e l t n o t h i n g . No t a n g e r, n o t a d m i r a t i o n , n o t s a d n e s s . No t anything. The g ir l has ne ver seen so many different stor ies of people like her and Afr iend b e f o r e . Sh e i s g l a d s h e l e f t t h a t school. ** A n a r t i s t ’s d u t y, a s f a r a s I ’m c o n c e r n e d , i s t o r e f l e c t the times. I think that is true of painters, sculptors, poets, musicians. – Nina Simone

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

Fo r e v e r y s e a s o n , a r t i s t s h a v e h a d s o m e t h i n g t o s a y. A s c o m m e n t a r y, a s h o p e , a s r e f l e c t i o n – a n d fe s t i v a l s have always been a melting pot of conversations. Since its inception, the National A r t s Fe s t i v a l h a s o f fe r e d cross-sectional ref lections o f s o c i e t y, a t t i m e s , t i gh t roping the f ine line between f u n d i n g, b o y c o t t s a n d e t h i c a l repre sentation. There has always been a direct correlation between the socio-political landscape of the countr y – and the Eastern Cape – with the fe s t i v a l ’s c o n t e n t a n d t h e demographics of its main programme. As the countr y o p e n e d u p, s o d i d t h e fe s t i v a l . In the late 1980s, in the throws of civil unre s t, par ticularly in semi-urban (township) areas, ar tis ts s u c h a s M b o n ge n i Nge m a , G i b s o n Ke n t e , G c i n a M h l o p e a n d Z a ke s Md a w e r e i n v i t e d t o t h e m a i n s t a ge , w h i l e a growing number of local b l a c k - m a n a ge d c o m p a n i e s enjoyed marginal success o n T h e Fr i n ge p r o g r a m m e s . There was a deliberate (and pre ssured) movement towards curating a more repre sentative programme t h a t s p o ke t o a n d f r o m a wider audience. In the n i n e t i e s ( a ga i n s t t h e b a c kd r o p o f C O D E S A n e go t i a t i o n s , t h e b l i n d i n g hope of our African Dream and the new emerging black middle class) we saw ar tis tic c o m m e n t a r y f r o m t h e l i ke s of controversial visual ar tis t Tr e v o r M a k h o b a , o p e r a

s i n ge r - a c t i v i s t S i b o n g i l e Nge m a a n d No t w i t h M y G u n c o - a u t h o r a n d d i r e c t o r, Au b r e y S e k h a b i . O f c o u r s e , w h o c o u l d fo r ge t 2 0 0 1 ’s h a r d h i t t i n g, h u ge l y e v o c a t i v e , kwaito-bopping Stadium by S i b i k w a A r t s c o - fo u n d e r s Ph y l l i s K l o t z a n d S m a l Nd a b a , s t a r r i n g B o o m S h a k a Sensation, Lebo Mathosa? Yo u n g w o m e n s h a m e f u l l y taunting each other in bathrooms and corridors: “A r e y o u a s c h w a r m a o r a s tale pie?” A s e x p e c t e d f r o m a fe s t i v a l o f s u c h l o n ge v i t y, t h e N A F has held many moments in conversation. When the countr y was plagued by what has been called the a ge o f H I V / A I D S d e n i a l i s m , Ke m i y o n d o C o u t i n h o s t a ge d K a w a n a Yo u’r e I t ! W h e n m i n e w o r ke r s w e r e g u n n e d d o w n i n M a r i k a n a , Te b o go Mu n y a i b r o u gh t u s D o o r s o f G o l d and The State Theatre took M a r i k a n a - T h e Mu s i c a l t o Makhanda. When the Rhode s Mu s t Fa l l ( # Fe e s Mu s t Fa l l a n d Ph a n s i n ge R a c i s t C a p i t a l i s t P a t r i a r c h a l S y s t e m Ph a n s i! ) m o v e m e n t s b e ga n , N A F audience s turned to Mamela N y a m z a a n d Ne l i s w a X a b a’s T h e L a s t A t t i t u d e ; Wo m a n i n Wa i t i n g – t h e l i fe s t o r y o f T h e m b i M t s h a l i - Jo n e s ( d i r e c t e d b y Ya e l Fa r b e r ) ; a n d A n d i y o n d o d a – No t m a n E n o u gh b y S i m p h i w e Vi k i l a h l e . Fo r L G B TQ I + c o n v e r s a t i o n s – Um t s h o t s h o ka Nicholas Hlobo and A f r i q u e e r, p r o d u c e d i n collaboration with the Drama fo r L i fe A f r i c a P r o j e c t .

Then there was (is) the colossus that was (is) the Me To o m o v e m e n t a n d t h e To t a l S h u t d o w n . Fr o m t h e e a r l y w o r k s , I h a v e a L i fe A l i s o n ’s Jo u r n e y, a d a p t e d and directed by Maralin Va n r e n e n , t o t h e r e s t a g i n g of Tshepang (directed by L a r a Fo o t ) w a m - b a m i n the middle of the 2016 # RU Re fe r e n c eL i s t ; t o T h e Mo t h e r t o n g u e P r o j e c t ’s Wa l k ; t o 2 0 1 9 S BYA G a b r i e l l e G o l i a t h’s T h i s s o n g i s fo r… South African ar tists, ar tists i n ge n e r a l , h a v e a l w a y s r i s e n to diff icult conversations, be i t i n a n ge r, l a m e n t o r s l i v e r s of hope. B e y o n d t h a t t h o u gh , t h r o u gh t h e s w e e p i n g movements, we have seen a shif t. Over the pas t decade, we have seen ar tis ts tap into previously (and systematically) dismissed cultural re source s – the s p i r i t u a l p o w e r t h a t Mo t s h a b i s p e a k s o f. Pe o p l e - a r t i s t s included - have been leaning i n t o t h e fo r go t t e n , a n d not always as par t of the d e c o l o n i a l p r o j e c t ( t h o u gh that is ver y impor tant work). R a t h e r, a s a r e t u r n t o s e l f, i n s e a r c h o f o u r h i gh e s t b i g ge s t s e l f. A s i f t h e y c o u l d s m e l l a s t o r m b r e w i n g, a r t i s t s h a v e b e e n a s k i n g w h a t k n o w l e d ge s y s t e m s ( fo r go t t e n , l o s t o r demonised) can we turn to as a compass, par ticularly in time s of turmoil? In his 2013 production, I n d u m b a , S BYA Fa n a Tshabalala used dance t o i n v e s t i ga t e a n c i e n t cleansing rituals – used p o s t - w a r, i n m o u r n i n g, a n d

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

Su ku m a n i! / ( N a n k a m a n z ’ e n ge n e n d l i n i ) / ( Su ku m a n i , vukani maAfrika?) Su ku m a n i! / Aw u n a n ku m ’ u h l o l a u n ge n ’e k h a y a / Su ku m a n i , v u k a n i a n i b o n i n a ? H h a w u s u ku m a n i! / N a n k a m a n z ’ e n ge n e n d l i n i / ( Su ku m a n i v u k a n i m a A f r i k a ) H h a w u s u ku m a n i! / ( Aw u n a n ku m ’ u h l o l a u n ge n ’e k h a y a ) / Un ge n ’e k h a y a ! / A t h u l ’ a t h i n i a m a t h o n g’ e s i z w e / Siyashwelez’ isiz we / Athul’ a t h i n i a m a t h o n g’ e s i z w e / Siyashwelez’ isiz we **

eLw a n d l e p e r fo r m e r d u r i n g t h e f u l l d r e s s r e h a r s a l fo r I n t e r t i a

fo r p e o p l e l i v i n g i n s e v e r e s o c i o, e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l depre ssion. What sys tems are a v a i l a b l e fo r t h o s e l e t d o w n b y new administrations and empty reconciliation committee s ? A n d i n t h i s y e a r ’s p r o g r a m m e , S BYA 2 0 2 0 , Lu l u M l a n ge n i’s K ga n y a a l s o t a p s i n t o w h a t we have always known about freeing and healing ourselve s to build a conversation around hope. And s taying alive. And s u r v i v i n g. **

In 2020, when the NAF went vir tual, Louise C o e t z e e a n d I n k a Ke n d z i a c r e a t e d a m u l t i - ge n r e digital experience, M E TA | m o r p h , i n w h i c h t h e y “ideate digital disruption o f t h e h u m a n e x p e r i e n c e” in pre sent day and in the f u t u r e . Vi e w e r s w e r e a b l e t o m a ke t h e i r o w n c h o i c e s and thus choose their own j o u r n e y. T h e y c o u l d c u r a t e how they interacted with their multiple selves in the experience, and control how their stor y ends. In Uku h l o l w a Kw e p h u p h a (same year), a young woman vacillates between m u l t i p l e d r e a m l i ke s t a t e s w h i l e i n i s o l a t i o n . He r dreams are not always clear in meaning and there are no words to guide the v i e w e r a l o n g. I t i s w h a t i t is. As it is lived. This pandemic has rendered many ar tis ts devas tated – some were left homeless while others succumbed to the

over whelming morass that can be isolation. Ho w e v e r, fo r s o m e , i t h a s also opened up a whole n e w w a y o f i m a g i n i n g. Of combining digital p l a t fo r m s w i t h a n c i e n t technologies, not only as a way of understanding w h a t i s go i n g o n , b u t also – perhaps along with Mo t s h a b i – a s a w a y o f hoping us into something else. ** A n o t h e r f r i e n d ’s m o t h e r p a s s e s a w a y o n Mo n d a y m o r n i n g. O n Tu e s d a y, A n o t h e r f r i e n d ’s m o t h e r ’s s i s t e r a l s o p a s s e s a w a y. A n o t h e r f r i e n d fo l l o w s h e r mother and aunt on that s a m e S a t u r d a y. He r b r o t h e r, who did not live with them – who buried them alone– is the only sur viving m e m b e r o f h i s f a m i l y. Ac o u s i n a t t e n d s A n o t h e r c o u s i n ’s f u n e r a l a n d ge t s s i c k . A n o t h e r c o u s i n ’s m o t h e r, s i s t e r, b r o t h e r a n d u n c l e a l l pass on within two weeks of the funeral. When they a r e b u r i e d , t h e n e i gh b o u r s s e n d g r o c e r i e s n e e m i k h n d o. They do not attend. Aman the girl knows from h i gh s c h o o l p a s s e s a w a y. A t his funeral, they announce t h e p a s s i n g o f h i s f a t h e r. His mother and brother are b o t h i n I C U. I t h a s b e e n l o n ge r t h a n a y e a r n o w. T h e r e a r e n o w r e a t h s . No b e e s . No r a i n . No c o w s fo r s l a u gh t e r. No t o u c h i n g. No w i t n e s s e s . No

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

t e a a n d s c o n e s . No v i g i l s . C w a k a . I n ga t h i a s i n gc q a b i bantu apha. ** O v e r t h e p a s t e i gh t e e n months, entire familie s have been wiped out. Busine sse s have shut down, prote s ts have been s t a ge d … s o m u c h h a s d i e d . Pe r h a p s t h i s m o m e n t i s asking something of us. Re m i n d i n g u s t h a t t i m e i s a m i r a ge . We h a v e k n o w n l o s s b e fo r e , i n t i m a t e l y, b u t n e v e r l i ke t h i s . No t t h i s loss upon loss upon loss. We h a v e t o a s k , w h e n a l l is said and done, what will i t a l l h a v e b e e n fo r ? 2 0 1 5 S BYA Nd u d u z o M a k h a t h i n i speaks of consciousness as an orche s tra, wherein we a l l h a v e a p a r t t o p l a y. Fo r h i m , t h r o u gh t h e p i a n o,

i t i s h e a l i n g. G a b r i e l l e G o l i a t h s a y s t h a t fo r h e r, by depicting the moments between or outside of the bruised eyes and cut lips, she car ves out a space to celebrate and honour our s u r v i v a l . S p a c e fo r h o p e . Pe r h a p s t h e g r e a t e s t g i f t given to us by the ar tis ts who continue to soldier on i s t h e s p a c e t h e y h o l d fo r o u r b r e a t h . A r t i s t s m a ke r o o m fo r g r i e f a n d o u r h o p e . They remind us that we have m a n y c h o i c e s , a n d m u c h l i ke i n C o e t z e e a n d Ke n d z i a’s M E TA | m o r p h , e v e r y c h o i c e l e a d s t o a d i f fe r e n t o u t c o m e . We c a n c h o o s e t o go b a c k t o w h a t m a ke s u s s i c k . We c o u l d choose to f ind our place in T h e Gr e a t O r c h e s t r a . We c a n choose to imagine ourselves d i f fe r e n t l y. We c a n c h o o s e t o

re-member how to heal. ** W h e n t h e g i r l i s o l d e r, umakhulu wraps a string of white beads around her head. The girl f irst sees t h e b e a d s b e fo r e s h e i s b o r n . A n d t h e n a ga i n i n a poem. The girl is told that i f s h e d o e s n o t r e m e m b e r, she will be sick. When she remembers, the girl is told that if she does not speak, she will be sick. When she speaks, the girl is told that with her tongue, she may be water or she may be wind. She is told that no one can e scape the burn of a f ire.

Te c h n i c a l s e t u p fo r i n s t a l l a t i o n a n d p e r fo r m a n c e p i e c e ‘ Um d i y a d i y a’ b y A r t P r a c t i o n e r We z i l e Mg i b e

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

Po r t r a i t o f Jo h a n e s b u r g b a s e d g r a f f i t i a r t i s t R a l a r n o C o u t t s ,

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

N AT U R E I S L O U D E R Ma k h a n d a 2 0 2 1 P H O T O S B Y M A R K W E S S E L S A N D A M Y VO N W I T T ‘ N a t u r e i s L o u d e r ’ w a s a p r o j e c t fo c u s e d o n 2D Street Ar t in Makhanda. Wi t h t h e p r o v o c a t i o n “ N a t u r e i s a l w a y s l o u d e r ” w e i n v i t e d fo u r s t r e e t a r t i s t s t o M a k h a n d a fo r a 2 - w e e k p e r i o d o f l i s t e n i n g a n d m a k i n g. T h e p r o j e c t b e ga n m i d - Ju n e a n d was completed during the Live National Ar ts Fe s t i v a l 2 0 2 1 . T h e s i t e s w e r e a t f i r s t w a l l s ; h o w e v e r, we considered the wall, the surrounding environment, the living and non-living in t h e e n v i r o n m e n t , t h e m e m o r y, t h e p r o m i s e s ,

the subjective and intimate experience s of the ar tist, all as par t of the site the ar tists were invited to work in. The site then w a s a l i v e a n d f u l l a n d t h e a r t i s t b r o u gh t t h e m s e l v e s i n t o t h i s a s a n o t h e r l a y e r. Each ar tis t was on their own site, but each a r t i s t ’s p r o c e s s a c t s a s i n c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h e a c h o t h e r. S i m u l t a n e o u s g r o w i n g, r e n e w i n g, d i s c a r d i n g. Click the video icons to learn more about their proce sse s.

Ralarno Coutts photographed in front of his work in progre ss.

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

A r t i s t ’s A s s i s t a n t Ju a n i t o Fe a t h e r s t o n e i s s e e n h e r e h e l p i n g S t r e e t A r t i s t R a l a r n o C o u t t s w i t h h i s S t r e e t A r t .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

A d o n ke y c a r t p a s s e s p a s t R a l a r n o C o u t t s b a s e l a y e r w h i c h h e c a l l s “ T h e D o o d l e Me t h o d ” .

R a l a r n o C o u t t s m u r a l s l o c a t e d o n e i t h e r s i d e o f C r a d o c k Ro a d B r i d ge o n S o m e r s e t S t r e e t . T h e w a l l ’s s p e a k t o e a c h o t h e r. A b o v e r e a d s “ W E A R E N OT H U M A N B E I N G S H AV I N G A S P I R I T UA L E X P E R I E N C E . ” B e l o w r e a d s “ W E A R E S P I R I T UA L B E I N G S H AV I N G A H U M A N E X P E R I E N C E . ”

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

Po r t r a i t o f Mo o k L i o n , a s t r e e t a r t i s t w h o i s p a s s i o n a t e a b o u t c r e a t i n g s o c i a l l y c o n s c i o u s a r t i n p u b l i c s p a c e s . He’s inspired by nature and the environment and he use s this to combine academic f ine ar t and graff iti.

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

Mo o k L i o n i n t h e p r o c e s s o f p a i t i n g h i s m u r a l . H e s t a t e s t h a t a r t i n p u b l i c s p a c e s i s m e a n t t o p e r fo r m a s o c i a l a n d cultural function by beautif ying or repurposing was ted space and by communicating with the public around social injustices.

Mo o k L i o n ’s m u r a l a t t h e C o c k H o u s e o n t h e C o r n e r o f G e o r ge a n d M a r ke t S t r e e t .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

Po r t r a i t o f G q e b e r a - b a s e d v i s u a l a r t i s t a n d i l l u s t r a t o r S a n e l i s i w e S i n ga p h i . Mu r a l r e a d s “ W H AT A R E YO U WA I T I N G FOR?”

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

S a n e l i s i w e S i n ga p h i s p r a y - p a i n t i n g h e r w o r k i n p r o g r e s s , w h i c h s p e a k s t o r e k i n d l i n g t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n a n i m a l s and humans, beyond the anthropocene.

S a n e l i s i w e S i n ga p h i ’s m u r a l l o c a t e d a t t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n o f K n i gh t a n d C a w o o d S t r e e t . Mu r a l r e a d s “ B E C AU S E W E A L L L OV E TO L I V E” .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

M r. Fu z z y S l i p p e r z ( v i s u a l a r t i s t L i s o m z i P i ko l i ) i n f r o n t o f h i s w o r k i n p r o g r e s s . Fu z z y S l i p p e r z ’ w o r k p r e d o m i n a n t l y explore s relationships; relationships between people, between urban and rural space s, and in this project, the relationship between humans and the natural environment.

M r. Fu z z y S l i p p e r z ’ m u r a l p o s i t i o n e d n e x t t o t h e L i n k S t r e e t Ta x i r a n k , o n a m a i n r o a d i n t h e t o w n , a b u s y c o m m u t e r s h u b. I n o u r f a s t c h a n g i n g, m o d e r n w o r l d w h e r e n a t u r e i s o f t e n a b u s e d , P i ko l i ’s w o r k b r i n g s n a t u r e t o t h e fo r e f r o n t , making it and our relationship to nature as humans, unignorable.

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

E X P E R I M E N TAT I O N I N F O R M

A F E S T I VA L C O M E S T O YO U As par t of a multi-entr y Fe s t i v a l e x p e r i e n c e , t h e Standard Bank Pre sents programme was de signed to bring a taste of the N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l t o the major cities of South Africa in the shifting circums tance s of the p a n d e m i c . A l t h o u gh p r e p a r e d fo r s m a l l e r audience s as def ined by C OV I D - 1 9 p r o t o c o l s , t h e oppor tunity to deliver this programme live was cur tailed and then scuppered by increasing i n fe c t i o n n u m b e r s a n d a h a r d e r l o c kd o w n b u t n o t b e fo r e a n u m b e r o f memorable concer ts had b e e n p e r fo r m e d o n s t a ge . I n C a p e To w n t h e programme, hos ted at the Galler y44 and Theatre, k i c ke d o f f w i t h c h i l d r e n ’s theatre piece, The Magic S h e l l , f r o m T h e Ju n gl e Theatre – a look at the l e ge n d s a n d fo l k l o r e o f Southern Africa. The live programme was limited to jus t 50% of the venue capacity with available seats depending on the number of people in cast a n d c r e w. I n a s m a l l v e n u e , t i c ke t s w e r e fe w b u t t h e go l d e n o p p o r t u n i t y o f seeing a live show proved a t t a i n a b l e fo r a l u c k y fe w.

The charismatic Mandisi Dyantyis disappointed many who were not able t o ge t t i c ke t s t o h i s o n c e o f f s o l d o u t s h o w. O t h e r s go t t h e i r j a z z f i x i n a concer t by Siya Charles, and the programme also b r o u gh t l o c a l C a p e To w n m u s i c i a n J i t s v i n ge r b a c k o n t o l i v e s t a ge t o t h e g r e a t e xc i t e m e n t o f f a n s . Qondiswa Jame s debuted h e r n e w w o r k Nd i n x a n i w e , to a full house; the piece exposes the persistent narrative of colonialism playing out in schools, a n d Re g ga e b a n d T h e Conquerors rounded up the live programme w i t h t h e i r c o n c e r t Ro o t s Un l e a s h e d a s p a r t o f t h e Fr i n ge l i n e - u p. In Durban, the S e a b r o o ke s T h e a t r e hosted a varied musical line-up that included A f r i k a M a m a’s Ac a p e l l a . The vibrant sevenpiece isicathamiya acapella group from Durban, South Africa has travelled the world p e r fo r m i n g i n c o u n t r i e s i n c l u d i n g G e r m a n y, Po l a n d , B e l g i u m , Ho l l a n d , B u r k i n a Fa s o, I v o r y C o a s t , N a m i b i a , t h e Un i t e d K i n gd o m a n d t h e Un i t e d States of America. Durban

l o c a l Ne i l G o n s a l v e s was joined by his trio to p r e s e n t a ge n t l e e s c a p e f r o m C OV I D - 1 9 w i t h m u s i c from his album Ble ssings and Blues, a ‘sensor y o v e r l o a d o f gl o r i o u s l i v i n g’ . T h e Me l v i n Pe t e r s Tr i o j o i n e d t h e l i n e - u p with a reper toire that r a n ge d f r o m m a i n s t r e a m to modern jazz. On s t a ge , t h e t r i o c o m b i n e d solid musicianship with creativity and imaginative improvisator y skills. A l t h o u gh a n e xc i t i n g live line-up was planned fo r Jo h a n n e s b u r g, t h e a l a r m i n g r i s e o f C OV I D - 1 9 n u m b e r s i n G a u t e n g, s a w t h e Fe s t i v a l d e c i d e t o s t a ge t h i s p o r t i o n o f the programme without a l i v e a u d i e n c e a n d fo r o n l i n e o n l y. A l l t h e shows on the Standard B a n k Fe s t i v a l P r e s e n t s programme, including the o n e s t h a t w e r e p e r fo r m e d fo r a n a u d i e n c e i n C a p e To w n a n d D u r b a n , w e r e recorded and made available as par t of the N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l programme online. A tas te that was sweet but small, the Standard Bank Pre sents showcase was a window back into the live s t a ge Fe s t i v a l w e l o n g t o r e t u r n t o.

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

J a z z v o c a l i s t D u m z a M a s w a n a p e fo r m i n g h i s l a t e s t a l b u m ‘ C e l e b r a t i n g A f r i c a n S o n g’ , l i v e s t r e a m e d f r o m Makhanda.

B e n j a m i n Je p h t a . ( Su p p l i e d ) .

S TA N DA R D B A N K J A Z Z F E S T I VA L 2 0 2 1 ALAN WEBSTER S TA N DA R D B A N K J A Z Z F E S T I VA L C U R AT O R A f t e r 2 0 2 0 ’s r a p i d p i v o t f r o m l i v e fe s t i v a l t o p u r e l y o n l i n e w e p r e p a r e d fo r 2 0 2 1 i n the expectation that we would face the s a m e c h a l l e n ge s , a n d t h i s y e a r w e t h u s m a n a ge d n o t o n l y t o p r o v i d e 2 2 h i gh - c l a s s p r o fe s s i o n a l o n l i n e p e r fo r m a n c e s – s o m e recorded overseas, some workshopped here and the majority recorded in p u b l i c p e r fo r m a n c e s i n D u r b a n , C a p e To w n , Jo h a n n e s b u r g, E a s t L o n d o n a n d Makhanda - but we added 16 quality youth p e r fo r m a n c e s a n d 1 3 w o r k s h o p s , a l l d r a w n from around South Africa and the world, with par ticipants as widely -based as Brazil, U S A , C a m e r o o n a n d a s s o r t e d Eu r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s . O u r p r o fe s s i o n a l p e r fo r m a n c e s s h o w c a s e d a n i m p r e s s i v e m i x o f a ge s , o r i g i n s and styles, indicating that South African jazz is s till thriving in the diff icult pre sent circums tance s. Par ticular international

h i gh l i gh t s w e r e R i c h a r d B o n a , C h a d L B a n d G e r a l d A l b r i gh t ( t h e l a t t e r i n c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h S o u t h A f r i c a n w o n d e r k i d Ju s t i n - L e e Schultz), but none of the local musicians l o o ke d o u t o f p l a c e i n t h i s c o m p a n y. Par ticularly wor thwhile this year was the inclusion of the school and university bands w h o s u b m i t t e d r e c e n t r e c o r d i n g s . Po s s i b l y the greate s t succe ss was that we were able to p r e s e n t t h e S t a n d a r d B a n k N a t i o n a l Yo u t h and Schools Jazz Bands, who were selected t h r o u gh o n l i n e a u d i t i o n s a n d t h e n m e t i n Eas t London to rehearse and record what w e r e t w o v e r y i m p r e s s i v e p e r fo r m a n c e s . T h e S t a n d a r d B a n k J a z z Fe s t i v a l i s s t i l l d o i n g w h a t i t h a s d o n e fo r d e c a d e s – p r e s e n t i n g q u a l i t y, d i v e r s e j a z z t h a t c h a r t s w h e r e t h e a r t fo r m i s h e a d i n g.

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

S t a n d a r d B a n k P r e s e n t s J a z z Mu s i c i a n M a n d i s i D y a n t y i s a s h e b r i n g s a n i n c r e d i b l e p e r fo r m a n c e o f h i s w e l l k n o w n h a u n t i n g m e l o d i e s l i v e i n C a p e To w n .

Vo c a l fo r c e A s a n d a Mq i k i l i v e s t r e a m e d f r o m Makhanda.

B a s s i s t Ta l e n t M z u ku l u M b a t h a p l a y i n g fo r t h e Ne i l G o n s a l v e s Tr i o l i v e a t S t a n d a r d B a n k P r e s e n t s i n D u r b a n . Ph o t o : Ro ga n Wa r d .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

S TA N DA R D B A N K YO U N G A RT I S T S 2 0 2 0 We a l w a y s e x p e c t i n t e r e s t i n g a n d g r o u n d - b r e a k i n g w o r k f r o m S t a n d a r d B a n k Yo u n g A r t i s t s a n d t h e 2 0 2 0 c o h o r t d i d n o t d i s a p p o i n t . T h e s e S t a n d a r d B a n k Yo u n g A r t i s t s’ t e n u r e d i d n o t i n c l u d e t h e t r a d i t i o n a l l i v e p e r fo r m a n c e i n M a k h a n d a , b u t t h i s l o s s h a s n ’t d i m i n i s h e d t h e i r w o r k w h i c h h a s b e e n d e e p l y m e m o r a b l e a n d t r u l y p i o n e e r i n g a s t h e y l e a d u s t h r o u gh t h e s h i f t i n g s a n d s o f p e r fo r m a n c e d u r i n g a p a n d e m i c .

Gr o u p p h o t o o f t h e S t a n d a r d B a n k Yo u n g A r t i s t s 2 0 2 0 . L e f t t o r i gh t : Je f fe r s o n T s h a b a l a l a , S i s o n ke Xo n t i , Lu l u M l a n ge n i , B l e s s i n g N go b e n i , a n d N t h a t o Mo k ga t a . ( Su p p l i e d )

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

S t a n d a r d B a n k S BYA 2 0 2 0 fo r J a z z S i s o n ke Xo n t i . ( Su p p l i e d )

S TA N DA R D B A N K YO U N G A RT I S T FOR JAZZ

SISONKE XONTI

A s o n e o f S o u t h A f r i c a’s m o s t p r o l i f i c y o u n g t a l e n t s o n t h e t e n o r s a x , 2 0 2 0 S t a n d a r d B a n k Yo u n g A r t i s t fo r J a z z , S i s o n ke Xo n t i , i s t h e n e w f a c e o f S o u t h A f r i c a n j a z z – u r b a n , e r u d i t e , i n t e r n a t i o n a l a n d s k i l l e d , b u t r o o t e d n o l e s s i n h i s c u l t u r e . H i s t e n u r e a s a S t a n d a r d B a n k Yo u n g A r t i s t c o - i n c i d e d w i t h t h e h i gh l y - a n t i c i p a t e d r e l e a s e o f h i s s e c o n d a l b u m , ‘ M i g r a t i o n Su i t e’ . Exploring rural and urban identity and the perilous spiritual journey from homeland to the gl o b a l v i l l a ge . T h e a l b u m h a s b e e n a r e s o u n d i n g s u c c e s s . P l a y i n g fo r t h e 2 0 2 1 N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l , Xo n t i s a i d h e h a d p o s i t i o n e d t h e c o n c e r t a s , ‘ a n e x p l o r a t i o n o f m o d a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s w i t h a n e x p l o s i v e r h y t h m s e c t i o n ’ , t h e r e s u l t i n g s h o w i n s p i r e d m u s i c w r i t e r Pe r c y M a b a n d u t o d e s c r i b e i t a s a n ‘ e p o c h - m a r k i n g p e r fo r m a n c e i n h i s d e v e l o p i n g c a r e e r. ’

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

S t a n d a r d B a n k S BYA 2 0 2 0 p o r t r a i t o f B l e s s i n g N go b e n i . ( Su p p l i e d ) .

S TA N DA R D B A N K YO U N G A RT I S T F O R V I S UA L A RT

BLESSING NGOBENI

2 0 2 0 S t a n d a r d B a n k Yo u n g A r t i s t fo r Vi s u a l A r t , B l e s s i n g Ngo b e n i , t o o k d i g i t a l a u d i e n c e s a l o n g i n h i s 3 6 0 ga l l e r y s h o w C h a o t i c P l e a s u r e s . Wr i t i n g fo r T h e C r i t t e r, D a v e M a n n o b s e r v e s t h a t , ‘ T h e r e a r e a l o t o f b l u n t t r u t h s i n Ngo b e n i’s w o r k . A l o t o f ke e n o b s e r v a t i o n s o f p o w e r a n d h i s t o r y, t o o. I f y o u’r e l o o k i n g fo r a b r i e f e s c a p e f r o m t h e w o r l d a r o u n d y o u , i t ’s p r o b a b l y i l l a d v i s e d t o v i s i t Ngo b e n i’s s h o w. B u t i f y o u’r e l o o k i n g fo r a n o t h e r w a y t o m a ke s e n s e o f i t a l l , t o gl e a n s o m e k i n d o f i n s i gh t t h a t ’s n o t c h a n n e l l e d t h r o u gh a t a l k i n g h e a d o r a h a p h a z a r d t h r e a d o n t h e i n t e r n e t , C h a o t i c P l e a s u r e i s c h a l l e n g i n g, b u t n e c e s s a r y v i e w i n g. ’

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

P r e s s i m a ge fo r Je f fe r s o n T s h a b a l a l a’s w o r k S e e n Ph a Kw a . ( Su p p l i e d ) .

S TA N DA R D B A N K YO U N G A RT I S T F O R T H E AT R E

JEFFERSON TSHABALALA

2 0 2 0 S t a n d a r d B a n k Yo u n g A r t i s t fo r T h e a t r e , Je f fe r s o n T s h a b a l a l a’s w i l d , m u l t i m e d i a m a s h - u p o f p e r fo r m a n c e , r i t u a l , m u s i c a n d f a s h i o n e x p a n d e d f r o m a u n i v e r s e o f p o s s i b i l i t y, c o l l a b o r a t i o n a n d e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n . Je f fe r s o n o r i g i n a l l y d r e w c r i t i c a l a c c l a i m w i t h h i s ga m e s h o w t h e a t r e . I n h i s S BYA w o r k , S e e n Ph a Kw a , h e d r a w s t h e a u d i e n c e r i gh t i n s i d e o f t h e ga m e p r e s e n t i n g s ke t c h e s , s t y l e s a n d c h a r a c t e r s , g r o o v i n g t h r o u gh m e m e s a n d m o m e n t s i n a q u i n t e s s e n t i a l l y A f r o - Ur b a n s t y l e . T h e t a ke - o u t i s a p o s i t i v e , z e r o - p a n d e m i c , h a p p i n e s s z o n e .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

Lu l u M l a n ge n i i n h e r l a t e s t w o r k K ga n y a . Ph o t o : S h u d u f h a d z o L u b e n go.

S TA N DA R D B A N K YO U N G A RT I S T F O R DA N C E

LULU ML ANGENI

Wr i t i n g fo r T h e C r i t t e r, No n d u m i s o M s i m a n ga o b s e r v e d t h a t , “ T h e r e i s n o t h i n g t i m i d a b o u t M l a n ge n i’s d a n c e t h e a t r e , ” a n d i n d e e d 2 0 2 0 S t a n d a r d B a n k Yo u n g A r t i s t s fo r D a n c e , Lu l u M l a n ge n i’s p o w e r f u l d a n c e p i e c e K ga n y a ( m e a n i n g l i gh t ) w a s a b o l d , h i gh o c t a n e s t a g i n g t h a t s h o u t e d f r o m t h e c o n f i n e s o f r e s t r i c t i v e , h e m m e d i n , f l i gh t l e s s l o c kd o w n – t h r e a t e n i n g t h e madne ss and unpredictability brewing beneath. D a n c e , e x p l a i n s M l a n ge n i , i s m o r e t h a n a p e r fo r m a t i v e a c t . I t ’s a v e h i c l e fo r h e a l i n g. “ No t o n l y fo r m y s e l f, b u t fo r o t h e r s , t o o. A s a n a t i o n w e’r e go i n g t h r o u gh a l o t a n d d a n c e i s t h a t v e h i c l e t o o p e n u p c o n v e r s a t i o n . To s a y, ‘ Yo u’r e go i n g t h r o u gh s o m u c h , b u t t h e r e’s s t i l l h o p e a t t h e e n d o f t h e d a y, y o u j u s t n e e d t o f i gh t . ’ ” T h i s f i gh t i s e v i d e n t i n KGA N YA – b u t a s a c a t h a r s i s fo r healing rather than an act of aggre ssion.

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

P r e s s i m a ge fo r N t h a t o Mo gk a t a’s A f r o J a z z G i a n t s Tr i b u t e .

S TA N DA R D B A N K YO U N G A RT I S T FOR MUSIC

N T H AT O M O KGATA

N t h a t o Mo k ga t a a k a S p o e k M a t h a m b o, p r e s e n t e d a d y n a m i c a u d i o - v i s u a l s h o w c o n c e i v e d f r o m h i s l o n g s t a n d i n g l o v e a f f a i r s w i t h H i p - Ho p a n d S o u t h A f r i c a n J a z z fo r h i s 2 0 2 0 S t a n d a r d B a n k Yo u n g A r t i s t fo r Mu s i c w o r k . T h e r a p p e r / p r o d u c e r c r e a t e d A f r o J a z z G i a n t s a s a c e l e b r a t i o n a n d t r i b u t e p r o j e c t t o e x p l o r e t h e S o u t h A f r i c a n J a z z s o n gb o o k w h i l e c r e a t i n g n e w c o n v e r s a t i o n s a r o u n d “ c l a s s i c s” a n d “ s t a n d a r d s” , a s w e l l a s i n t r o d u c i n g t h e c a n o n t o f i r s t - t i m e l i s t e n e r s . S a y s M a t h a m b o “ We h o p e d t o b r e a t h e n e w l i fe i n t o t h e b r i l l i a n t i d e a s o f s o m e o f S o u t h A f r i c a’s g r e a t e s t c o m p o s e r s , i m p r o v i s e r s a n d i n s t r u m e n t a l i s t s” . S a xo p h o n i s t , f l a u t i s t a n d b a n d l e a d e r B a n e l e B u c k s N ko s i l e a d t h e A f r o J a z z G i a n t s b a n d , a n d g u e s t s i n c l u d e d G h a n a i a n p e r c u s s i o n m a s t e r Ko j o L i o n , m u l t i - i n s t r u m e n t a l i s t M C L a l i b o i a n d p e r fo r m e r / m u s i c i a n C a r l a Fo n s e c a .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

S TA N DA R D B A N K OVAT I O N AWA R D S FRINGE 2021

I t a l w a y s t a ke s c o u r a ge t o b r i n g a s h o w t o t h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l Fr i n ge . I t ’s a space where ar tis ts can create jus t about any w o r k t h e y l i ke b u t i t ’s s e l f - f u n d e d . D u r i n g l i v e Fe s t i v a l s , Fr i n ge a r t i s t s b a n k r o l l t h e venue, their transpor t and accommodation t o o. M a n y s h o w s w i l l s e l l t i c ke t s a n d r e c o u p t h e i r o u t l a y, s o m e m a ke a g r e a t p r o f i t , b u t i t t a ke s m a r ke t i n g a n d c o n s i s t e n t fo c u s t o ge t a u d i e n c e s t o y o u r s h o w. I t i s h o w e v e r a n i m p o r t a n t s t a ge w h e r e n e w w o r k c a n b e tried, te s ted and seen – and where you may b e r e c o g n i z e d a n d i n v i t e d t o o t h e r Fe s t i v a l s and theatre s. Or maybe meet other ar tis ts to collaborate with. In re sponse to the pandemic, the NAF c r e a t e d a n o n l i n e p l a t fo r m fo r t h e Fr i n ge and, in time s when ar tis ts had barely any m e a n s o f e a r n i n g, w a i v e d t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n fe e s a n d a s s i s t e d w i t h f i l m i n g w h e r e n e e d e d . S t a n d a r d B a n k’s i n v e s t m e n t i n t h e a r t s i s w e l l k n o w n ; t h e y a r e o f c o u r s e a Fe s t i v a l par tner and pre sent the Standard Bank Jazz Fe s t i v a l a n d S t a n d a r d B a n k Yo u n g A r t i s t s b u t t h e y a l s o i n v e s t i n n e w t a l e n t o n t h e Fr i n ge by recognizing the shows that s tand out with a S t a n d a r d B a n k O v a t i o n Aw a r d .

The Shack by Totem Productions

Initiation by Is’Thatha Dance Project

Ruth by Love and Race Productions

Gone but not Forgotten by Gowar Creative Hub

Verloren by Spark in the Dark

Torinaoshi by Tsukuba Indy (LLC)

The Core by AFDA Johannesburg

(extra) ordinary, (un) usual by F Creations

Wet & Dry by Cia Paraladosanjos

Old Soul Waiting by Mabu Art Foundation

Mobile Inertia by Siphumeze Khundayi

Buya by Mathetha Dances

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

S t i l l f r o m To r i n a o s h i b y T s u ku b a I n d y ( L L C ) . ( Su p p l i e d ) .

DE|COMPOSITION by Response-Ability/Revolution Movement Dear Donald, Dear Hillary (Their Secret Correspondence) by Sally Vahle The Joy of Symphonic Music – Concert 2 by the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Lykele Temmingh

Liminal – Documentary by Joy Film Productions Dipalo_The Audio Version by Assitej SA Acapella Street Corners by Chamber Ensemble

Umhlaba Ophezulu/Higher Ground by Iva Collective P r e s s i m a ge f r o m We t & D r y b y C i a P a r a l a d o s a n j o s . Wi t h s u p p o r t f r o m t h e S p a n i s h E m b a s s y. ( Su p p l i e d ) .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

Mo n d l i M a v u n d l a p e r fo r m i n g i n Mo m m y Mo m m y.

Ac a p e l l a S t r e e t C o r n e r l i v e s t r e a m e d f r o m M a k h a n d a .

As If The Rain Watched Over Her by Collegiate Girls’ High School

Fairy & Folk Tales Reckless Haven Productions

Out of the Can Can of Worms SA

A Long Story Short by Saxola Ketshengane

Fed Mthokozisi Zulu

The Brazilian Jazz Quartet Couch Concert SA

Izibazi Zomendo by Xiluva Collective

Out of the Red C Bang Entertainment

The Magic of Sideshow Brendon Peel Entertainment

The Joy of Symphonic Music – Concert 1 Kwazulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra

Damsel in Distress Wela Kapela Productions

The Flower Hunters Maggie Gericke and Sophie Joans

Four Hands Piano Duo

Butler’s and Bridesmaids (Radio Play) Slick ‘n Sleeve

Your Perfect Life F Creations

Looking Forward Ariel Juana ft. Stanley Matlou and Simon Manana

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

P r e s s i m a ge fo r Fe d , p r e s e n t e d b y M t h o ko z i s i Zu l u . ( Su p p l i e d ) .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

Te b o go Gx u b a n e p e r fo r m i n g i n Mo m m y, Mo m m y. A m u l t i d i s c i p l i n a r y t h e a t r e d a n c e w o r k t h a t t e l l s t h e s t o r y o f m a n h o o d , s e x u a l i t y, a b u s e a n d a u t h o r i t y.

THE FRINGE STOKE S O U R C R E AT I V E F I R E ZIKHONA MONAHENG M A N AG E R O F T H E N AT I O N A L A RT S F E S T I VA L F R I N G E T h e Fr i n ge p r o g r a m m e t h i s y e a r w a s j a m - p a c ke d w i t h i n c r e d i b l e w o r k s . I t w a s fantas tic to celebrate and share creativity in a l l fo r m s w i t h t h e r e s t o f t h e w o r l d . This experience was enhanced by the pre sence of live-s treamed shows, as a new addition to the element of video on demand s h o w s . Wi t h o v e r 1 2 0 Fr i n ge s h o w s f r o m b o t h local and international gracing our vir tual s t a ge , w a s a m a z i n g t o e x p e r i e n c e . Ju s t t o n a m e a fe w t h a t I w a s fo r t u n a t e e n o u gh t o c a t c h a gl i m p s e o f, t h e r e m a r k a b l e S t a n d a r d B a n k G o l d O v a t i o n w i n n e r, T h e S h a c k , w a s o n e o f t h e p r o g r a m ’s h i gh l i gh t s a n d t h e technology behind the multidisciplinar y l i v e - s t r e a m e d s h o w Mo m m y Mo m m y. . . . w a s incredible.

T h e r i s k s t h a t a r t i s t s t o o k t o m a ke w o r k a n d p u t i t o n a t t h i s y e a r ’s Fe s t i v a l m u s t b e commended. It also points to the fact that the ar ts will sur vive. There are people who are so committed and creative to their craf t that nothing c an stop them and this is what w i l l c a r r y o u r i n d u s t r y fo r w a r d . I b e l i e v e w e w i l l ge t p a s t t h i s d i f f i c u l t t i m e . We w i l l s t r i v e t o c o n t i n u e c r e a t i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s fo r a r t i s t s a t t h e Fe s t i v a l , g i v i n g t h e m s t a ge s t o do what they do be s t, and assis t wherever w e c a n . G e t t i n g m e s s a ge s o f s u p p o r t a n d g r a t i t u d e f r o m a r t i s t s fo r ke e p i n g t h e c r e a t i v e i n d u s t r y ’s l i gh t s o n ke e p s u s go i n g.

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

Initiation, pre sented by isi’Thata Dance Project, p e r fo r m e d i n M a k h a n d a .

Mafunwashe written and directed by Siyabulela Jav u.

C o n q u e r o r s Re g ga e B a n d p e r fo r m i n g l i v e o n t h e f r i n ge a t S t a n d a r d B a n k P r e s e n t s i n C a p e To w n .

Let My Love Be Heard concer t by s tudents of R h o d e s Un i v e r s i t y C h a m b e r C h o i r a n d t h e KWA N T U C o m m u n i t y C h o i r.

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

B a r r y i s t h e C o m p l e x M a n a ge r a n d ge n e r a l a l l - r o u n d f r i e n d l y, go o d g u y w o r k i n g t o b r i n g y o u t h e b e s t a n d m o s t c r e a t i v e s o u n d , l i gh t i n g a n d c a m e r a w o r k a t T h e R h o d e s Un i v e r s i t y T h e a t r e C o m p l e x w h i c h i n c l u d e s R h o d e s B o x t o o.

MASKED WA R R I O R S PHOTOS BY MARK WE SSELS Yo u s e l d o m s e e o u r t e c h n i c a l c r e w s - w h o ge n e r a l l y p r e fe r i t t h a t w a y. Un d e r s t r i c t C o v i d p r o t o c o l s o n s e t a n d o f f, t h i s y e a r ’s t e c h n i c a l t e a m s w e r e o u r t r u e m a s ke d w a r r i o r s , w o r k i n g m e t i c u l o u s l y t o t u r n a h y b r i d fe s t i v a l i n t o a f u l l y o n l i n e fe s t i v a l i n j u s t t e n d a y s . Wo r k i n g i n C a p e To w n , D u r b a n a n d M a k h a n d a t h e y w e r e t h e p e o p l e who made sure you saw #NAF2021.

Our technical team was hard a t w o r k d u r i n g t h e 2 0 2 1 Fe s t i v a l , as they usually are, but this year without the bustle and energy of the crowds. When we had to pivot t h e w h o l e Fe s t i v a l o n l i n e i n 1 0 days, we knew we had our work c u t o u t fo r u s , b u t o u r c r e w s were all hands on deck, adapting their skills to tackle the moment.

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

C a m e r a m a n A n d r e w H e r m a n m a n n i n g h i s c a m e r a b e h i n d t h e s c e n e s s h o r t l y b e fo r e t h e s h o w b e g i n s . E a r l i e r i n t h e w e e k o n e o f h i s b o r r o w e d c a m e r a s w a s a c c i d e n t a l l y k n o c ke d o v e r a n d d a m a ge d b u t t h a t d i d n ’t s t o p h i m f r o m f i l m i n g s h o w s fo r t h e Vi r t u a l N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

A l e x Fa r m e r i s t h e L i gh t i n g Te c h n i c i a n a n d ge n e r a l a l l - r o u n d n i c e g u y w o r k i n g t o b r i n g y o u t h e b e s t a n d m o s t c r e a t i v e l i gh t i n g i n T h e G u y B u t l e r T h e a t r e a n d a t R h o d e s B o x s o m e t i m e s .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

Ta n d a z w a Zu k i l e i s a C l e a n e r t h a t works behind the scenes at The Mo n u m e n t t o ke e p e v e r y t h i n g a s clean and sanitised as possible, e specially because of the threat of C OV I D - 1 9.

H i - Te c S e c u r i t y O f f i c e r S i s e ko Tu l w a n a ( 5 6 ) h a s b e e n w o r k i n g a t T h e Mo n u m e n t fo r 1 8 y e a r s a n d h a s b e e n h e l p i n g t o m a n a ge t h e ge n e r a l N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l screening and sanitation of p e o p l e e n t e r i n g T h e Mo n u m e n t i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h C OV I D - 1 9 protocols and regulations.

No l u s i n d i s o M t e t o i s a C l e a n e r w o r k i n g fo r T h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

Mp u m l o Ay a b u l e l a i s a N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l S t a f f Me m b e r a n d Te c h n i c i a n w o r k i n g i n T h e G u y B u t l e r T h e a t r e .

D a v e O p p e r m a n i s a S o u n d Te c h n i c i a n w o r k i n g b e h i n d t h e s c e n e s i n t h e G u y B u t e l e r T h e a t r e .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

A m y v o n Wi t t i s t h e E x h i b i t i o n s M a n a ge r fo r t h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l 2 0 2 1 a n d t h e P r o j e c t M a n a ge r fo r t h e ‘ N a t u r e I s L o u d e r ’ S t r e e t A r t P r o j e c t t h a t s h e’s b e e n o v e r s e e i n g. S h e’s s e e n h e r e a t t h e A r t w o r k o f S t r e e t A r t i s t S a n e l i s i w e S i n ga p h i .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

A g r o u p p h o t o o f t h e 2 0 2 0 D i s t e l l N a t i o n a l P l a y w r i gh t F i n a l i s t s . L e f t t o r i gh t : T s e ko “ T k D a Po e t ” T h u k a n i , H a p p y G l a d n e s s S i m e l a n e , Ta m a r i s k - R a y G l o ga u e r, A m y L o u i s e Wi l s o n ( Wi n n e r ) , a n d Ph i l i s w e T w i j n s t r a . ( Su p p l i e d ) .

N E W P L AY S I N M O T I O N F RO M T H E 2 0 2 0 D I S T E L L N AT I O N A L P L AY W R I G H T FINALISTS T h e D i s t e l l N a t i o n a l P l a y w r i gh t C o m p e t i t i o n i n c l u d e s a m e n t o r s h i p p h a s e fo r a l l t h e f i n a l i s t s o f t h e c o m p e t i t i o n . T h e j o u r n e y s o f e a c h p l a y w r i gh t a n d t h e e v o l u t i o n o f t h e i r w o r k i s a w i n d o w i n t o t h e l o n g r o a d i t c a n t a ke t o p r o d u c e w o r k b u t i t i s a l s o t e s t a m e n t t o t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e w r i t e r s a n d t h e i m p o r t a n t r o l e t h a t a c o m p e t i t i o n l i ke t h i s c a n p l a y. Me e t t h e f i n a l i s t s o f t h e 2 0 2 0 D i s t e l l N a t i o n a l P l a y w r i gh t C o m p e t i t i o n .

T s e ko “ T k D a Po e t ” T h u k a n i i s b a s e d i n B l o e m fo n t e i n - w h e r e h e w a s b o r n a n d b r e d . T h u k a n i’s p l a y ‘ D e p t h o f t h e R i c h e s’ , l i ke m a n y o f h i s p r o j e c t s , a i m s t o l i b e r a t e the marginalised and tell the s torie s not always heard. A que s tion he wishe s more people would ask is, “if Africans d o n ’t t e l l A f r i c a n s t o r i e s , t h e n w h o s h o u l d ? ” H i s D i s t e l l f i n a l i s t s n o m i n a t i o n h e l p e d h i m b r i n g t h e p l a y t o l i fe a n d f r o m 2 7 t o 2 9 J a n u a r y 2 0 2 2 , ‘ D e p t h o f t h e R i c h e s’ w i l l b e s t a ge d a t t h e Pe r fo r m i n g A r t s C e n t r e o f Fr e e S t a t e , ( PAC O F S ) i n B l o e m fo n t e i n .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

Happy Gladne ss Simelane is a 30 - year-old writer from K a t l e h o n g. I n 2 0 1 3 , H a p p y b e ga n w o r k w i t h t h e M a r ke t T h e a t r e L a b o r a t o r y i n Jo h a n n e s b u r g, w h e r e s h e f i r s t s t a r t e d d e v e l o p i n g ‘ T h a n d e k a ! ’ , a s t o r y w h i c h s h e b e ga n w r i t i n g a t s c h o o l , t h a t t o u c h e s o n t h e r o l e o f ge n d e r s t e r e o t y p i n g i n d i s c u s s i o n s o f p a r e n t h o o d . T h e s t o r y b e ga n a s a m o n o l o g u e , w h i c h s h e h e r s e l f p e r fo r m e d . B y w o r k i n g o n i t f r o m t h e p e r s p e c t i v e o f a w r i t e r, a d i r e c t o r a n d a p e r fo r m e r, H a p p y was able to hone her skills as well as produce a piece that w o u l d m a ke h e r a f i n a l i s t i n t h e D i s t e l l N a t i o n a l P l a y w r i t i n g Competition. Happy Simelane is currently interning as a s t a ge m a n a ge r a t t h e M a r ke t T h e a t r e L a b o r a t o r y, a n e x p e r i e n c e w h i c h s h e b e l i e v e s w i l l b e b e n e f i c i a l fo r h e r future production work.

T h e a t r e d i r e c t o r a n d p l a y w r i gh t , Ph i l i s w e T w i j n s t r a , i s a D u r b a n Un i v e r s i t y i n Te c h n o l o g y g r a d u a t e w h o d r e a m t o f b e i n g a p e r fo r m e r b u t b e ga n w r i t i n g o u t o f a n u n t a p p e d n e e d t o c r e a t e . Fo r a n a r t i s t w i t h o u t p r o fe s s i o n a l t r a i n i n g i n w r i t i n g a n d d i r e c t i n g, b e i n g a f i n a l i s t i n T h e D i s t e l l N a t i o n a l P l a y w r i gh t C o m p e t i t i o n i s n o s m a l l a c h i e v e m e n t . Ph i l i s w e e x p r e s s e s o p t i m i s m on s tor y telling traditions, their role in our live s, their l o n ge v i t y, a n d h o w s t o r i e s h a v e t r a v e l l e d t h r o u gh t i m e , “Storie s are who we are, I think the medium is changing a s i t s h o u l d . C h a n ge h o w e v e r, i s n o t n e w t o a r t i s t s , when I think of how I used to tell stories when I was in primar y school, how our elders used to tell stories and d o r i t u a l s c o m p a r e d t o n o w i t h a s c h a n ge d t r e m e n d o u s l y. The concern is how to ‘show’ work since the medium is c h a n g i n g. ”

Ta m a r i s k - R a y G l o ga u e r b e ga n w r i t i n g a t a y o u n g a ge , p r e fe r r i n g p o e t r y a s a m e d i u m . B y h e r o w n a c c o u n t , s h e h a s n e v e r s t o p p e d w r i t i n g. He r l o v e o f w o r d s a n d l a n g u a ge d e v e l o p e d o v e r t h e y e a r s a s s h e a t t e n d e d t h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l , a n d s h e fo u n d h e r w a y f r o m h e r h o m e i n t h e G a r d e n Ro u t e t o t h e E n gl i s h a n d D r a m a c o u r s e a t R h o d e s Un i v e r s i t y i n M a k h a n d a . I n w r i t i n g h e r s c r i p t , t h e D i s t e l l N a t i o n a l P l a y w r i gh t c o m p e t i t i o n h e l p e d b y b r i d g i n g t h e ga p b e t w e e n i d e a s a n d r e s o u r c e s a n d Ta m a r i s k f i n i s h e d h e r s c r i p t , ‘A r a B r e a t h e s’ b e fo r e t h e s t r i c t e s t l o c kd o w n r e s t r i c t i o n s w e r e i n p l a c e i n o u r c o u n t r y. T h e t i m e b e t w e e n t h e n a n d n o w h a s g i v e n h e r a c h a n c e t o t h i n k a b o u t w h a t go e s i n t o m a k i n g h e r w o r k . Ta m a r i s k w a n t s t o s e e i t p e r fo r m e d o n s t a ge w h e n t h e t i m e i s r i gh t . “ I ’m i n c r e d i b l y g r a t e f u l fo r t h e p e o p l e I m e t a n d t h e e x p e r i e n c e s I h a d t h r o u gh t h e D i s t e l l N a t i o n a l P l a y w r i gh t C o m p e t i t i o n a n d I t h i n k m y j o u r n e y w i t h t h i s s c r i p t i s f a r f r o m o v e r. ”

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

A N O T H E R K I N D A RC H I V E BY AMY LOUISE WILSON 2 0 2 0 D I S T E L L N AT I O N A L P L AY W R I G H T

“ T H E R E C O R D O F T H O U G H T F U L P L AY B E C O M E S A P L AY ” - F R E D M O T E N , 2 0 2 1 . A L L I N C O M P L E T E .

C H O R U S : No w, t h e s t o r y c a n b e g i n . / He a r t h i s : y o u p r o u d , y o u w o u n d e d , y o u s h o r t o f b r e a t h , y o u b l i n d e d b y t e a r s , y o u w i t h a f o o t u p o n y o u r b a c k . / We d o n o t w i s h t o t e l l t h e s t o r y o f a n A f r i c a n t r a g e d y / No r a t a l e o f s u f f e r i n g / o f s e a l e d f a t e / o f p a i n t h a t c e a s e s t o a c h e . / y e s , t h e r e a r e d a r k c l o u d s t o m o v e t h r o u g h / t h e r e i s w i n d a n d r a i n a h e a d / b u t d o n o t l o o k a w a y, f o r – s e e , t h e r e / i n t h e d i s t a n c e / a stitching together / a mending of thing s tor n / and hope, uncoiling and blooming as aloes do. / L e t t h e m e m o r i e s c o m e n o w / L e t t h e m c o m e f l o o d i n g b a c k ( Am y L o u i s e W i l s o n , 2 0 1 9 . An o t h e r K i n d o f Dying)

* A l l i m a ge s a r e s c r e e n s h o t s f r o m t h e o n l i n e w o r k .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

L a t e l y, I ’v e b e e n t h i n k i n g a lot about memor y and fo r ge t t i n g. I ’m r e p l a y i n g s c e n e s f r o m b e fo r e t h i s n i gh t m a r e b e ga n , t r y i n g t o r e c a l l h o w l i fe w a s b e fo r e a n d i m a g i n e h o w i t m i gh t b e a f t e r w a r d s . Ev e r y t h i n g i s shif ting so fas t; the ground b e n e a t h o u r fe e t i s u n s t a b l e ; the landscape beyond the h o r i z o n u n k n o w a b l e . Mo r e t h a n a n y t h i n g e l s e , I ’v e t u r n e d t o t h e i n t e r n e t fo r c o m fo r t a n d e s c a p e o v e r t h e p a s t y e a r. O f t e n , i t ’s b e e n a place of terror – an endle ss s c r o l l o f d e a t h a n d i n fe c t i o n s t a t i s t i c s . B u t i t ’s a l s o b e e n a por tal – a place to access the experiences of others; to f ind c o n n e c t i o n a n d t o s u b m e r ge m y s e l f i n a r t ( b o t h h i gh a n d low). I believe the internet can be a space of care, rather than a space that drains us of our

p o w e r. It is in this spirit that I b e ga n t o t h i n k a b o u t h o w t o m a ke a w o r k o f p e r fo r m a n c e t h a t c a n f i n d a c o m fo r t a b l e place in the internet landscape. I n 2 0 1 9, I w r o t e a p l a y c a l l e d A n o t h e r K i n d o f D y i n g. I t ’s t h e s t o r y o f y o u n g m a n from rural Eas tern Cape w h o m o v e s t o Jo h a n n e s b u r g a f t e r t h e d e a t h o f h i s f a t h e r, m o v i n g b e t w e e n m e m o r y, dream and experience as he g r a p p l e s w i t h h i s n e w r e a l i t y. T h i s i s n o t a n e w s t o r y. I t is par t of a broad canon of South African literature and ar t often described as t h e ‘ J i m C o m e s t o Jo b u r g’ ge n r e w h i c h t a ke s i t s n a m e from the eponymous 1940s f i l m , a n d c a m e t o r e fe r e n c e works which dealt with the r u r a l b l a c k m a n ’s e n c o u n t e r

with the white-controlled i n d u s t r i a l c i t y. M a n y o f t h e s e m i n a l t e x t s o f t h e ge n r e are written by white authors, i n c l u d i n g A l a n P a t o n ’s C r y, the Beloved Countr y and Wi l l i a m P l o m e r ’s Ul a M a s o n d o a n d fo l l o w a s i m i l a r s t o r y l i n e – innocent rural man moves f r o m p e a c e f u l , p a s t o r a l l i fe t o b i g, d a n ge r o u s c i t y a n d i s corrupted by booze, women, the mines etc. The novel Mine B o y b y Pe t e r A b r a h a m s ( 1 9 4 6 ) , described as the f irst African n o v e l w r i t t e n i n E n gl i s h to attract international attention, was one of the f irst w o r k s i n t h i s ge n r e i n w h i c h t h e p r o t a go n i s t t a ke s h i s de s tiny into his own hands. T h e b o o k c h a l l e n ge s t h e s tereotype s and ins titutions t h a t d i s c r i m i n a t e a ga i n s t working-class black South Africans and was a s trong i n f l u e n c e i n m y o w n w r i t i n g.

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

When I was named winner of the 2020 Distell N a t i o n a l P l a y w r i gh t i n g Competition, I immediately entered into discussions with the N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l where the play was set to p r e m i e r e , b e fo r e t o u r i n g the major theatre s across t h e c o u n t r y. I ’l l s k i p t h e par t where the pandemic shatters all plans and dreams, and jump ahead to May 2021 – about a y e a r l a t e r.

Theatre (as we knew it), already a fragile e c o s y s t e m i n o u r c o u n t r y, has all but disappeared. I t ’s t e m p t i n g t o l a m e n t this and dwell in a quagmire of loss and nos talgia. But there i s n ’t t i m e . T h e w o r k o f a r t i s t s , n o w, i s u r ge n t . We h a v e t o f i n d w a y s t o connect, to share s torie s a n d t o m a ke s e n s e o f t h e a b s o l u t e f u c ke d ness of this moment. As a r t i s t s , w e’r e t a s ke d w i t h thinking about how we connect with our work – p a r t i c u l a r l y ‘ l i v e’ , ‘pre sence-dependent’ media – and our audience s.

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

T h e n a m e fo r t h e n e w work, AnotherKind, comes from the original title of t h e p l a y, b u t a l s o ge s t u r e s towards the way in which w e a r e r e a c h i n g fo r a n o t h e r kind of proce ss - a meeting of text fragments, recorded r e h e a r s a l s a n d p e r fo r m a n c e and sound experiments which c h a l l e n ge t h e fo r m a l l i m i t s of live collaboration and t h e a t r i c a l e x p e r i e n c e . Fo r six weeks, a rotating group o f ( m a s ke d ) a r t i s t s f r o m a v a r i e t y o f d i s c i p l i n e s w o r ke d t o ge t h e r i n a ( w e l l - v e n t i l a t e d ) c r e a t i v e l a b, p i e c i n g t o ge t h e r an experimental proce ss which moved between theatre r e h e a r s a l s , v i d e o - m a k i n g, live sound-scape creation and h a n d m a d e c o l l a ge t o v i s u a l i s e m o m e n t s , s c e n e s a n d i m a ge s f r o m t h e s t o r y. A p h i w e L i v i p e r fo r m e d t h e r o l e o f t h e

c e n t r a l c h a r a c t e r, a l o n g s i d e a c a s t o f p e r fo r m e r s w h i c h include s Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, B u h l e Nga b a , B a b a l w a M a k w e t u , T h e m b e k i l e Ko m a n i . Fr a n c o i s K n o e t z e a r t d i r e c t e d , created miniature set piece s and made the video works. T h e a t r e - m a ke r Jo a n n a Ev a n s w o r ke d w i t h p e r fo r m a n c e and co-creatively directed. Sound ar tis t Gugulethu Duma AK A Dumama created original sound compositions; Duduetsang Lamola AK A blk banaana made handmade and d i g i t a l c o l l a ge s , Z a r a Ju l i u s & Ko n j o c u r a t e d a p l a y l i s t a n d a r t i s t Fr a n c i s B u r ge r d e s i g n e d the online archive. The new work both builds upon and breaks apar t the original script across a serie s o f s h o r t v i d e o, p e r fo r m a n c e and sound pieces. The aim

with this approach was to carefully document this proce ss, with a view to creating an online archive w h e r e v i e w e r s c o u l d ge t an intimate view into this playful, political and poetic c o l l a b o r a t i o n . We w a n t e d t o engineer an experiment to see what the encounter of p e r fo r m a n c e a n d t h e a r c h i v e in the pre sent pandemic m o m e n t c o u l d y i e l d . I t m i gh t s o u n d l i ke a n o x y m o r o n – a p e r fo r m a n c e a r c h i v e , a n d scholarship has put “the r e c o r d e d ” a n d “ t h e l i v e” in which the archive was positioned in opposition t o p e r fo r m a n c e , o r t h e a r c h i v e a ga i n s t e m b o d i e d p e r fo r m a n c e . C a r l o s C e l d r á n n o t e d i n h i s 2 0 1 9 m e s s a ge fo r Wo r l d T h e a t r e D a y,

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

‘ No t h i n g s u r v i v e s e x c e p t d a t a o r r e c o r d s o f t h e i r w o r k i n v i d e o s a n d p h o t o s t h a t w i l l o n l y c a p t u r e a p a l e i d e a o f w h a t [ t h e a t r i c a l c r e a t o r s ] d i d . Ho w e v e r, w h a t w i l l a l w a y s b e m i s s i n g f r o m t h o s e r e c o r d s is the silent response by the public who understands in an instant that what takes place cannot be translated or found outside, that the tr uth shared there is an exper ience of life, for a few seconds, e ven more diaphanous than life itself.’

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

I w a n t t o c h a l l e n ge t h i s i d e a of the archive as something that exists in a distant past, rather understanding it as something that can be l i v i n g, p o r o u s a n d f l e x i b l e . T h i n k i n g o f t h e a r c h i v e l i ke this can be a kind of memor y p r a c t i c e a ga i n s t t h e ‘ r i t u a l o f fo r ge t t i n g’ ( M b e m b e 2002); a practice which exis ts somewhere between t h e p e r fo r m a n c e a n d t h e d o c u m e n t a t i o n t h e r e o f. I n “ E p h e m e r a a s Ev i d e n c e , ” Jo s é Mu ñ o z p r e s e n t s a d i f fe r e n t w a y t o g r a p p l e w i t h p e r fo r m a n c e’s e p h e m e r a l i t y. He p o i n t s o u t t h a t a l a r ge par t of cultural production

is located outside of what is material and immediately available to experience. His re sis tance to accept p e r fo r m a n c e d i s a p p e a r a n c e as loss, points towards a b e a u t i f u l p o s s i b i l i t y fo r i t s dis tinctly visible re sidue s. O u r p r o c e s s w a s m e s s y, D. I . Y a n d i m p r o v i s a t i o n a l . We t r i e d t h i n g s a n d m a d e s o m e m i s t a ke s . A s S a i d i y a H a r t m a n w o u l d s a y, i t m e a n t a n “ e m b r a c e o f l i ke l y f a i l u r e and the readine ss to accept t h e o n go i n g, u n f i n i s h e d a n d provisional character of this e f fo r t ” .

We d i s c o v e r e d t h e s t o r y b y making it. The emphasis was o n t h e j o u r n e y, r a t h e r t h a n the des tination. And we lef t some avenue s undiscovered; some que s tions unanswered. W h a t w e c r e a t e d i s n ’t a complete, whole archive of t h i s p r o c e s s . Fr e d Mo t e n ge s t u r e s t o t h i s i n h i s n e w book All Incomplete, which a r g u e s a ga i n s t ‘ w h o l e n e s s’ o r a ‘ f i n a l p r o d u c t ’ . He motions to incompleteness as a radicalisation of proce ss – proce ss, as opposed to a product, which “has a value that can be measured”.

There is a mag ic to the frag ile temporalit y of live per for mance that many of us miss – the unrepeatable moment between audience and ar tist that exists and then is suddenly gone. But there must be another kind of way to make and exper ience ar t. Af ter all, unusual times must necessar ily produce unusual archives. Please enjoy the archive here. Scroll with care.

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

T h e U b u n ge y o Mp a z a m o g r o u p p e r fo r m o n e o f t h e t h r e e c u r a t e d p i e c e s fo r I n e r t i a o n t h e t h i r d d a y o f t h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l 2 0 2 1 .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

T H E A RT S A N D G R I E F B Y M AT H A P E L O M O F O K E N G

Wi t h c l o s e t o 7 0 0 0 0 South Africans lost d u e t o C o v i d - 1 9, m a n y of us f ind ourselves i n c o n s t a n t m o u r n i n g. We m o u r n o u r l o s t livelihoods, loved ones a n d a l i fe t h a t d o e s n ’t r e q u i r e m a s k - w e a r i n g, sanitising and physical d i s t a n c i n g. T h e a r t s a n d culture sector - already a challenging landscape t o b e p a r t o f - h a s fe l t the insurmountable loss a n d i m p a c t b r o u gh t b y t h e p a n d e m i c ke e n l y. Many have been lef t without work and audience s, events have been cancelled, beloved o r ga n i s a t i o n s h a v e c l o s e d and so many of our colleague s have passed on.

On top of that, our mourning traditions have also been interrupted b y t h i s v i r u s . We f i n d ourselves unable to grieve a s a c o m m u n i t y, a n d ins tead, we are bur ying our loved ones over video c o n fe r e n c i n g p l a t fo r m s and left to mend our cr ying hear ts in isolation. Wo r k i n g t h r o u gh l o s s h a s become more challenging t h a n e v e r. O n e w a y a r t i s t s are facing this crisis is by relying on their practice s t o p r o c e s s t h e i r g r i e f. This, of course, is not a surprise because the ar ts have always been a p l a c e fo r e x p l o r a t i o n , proce ssing and ref lection fo r a r t i s t s a n d t h e i r audience s. The value of

their role at this time, to create and hold space s - be they physical or vir tual cannot be undere s timated. It is in those space s that we are able to explore and t r a n s fo r m o u r o w n l o s s e s . E a r l i e r t h i s y e a r, b e l o v e d c o - fo u n d e r a n d A s s o c i a t e Ar tis tic Director of Un m u t e D a n c e T h e a t r e , Themba Mbuli passed o n . Un m u t e i s a d a n c e company that has created f ive inclusive projects that have helped create acce ss and integrate people with and without disabilities in one environment. Nadine Mc ke n z i e , c o - fo u n d e r a n d A r t i s t i c D i r e c t o r, s a i d t h i s about their loss, “Our company is ver y small

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

I n i t a t i o n I s’ T h a t h a D a n c e P r o j e c t . A n A f r i c a n j o u r n e y i n t o t h e w o r l d o f t h e u n k n o w n .

a n d w e’r e a c l o s e b u n c h , we have a great sense of s u p p o r t a n d c a r e fo r e a c h o t h e r. K n o w i n g h e h a d p a s s e d and we could not be there in the way we would have wished to is something that is s till ver y painful.” They c r e a t e d “ Tr a c e s o f Me m o r y ” which is inspired by the a w a r d - w i n n i n g M b u l i’s l o v e a n d p a s s i o n fo r t h e a r t s , i n addition to their adoration a n d r e s p e c t fo r h i m . T h e p i e c e s e e s “ t h e c o m p a n y go down memor y lane, revisiting t h r o u gh d a n c e a n d t h e d i s p l a y o f i m a ge r y s o m e o f the works created by Mbuli during his 7 years with the company”.

Nadine and the re s t of the company took solace in taking work that was c o m p l e t e l y d i f fe r e n t a n d t r a n s fo r m i n g i t i n t o a t r i b u t e t o T h e m b a fo r t h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l 2 0 2 1 . “ … i t w a s the only thing we could dive into at the time. There was no way we could do something n e w o r d i f fe r e n t o r e x i s t i n g. We fe l t w e n e e d e d t o h o n o u r his memor y and pay tribute f i r s t b e fo r e w e c o u l d go about doing any thing else,” s tate s Nadine. The piece ga v e t h e m s p a c e a n d t i m e t o p r o c e s s t h e i r g r i e f, a s w e l l a s the oppor tunity to reminisce about all they had shared. The impact of work such as “ Tr a c e s o f Me m o r y ” r i p p l e s

f u r t h e r t h o u gh t h a n i t s i m m e d i a t e s u b j e c t . Wa t c h i n g it, one f inds other losses s u r f a c i n g, a n d s o t h e s p a c e becomes one of communal g r i e f. Covid-19 has hit ever yone in multiple places - we mourn those who have died, but we also f ind ourselves mourning the loss of oppor tunities. O n e s u c h l o s s w a s fe l t b y A m y L o u i s e Wi l s o n w h o could not bring her awardw i n n i n g p l a y t o t h e s t a ge . Fo r h e r, t h e e x p e r i e n c e w a s t r a n s fo r m a t i v e , a s s h e bir thed a new project titled “A n o t h e r K i n d ” , a d a p t e d f r o m t h e o r i g i n a l p l a y “A n o t h e r K i n d o f D y i n g” .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

L i ke m o s t w o r k t h a t c a n l o n ge r b e v i e w e d b y a n i n person audience, it was showcased vir tually at t h i s y e a r ’s i t e r a t i o n o f t h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l . T h i s newly - and collaboratively - imagined work is a s tor y told using multimedia. It i n c l u d e s l i v e - t y p i n g, c o l l a ge d visuals, handwritten notes, and captivating music. It is a stor y of a young man from the Eas tern Cape who m o v e s t o t h e c i t y o f go l d – Jo h a n n e s b u r g - a f t e r h i s f a t h e r ’s p a s s i n g a w a y. I n h e r r e c e n t p i e c e fo r B U B B L E GU M C L U B , A m y d e s c r i b e s t h e p r o t a go n i s t a s “ m o v i n g b e t w e e n m e m o r y, dream and experience as he grapples with his new r e a l i t y ” . W h e n a s ke d a b o u t the loss of the original work during a pos t-show Zoom chat, Amy mentioned that they were pas t the loss. She e l a b o r a t e s , “ We w e r e i n t h e proce ss of cas ting when the pandemic hit South Africa. It w a s d e v a s t a t i n g, a n d i t t o o k me time to imagine another fo r m a t t h a t I t h o u gh t c o u l d really do it jus tice. I decided to create the work in the fo r m o f a 6 - w e e k c r e a t i v e l a b… ” “A n o t h e r K i n d ” i s e a s i l y some of the best and most p e r s o n a b l e w o r k I ’v e s e e n o n a n y v i r t u a l p l a t fo r m . W h a t m a ke s i t m o r e b r i l l i a n t i s A m y ’s s e n s i t i v i t y t o t h e t i m e s w e a r e l i v i n g t h r o u gh . S h e d r o p p e d “ d y i n g” f r o m h e r project name, and ins tead the play title on the website n o w i n c l u d e s , “A n o t h e r k i n d o f… b e i n g, p r o c e s s i n g, o f j o y, l i v i n g, l o v i n g a n d l o n g i n g” . She also begins this new work by acknowledging the impact

of this pandemic, even capturing what a lot of us have whispered to each other “I want to be elsewhere, I w a n t t o go t o a n o t h e r p l a n e t . ” H e r w o r k fe e l s l i ke an honouring of the past (by still including par ts of the original play) and a robus t reimagining and archiving of this new work. As we mourn our individual and collective losses, it is go o d t o k n o w t h a t w e c a n look to ar tis ts, as we have in t h e p a s t , fo r s p a c e s t o r e f l e c t and proce ss what we are all fe e l i n g. W h e t h e r i t ’s t h r o u gh v u l n e r a b l e p i e c e s l i ke Un m u t e’s “ Tr a c e s o f Me m o r y ” that are in honour of a loved o n e a n d w a l k u s t h r o u gh their mourning so that p e r h a p s w e c a n d o s o t o o. O r a p i e c e l i ke “A n o t h e r K i n d ” that is ref lective of what w e a r e l i v i n g t h r o u gh a n d how adaptable we need to b e . Ho p e f u l l y, t h e a u d i e n c e s will return the favour to the creative world by suppor ting a r t i s t s n o w m o r e t h a n e v e r.

No m a b o t w e M t i m ku l u s i n g i n g i n t h e Ho p e I n A C a n d l e l i gh t C o n c e r t - t o i n s p i r e h o p e a n d t o lif t the spirits of those who are dealing with the e f fe c t s o f t h e p a n d e m i c . S h e s h a r e d t h e s t a ge w i t h p o e t a n d m u s i c i a n , N t o m b o xo l o No m k h a l o, a n d m u s i c i a n , K a m o h e l o Mo l e b e l e l i .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

EASTERN CAPE CALLING VISIT THE A DV E N T U R E P ROV I N C E

A s a r e g u l a r Fe s t i v a l go e r y o u w i l l k n o w t h a t i n winter you can still enjoy some beautiful, warm days – a l t h o u gh n i gh t s d o ge t c h i l l y. S o p l a n a c o s y f i r e s i d e s p o t fo r y o u r h o l i d a y i n t h e c o a s t a l t o w n s o f Po r t A l f r e d , C a p e S t Fr a n c i s , K i d d s B e a c h o r Mo r ga n ’s B a y. O r i n l a n d a t o n e o f t h e ga m e f a r m s i f y o u’r e s p l u r g i n g. T h e r e a r e of ten great locals only deals off-peak.

I t ’s b e e n a w h i l e s i n c e w e’v e h a d a l i v e Fe s t i v a l i n M a k h a n d a b u t hopefully the day is coming soon! Missing the aloes, spectacular sunsets, friendly people and endless natural spaces of the E a s t e r n C a p e ? No n e e d t o w a i t , t h e Ad v e n t u r e P r o v i n c e w i l l w e l c o m e you year round, and there really is s o m e t h i n g fo r e v e r y s e a s o n .

H a v e a t a s t e fo r t h e q u i r k y a n d h i s t o r i c a l ? He a d t o Bathurs t where you can s top in at the Pig & Whis tle, t h o u gh t t o b e t h e o l d e s t licensed pub in South A f r i c a . Yo u’l l a l s o ge t a c l e a r r e m i n d e r t h a t y o u’r e in pineapple countr y when y o u p a s s ‘ T h e B i g P i n e a p p l e’ , a 1 6 . 7 m e t r e , 3 - s t o r e y h i gh f i b r e gl a s s p i n e a p p l e s i t u a t e d on one of the regions farms.

The Eastern Cape is a n a t u r e - l o v e r s p a r a d i s e . Ju s t d r i v i n g t h r o u gh t h e l a n d s c a p e with its endless aloes and a b u n d a n t b i r d l i fe ke e p s the road trip intere s ting but along the way there are plenty of great s tops and s t a y o v e r s i n c l u d i n g t h e Ad d o Elephant National Park. This l a r ge p a r k i s b r i m m i n g w i t h w i l d l i fe a n d y o u a r e s u r e t o spot at leas t one re sident elephant as you explore.

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

I f y o u’r e u p fo r a n a d r e n a l i n r u s h , h e a d fo r o n e o f t h e b u n ge e j u m p i n g sites with the Bloukrans topping t h e b u c ke t l i s t fo r m o s t t h r i l l c h a s e r s . Fo r s o m e t h i n g e q u a l l y i n v i g o r a t i n g b o o k a F i s h R i v e r Ho r s e S a f a r i o r e n j o y g u i d e d h i ke s a n d h o r s e t r a i l s t h r o u gh o u t t h e r e g i o n . I f y o u’r e t r a v e l l i n g a s a f a m i l y t h e r e i s p l e n t y t o ke e p t h e l i t t l e o n e s b u s y. I f y o u a r e n e a r Po r t E d w a r d s t o p o f f a t t h e Wi l d Wa v e s Wa t e r P a r k w h e r e t h e k i d s w i l l h a v e a ball on the slides and rides. If y o u a r e i n J B a y y o u c a n h e a d fo r the Dolphin Beach Enter tainment C e n t r e fo r m o r e w a t e r p a r k f u n . O l d e r k i d s u p fo r s o m e z i p l i n i n g? Yo u c a n r i d e w i t h t h e w i n d w i t h t h e m a t T s t s i k a m m a Fa l l s o r a t t h e T s t s i k a m m a C a n o p y To u r. So come and visit – and top up your Eastern Cape memor y bank. T i l l w e s e e y o u a ga i n . Fo r d e t a i l s o n t h e s e a c t i v i t i e s a n d many more, head here I f y o u w o u l d l i ke t o e x p l o r e c l o s er to the Makhanda area then pop o v e r t o M a k a n a To u r i s m a n d d i s c o v e r a l l t h e ge m s i n s t o r e

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

RICH POOL OF L O C A L TA L E N T C E L E B R AT E D I N EASTERN CAPE S H OWC A S E “ L I F E I S W H AT W E M A K E O F I T A N D I S , T R U LY, W H AT W E A R E W I T H I N - A S W E A R E R E F L E C T I N G I T. S O I H AV E M Y P I E C E O F T H E P U ZZ L E A N D I C H O O S E T O B E L I F E - F I L L E D T OWA R D S M Y P I E C E , C O N N E C T E D T O A B I G G E R L I F E , N O L O N G E R J U S T A D R O P M OV I N G A R O U N D B U T PA R T O F A N O C E A N . ” E A S T E R N C A P E V I S U A L A R T I S T, T H E M B I L E N G E S I

T h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l is deeply entwined with its home province of Eas tern Cape and it is no surprise that so many talented South Africans are from the area t o o. A n y o n e w h o h a s v i s i t e d t h e l i v e Fe s t i v a l w i l l h a v e experienced the Eastern Cape master y of craft in the Eastern Cape Craft tents at t h e Vi l l a ge Gr e e n . T h i s y e a r, t h r o u gh a n i n i t i a t i v e o f t h e Eas tern Cape Depar tment of S p o r t , Re c r e a t i o n , A r t s a n d Culture, the craf ters were re sident at a pop-up shop i n t h e B a y We s t C e n t r e i n G q e b e r h a . Fo r m a n y c r a f t e r s , t h e C OV I D - 1 9 l o c kd o w n has heavily impacted their a b i l i t y t o a c c e s s m a r ke t s s o this initiative, called Craf t M a t t e r s , b r o u gh w e l c o m e r e l i e f. T h e p r o g r a m m e a l s o s p o t l i gh t e d v i s u a l a r t i s t s

who introduced themselve s and explained their work in a video series on the online NAF portal. T h e D a k a w a J a z z Fe s t i v a l , that has been bringing the voice s and music from the region onto a curated programme since 2002, is normally held live in the Dakawa venue in Makhanda. In 2021 the concer ts were r e c o r d e d fo r t h e o n l i n e Fe s t i v a l a t t h e M a n d e l a Bay Theatre Complex, in Gqeberha, and Guild Theatre in Eas t London. 6 4 p a r t i c i p a n t s i n e i gh t Jazz groups from all the districts in the Eastern Cape, along with 30 dancers, were among the line-up on t h e P r o v i n c e’s s h o w c a s e . Fe a t u r e d b a n d s i n c l u d e d Ur b a n C o n n e c t i o n ( f r o m t h e

B u f f a l o C i t y Me t r o p o l i t a n ) , Mo d e r n J a z z – Tr i o Vi s i o n Jazz Band (from Alfred Nzo), Zammore Jazz Band ( f r o m O R Ta m b o a r e a ) A f r o Gr o o v e s ( f r o m t h e Ne l s o n Mandela Bay area), Soul 2 Soul (Chris Hani Dis trict), M B M Yo u t h B a n d ( f r o m Jo e G q a b i ) , L a n ga r m ( f r o m Sarah Baar tman District) and T h a b o Lu ku b e n i a n d M a l i s o u l (from the Amathole area). Other well-known ar tis ts l i ke M a s i z o l e Fo l o l o, N a t h i Mankayi and Dumza Maswana w e r e a l s o o n t h e Fe s t i v a l b i l l . During the Eastern C a p e’s L i t e r a t u r e Fe s t i v a l , 35 books were launched and librar y ser vices could buy copies of the books. Amaz wi, in collaboration with the National Librar y of South Africa, also took

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

the occasion to launch t h e fo u r b o o k s w r i t t e n b y their Eastern Cape grant benef iciaries in an online event. The grant, dis tributed t h r o u gh t h e i r C e n t r e fo r t h e Book, publishe s a variety of authors in all the South A f r i c a n o f f i c i a l l a n g u a ge s . Z o n ge z i l e M a t s h o b a – I n t l a m b o Yo ku fe l ’a m a h a s h e (poetr y -drama) T h o z i Nge j u – Tr a m p l e t h e Tr a m p ( n o v e l ) S i p h o k a z i Mp o f u – Z a j i k’ i z i n t o ( n o v e l ) Vi r g i l Jo h n s o n & A n ge l i q u e S i m o n s – Ve r a a d Sonder Rigting (Afr ikaans poetr y) Other writers who launched or read from their books included isiXhosa debut n o v e l Kw a z i B a n i b y T h i n a N a m b a , L i z G o w a n s’ –

Butterf ly Bones (poetr y), N i s i D a n i e l s’ Wa s h i n g M y Ye l l o w B o n e s ( n o v e l ) , D r A m i t a b h M i t r a’s –A n a r c h y a n d t h e S e a ( p o e t r y ) , Je a n n i e Mc Ke o w n ’s – Fa l l Aw a ke ( p o e t r y ) a n d D a n W y l i e’s – T h e F l i gh t o f a B a t ( n o v e l ) . All of these Eastern Cape elements on the programme were nur tured and funded by the Eastern Cape G o v e r n m e n t ’s D e p a r t m e n t o f S p o r t , Re c r e a t i o n , A r t s & C u l t u r e w h o w e r e fo c u s e d on providing an oppor tunity fo r i n c o m e a n d e x p o s u r e fo r Eas tern Cape creative s. Speaking at the National A r t s Fe s t i v a l ’s o p e n i n g p r e s s b r i e f i n g, Fe z e k a N ko m o n y e , E a s t e r n C a p e M E C fo r S p o r t s , Re c r e a t i o n , A r t s a n d C u l t u r e , s a i d , “ We a r e u t i l i s i n g t h e fo u r t h i n d u s t r i a l r e v o l u t i o n to ensure that we give a

p l a t fo r m , p a r t i c u l a r l y t o the ar tis ts of the province, as well as the nation, to s h o w c a s e t h e i r c r a f t s” . Wi t h ‘ f i n d i n g w a y s’ a t h e m e o f t h e 2 0 2 1 N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l , a n d i t ’s b e c o m i n g c l e a r t h a t Eas tern Cape craf ts have a ga t e w a y t o a gl o b a l a u d i e n c e t h r o u gh t h e o n l i n e m e d i u m . D e s p i t e l o n g i n g fo r a r e t u r n to live and revisiting the Eas tern Cape Province, there is also a window of oppor tunity here that should not be shut.

S t i l l f r o m Z a m m o r e’s p e r fo r m a n c e a t t h e E a s t e r n C a p e S h o w c a s e D a k a w a J a z z Fe s t i v a l .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

A t e c h n i c a l r e h e a r s a l fo r Z i l i n a t G u y B u t l e r T h e a t r e .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

T H E F E S T I VA L O F T H E FUTURE BY MABEL MNENSA

T b o s e Mo r o k a w a ke s u p to a pounding headache, remnants of nausea in his throat, a s teady pain behind the top of his ears and limbs that ache from t h e p r e v i o u s d a y ’s t w e l v e hour drive from Cape To w n t o M a k h a n d a . W h o could have imagined that t h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l (NAF) would be such an e x t r e m e s p o r t i n 2 0 3 0 ? He m u s e s . T h e Vi r t u a l Re a l i t y (VR) headset he wore to the f irst show could be to b l a m e fo r m o s t o f t h e p a i n h e’s fe e l i n g — e v e r y t h i n g c o m e s w i t h s i d e e f fe c t s a n d fo r h i m , V R m e a n s nausea, no matter how many time s he use s his headset. It was wor th it t h o u gh a s h e r e c a l l s h o w

he was able to par ticipate in the theatre show as if h e w a s o n s t a ge a n d n o t a t h i s b a c kp a c ke r s . T h e h i gh l i gh t t h o u gh — t h e r e a s o n fo r t h e d r i v e — was an in-person live m u s i c s h o w. T h e s t o r i e s h i s m o t h e r, T h a n d i , h a d told him s tretch back y e a r s . He r f a c e w o u l d gl o w as she recalled the days o f b e i n g i n a p a c ke d r o o m appreciating the sounds of guitars, trumpets, vocals a n d t h e o c c a s i o n a l “ y e a h” from the crowd. The p e r fo r m a n c e s , a d y n a m i c dialogue between the ar tis ts and the audience. No o n e p e r fo r m a n c e was ever the same; the energy from the audience

impacting how the ar tists e n ga ge d . H a r n e s s e d c h a o s , the moment and the fe e l i n g, b e a u t i f u l . T h a n d i would say it was this that made her able to listen t o a n a r t i s t ’s s e t t w e n t y t i m e s , e a c h p e r fo r m a n c e b r i n g i n g w i t h i t d i f fe r e n t emotions. Wi t h t h o s e s t o r i e s i n h i s blood, it was inevitable that when NAF f inally made a limited number of in-person shows available, Tbose would be f irs t in l i n e t o b o o k . T h a n d i’s voice guided his choice s, her death still hits him out of nowhere and he a l m o s t c l i c ke d t w o t i c ke t s instead of one at the c h e c ko u t .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

D o g Ho u s e p e r fo r m e d a t N A F 2 0 1 8 . Ph o t o : J a n Po t g i e t e r.

It is a complex mix of emotions that f loods him i n t h e a l m o s t p a c ke d r o o m i n M a k h a n d a . E xc i t e m e n t , d i s b e l i e f, g r i e f, n o s t a l g i a — a n d i f h e’s h o n e s t — fe a r a l l c o m p e t e fo r p r i m a c y. Ev e n w i t h h i s “ y e a h s” m u z z l e d b y his surgical mask, he f inally fe e l s w h a t h i s m o t h e r s p e n t all those years tr ying to explain. It is a new normal his m o t h e r, a C OV I D - 1 9 c a s u a l t y, c o u l d n e v e r h a v e p r e d i c t e d . Wi t h r o l l i n g wave s of viruse s, crowded space s deemed a hazard, he

imagines what those shows p a c ke d b e y o n d c a p a c i t y i n M a k h a n d a m u s t h a v e fe l t l i ke . Pause. Wr i t i n g t h i s f r o m a somewhat bleak 2021, one can only speculate on what t h e fe s t i v a l s o f t h e f u t u r e w i l l fe e l l i ke . I f r a d i o k i l l e d t h e p o p s t a r, i t w o u l d n o t b e t o o f a r - fe t c h e d t o s a y t h a t C OV I D - 1 9 k i l l e d t h e live experience. Who would have anticipated a whole c a l e n d a r o f fe s t i v a l s b e i n g cancelled or being moved to the vir tual realm when

t h e t h e n M i n i s t e r o f He a l t h Zw e l i M k h i z e c o n f i r m e d the f irs t positive case of the re spirator y syndrome C o r o n a v i r u s , C OV I D - 1 9, o n 5 March 2020? Tr u t h b e t o l d , w e s t i l l a l l clutched onto hope even as t h e f i r s t c a s u a l t y, t h e C a p e To w n I n t e r n a t i o n a l J a z z Fe s t i v a l m e a n t t o s t a r t o n 2 7 March 2020 was cancelled. As the number of positive c a s e s g r e w, t h a t h o p e s l i p p e d a w a y. I n - p e r s o n fe s t i v a l s a n d live shows became carefully controlled raritie s, to be enjoyed from behind masks with appropriate social

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

dis tancing in place. The impact of the virus cannot be overs tated, but humans adapt and they adapt q u i c k l y. Wi t h o u r h o p e s pinned on the expected v a c c i n e r o l l o u t , p l a n s fo r e xc i t i n g, g r o u n d b r e a k i n g h y b r i d fe s t i v a l s t h a t accommodated a small live audience and vir tual events were imagined and launched a c r o s s t h e c o u n t r y. H o w e v e r, the best-laid plans came undone as the third wave herded the countr y back into l e v e l 4 l o c kd o w n . T h e h y b r i d N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l t h a t w a s d u e t o b e h e l d f r o m Ju n e t o Ju l y 2 0 2 1 f r o m M a k h a n d a , Jo h a n n e s b u r g, C a p e To w n t o screens all over the countr y w a s fo r c e d t o go f u l l y o n l i n e i n Ju l y. As we f ind ourselves in a

turbulent 2021 with rolling l o c kd o w n s , v a c c i n e d e n i a l , and que s tions around pos tv a c c i n e p r o t o c o l a t fe s t i v a l s , w e i m a g i n e w h a t o u r fe s t i v a l s w o u l d l o o k l i ke i n t h e f u t u r e and what role innovation will play in the metamorphosis. Un d e r s t a n d i n g t h e impor tance of innovation and collaboration in creative space s, NAF has par tnered w i t h Fu t u r e Fe s t i v a l s S o u t h Africa to explore what the 2 0 3 0 fe s t i v a l e x p e r i e n c e w i l l l o o k l i ke . Imagination is a powerful t o o l , a n d t h r o u gh t h i s project, ar tis ts Duduetsang Lamola (blk banaana) and Fr a n c o i s K n o e t z e a r e a b l e to harness a ‘collective imagination’. In an open call, the public is invited to c o n t r i b u t e t h e i r d r e a m s fo r

a f u t u r e fe s t i v a l , e x p l o r i n g what spaces and places could be possible. Drawing and incorporating from all the shared contributions, b l k b a n a a n a a n d Fr a n c o i s Knoetze will create an immersive 360 -degree video v i s u a l i s i n g a fe s t i v a l o f t h e future. T h e fe s t i v a l o f n o w To i m a g i n e t h e fe s t i v a l o f the future we need to f irs t u n m a p t h e fe s t i v a l o f n o w. I n S o u t h A f r i c a , fe s t i v a l s and live music events were hard hit by the unpredictable n a t u r e o f C OV I D - 1 9 a n d t h e implications it brings. In a study done by the South A f r i c a n C u l t u r a l O b s e r v a t o r y, 90% of the re spondents who were operating in the local live music indus tr y s tated they had lost income due

A s c r e e n g r a b f r o m t h e N A F 2 0 3 0 Fu t u r e Fe s t i v a l C o l l a ge - c o l l a b o r a t i v e a n d i n t e r a c t i v e p r o j e c t l e d b y a r t i s t s b l k b a n a a n a ( D u d u e t s a n g L a m o l a ) a n d Fr a n c o i s K n o e t z e , w h i c h a s ke d p a r t i c i p a n t s t o d r e a m t h e k i n d s o f s p a c e s , p l a c e s a n d p e o p l e t h e y w o u l d l i ke t o s e e fo r m p a r t o f t h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l t e n y e a r s f r o m n o w.

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

to the pandemic, this was despite the majority of these re spondents being e s tablished e n t i t i e s . Ad d i t i o n a l l y, a s t a g ge r i n g 2 5 % i n d i c a t e d that continuing with any elements of their business u n d e r l o c kd o w n w o u l d b e impossible.

Te c h i n a l s e t u p i n T h e R h o d e s Un i v e r s i t y Theatre on the f irs t day of NAF2021.

Te b o go Gx u b a n e i n Mo m m y, Mo m m y.

A dire situation, but also a p o s s i b l e s p r i n gb o a r d fo r e v e n t o r ga n i s e r s t o p u s h their own boundaries and to really think outside of the b o x . Fe s t i v a l o r ga n i s e r s a n d ar tis ts need to develop new w a y s o f e n ga g i n g w i t h e a c h other and the audience. They n e e d t o fe e d t h e d e m a n d fo r m o r e i n n o v a t i v e w a y s o f interacting with audience s via social media and alternative p l a t fo r m s . I n t h e fe s t i v a l o f t h e n o w, a n a r t i s t n e e d s t o go beyond pre senting their work fo l l o w e d b y a s e s s i o n f i e l d i n g que s tions from the audience, if the show is to be labelled as interactive. The fully online NAF in 2021 has given us a chance to gl i m p s e a n d e x p l o r e w h a t i s p o s s i b l e . Wr i t e r a n d e d i t o r, Dave Mann, mar velled at the i n n o v a t i v e c r e a t i v i t y o n display in Another Kind, a show produced by 2020 D i s t e l l P l a y w r i gh t w i n n e r A m y L o u i s e Wi l s o n . A n o t h e r Kind is de scribed by Mann as being “primarily a re sponse t o a n e e d fo r t h e a t r e i n a n o n go i n g p a n d e m i c ” , h e fur ther states that it is “an interactive, digital repositor y o f a p e r fo r m a n c e o n t h e w o r k s h o p f l o o r, a l o n g v i e w o f t h e a c t o f s t o r y t e l l i n g. ” The artists of NAF 2021 have not been deterred by t h e l i m i t a t i o n s b r o u gh t o n

b y C OV I D - 1 9, i n s t e a d t h e y h a v e fo u n d w a y s t o t a p i n t o t e c h n o l o g y, i n t e g r a t i n g digital tools to enhance t h e i r s t o r y t e l l i n g. M a n n , af ter seeing several theatre p i e c e s , r e m a r ke d “ T h e a t r e i s c h a n g i n g. Ev i d e n c e d b y the kind of work on show a t v i r t u a l fe s t i v a l s l i ke t h e N A F, i t i s n o l o n ge r s o r e l i a n t on a physical space or a t r a d i t i o n a l s t a ge , fo r o n e . ” Po s t N A F 2 0 2 1 There are many que s tions and a lot more unknowns, h o w e v e r, o n e t h i n g w e d o know is that we are never go i n g b a c k t o t h e o l d ‘normal’. As we think and r e i m a g i n e o u r fe s t i v a l s o f the future, there is a lot t o c o n s i d e r. A r e w e — a s inherently social beings — go i n g t o b e h a p p y t o p a y fo r, a n d e n j o y p e r fo r m a n c e s f r o m t h e c o m fo r t o f o u r h o u s e s , o u r “ y e a h s” t h e r e o n l y t o a n n o y o u r n e i gh b o u r s ? Ad d i n g t o t h e c o n u n d r u m i s that people have become far t o o c o m fo r t a b l e c o n s u m i n g a r t o n l i n e fo r f r e e , s o h o w fe a s i b l e w o u l d p u r e l y v i r t u a l e v e n t s b e ? Ho w d o w e l e v e r a ge t h e u n t a p p e d innovation capabilities to enhance both the vir tual and p h y s i c a l fe s t i v a l e x p e r i e n c e ? Fe s t i v a l s h a v e t o b e a g i l e i f they are to be succe ssful and s a fe . T h e h y b r i d m o d e l t h a t integrates both vir tual and in-person events is clearly t h e b e s t w a y, a n d t o p l a n go i n g s t r i c t l y v i r t u a l i f t h e n u m b e r o f p o s i t i v e C OV I D - 1 9 c a s e s r i s e s . T h i s m o d e l o f fe r s e xc i t i n g w a y s t o b u i l d o n t o

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

the live in-person events. Wi t h t h e v i r t u a l e x t e n s i o n o f t h e fe s t i v a l e x p e r i e n c e , fe s t i v a l go e r s c a n a f t e r a live session; ask the ar tis ts que s tions, network with o t h e r fe s t i v a l - go e r s , r e v i s i t sessions, interact with the work on display or even use VR or augmented reality to enhance their vir tual experience. When curating v i r t u a l fe s t i v a l s w e c a n now create intimate, real vir tual worlds within which t h e fe s t i v a l s e x i s t . We c a n extend the experience by p r o v i d i n g fe s t i v a l - go e r s w i t h i n t e r e s t i n g, p o s t -

fe s t i v a l c o n t e n t t h a t t h e y c a n i n t e r a c t w i t h . Fe s t i v a l s c a n n o w b e gl o b a l a n d a c c o m m o d a t e a h i gh e r thre shold of people. O r ga n i s e r s n o w h a v e t h e means to track their vir tual a u d i e n c e’s b e h a v i o u r, a s s e s s which components work a n d w h i c h d o n o t . Pe o p l e w h o c o u l d b e fo r e n o t a f fo r d t h e c o s t o f t r a v e l i n g, a c c o m m o d a t i o n a n d fe s t i v a l t i c ke t s , c a n n o w a t t e n d f r o m within their homes or they c a n go t o o n e o f t h e o t h e r v e n u e s h o s t i n g t h e Fe s t i v a l n a t i o n w i d e fo r t h a t o n e o n one human interaction we all

crave. The oppor tunitie s are endless. If ar t is the beautiful, sometimes chaotic but m o s t l y t r u e m a n i fe s t a t i o n ref lecting the hear tbeat and reality of its time, a r t fe s t i v a l s t h e n t a ke on the role of being the living experiences of these ref lections.

Ac a p e l l a S t r e e t C o r n e r p e r fo r m i n g t o a n e m p t y t h e a t r e d u r i n g t h e i r l i v e s t r e a m .

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

C U R AT E D P RO G R A M M E Afro Jazz Giants Hip-Hop Tribute 2020 Standard Bank Young Artist for Music, Nthato Mokgata

Baiuca Embruxo With support from the Spanish Embassy

Chaotic Pleasures 2020 Standard Bank Young Artist for Visual Art, Blessing Ngobeni

Between the Pillar and the Post The Market Theatre Laboratory

KGANYA 2020 Standard Bank Young Artist for Dance, Lulu Mlangeni With Support from The Market Theatre

Black is Blue Oupa Sibeko

Ha!Man & Anton - In Fearless Flow Francois le Roux, Anton Krueger

Cartographies of Survival, Breath, Beauty, Touch, Desire Siwela Sonke

Hedy! The Life & Inventions of Hedy Lamarr Heather Massie

*Chamber Concert Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra

Inertia: Ubungeyo Mpazamo Elwandle/ Nithi Ngubanina Lo Makanda? Zodwa Skeyi-Tutani

Seen Pha Kwa 2020 Standard Bank Young Artist for Theatre, Jefferson Tshabalala Sisonke Xonti 2020 Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz, Sisonke Xonti Acapella Narrative S’bane Acapella Afrika Mama Allegedly Mallika Taneja AnotherKind Amy Louise Wilson With support from Distell Antie Wi’oekal Faith Kinniar Arcade2021 Gavin Krastin Artist in Residence Purnaa Deb

Charter National Arts Festival Commission Continua Tony Miyambo, Phala O Phala Core Dump Francois Knoetze Covid Moons Clare Stopford Enough is Enough Rob van Vuuren Ethereality Kantarama Gahigiri *Gala Concert Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra Gat Innie Grond, Wond in My Siel (Hole in the Ground, Wound in my Soul) Byron Klassen

Girl with the Magic Paintbrush Larissa Don, Stella Don, Daniel Hutchinson Guy Buttery & The Gqeberha String Quartet Guy Buttery

Istimela Sendaba - Story Train 2021 ASSITEJ SA and Play Africa

Nature is Louder, Artist in Residence Lisolomzi Pikoli (Mr Fuzzy Slipperz) and National Arts Festival Nature is Louder, Artist in Residence Mook Lion and National Arts Festival Nature is Louder, Artist in Residence Ralarno Coutts and National Arts Festival Nature is Louder, Artist in Residence Sanelisiwe Singaphi and National Arts Festival Ndinxaniwe Qondiswa James Nothing Here Does Not Hear You James Webb

Kamphoer Theatrerocket Productions

Ogutu Muraya - Absence as Protest Points of Entry With support from The French Institute of South Africa (IFAS)

Land(lessness) National Arts Festival

Opera Meets Jazz Sibongile Mngoma

Lost Ground National Arts Festival

Oratorio Of A Forgotten Youth Mandla Mlangeni

It’s a Mess Khanyisa Bunu

Metsi Hannah van Tonder with support from the State Theatre National Arts Festival 2030 Collective Collage Francois Knoetze and Dudusang Lamola (Blk Banaana) Presented in association with Future Festivals

Peeling Shadows The 3rd Theatre Collective Ready to Live Robbie Collins Reflections Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra String Trio

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

Renewing our habits of Assembly Wolff Architects with Athi Patra Ruga and Anelisa Mangcu Renewing our habits of Assembly Wolff Architects with Ola Hassanian Renewing our habits of Assembly Wolff Architects with Vivien Sansour

The Very Big Comedy Show Rob van Vuuren and Taylor Made Productions Their Humble Abode Senzo Shabangu This Song Father Used to Sing Wichaya Artamat, Kyoto Experiment Traces of Memory Unmute

Scriptwriting 101 Workshop Writers Guild of South Africa

Umdiyadiya Wezile Mgibe

*Social Disturbing Xabiso Zweni and the Masifunde Creative Academy

Van Wyk, The Storyteller of Riverlea Zane Meas, Christo Davids With support from the Market Theatre

Swell Gavin Krastin The Apology Aaron McIlroy The Award Ceremony Mmabatho Montsho *The Children’s Concert Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra The Ecstatic Jeremy Nedd and Impilo Mapantsula With support from Pro Helvetia The History [TBC]: Refocusing the South African War Maureen De Jager The Listening Biennial Budhaditya Chattopadhyay, Brandon LaBelle, Israel Martínez, Yang Yeung The Magic Shell Jungle Theatre

White Noise Chester Missing and Conrad Koch Writing for Healing Workshop vangile gantsho With support from Distell Zilin Nashilongweshipwe Mushaandja With support from Arts of Africa and Global Souths research, Rhodes University, Makhanda

Eastern Cape Showcase presented by National Arts Festival and the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts & Culture. The Makhanda Film Festival - a series of masterclasses and workshops

The Eastern Cape Indigenous Music and Dance Ensemble Litfest - in partnership with Language Services The Dakawa Jazz Festival featuring: Urban Connection, Modern Jazz, MBM Youth Band, Langarm, Soul2Soul, Zammore Jazz Band, Afro Grooves, Thabo Lukubeni, Malisoul, Nathi Mankayi

Siya Charles The SN Project Siphephelo Ndlovu Standard Bank Youth Jazz Festival Standard Bank National Schools Band Under the direction of Shaun Johannes

Craft Matters - a pop-up showcase of Eastern Cape craft

Standard Bank National Schools Band Under the direction of Nduduzo Makhatini

Standard Bank Jazz Festival

Standard Bank National Schools Jazz Band - Meet the Band

Born Coloured Not Born Free Benjamin Jephta

Youth Performance: Durban High School Band

Feya Faku Sextet

Youth Performance: Pear Split

Good Vibrations Lira Judith Sephuma Justin-Lee Schultz and Gerald Albright Keenan Ahrends Trio, Featuring Domenic Landolf and Lukas Thoeni Kelenosi Bokani Dyer Mandisi Dyantyis Melvin Peters Trio Neil Gonsalves Trio OutoftheLoop Marcus Wyatt and Romy Brauteseth Restorians Jitsvinger Trio

Youth Performance: Moses Taiwa Molelekwa Arts Foundation Youth Performance: Instituto Anelo Youth Performance: Next Gen Big Band Youth Performance: Saint Andreu Jazz Band Youth Performance: Signe Up Youth Performance: St Andrew’s College & DSG Band Youth Performance: Motionsparret Quintet *denotes a cancellation due to lockdown

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

THE FRINGE #BringBackOurGirls Georgene de Wet

Bina.Pina Kamogelo Molobye

(extra)ordinary, (un) usual F Creations

Butlers and Bridesmaids (Radio Play) Slick ‘n Sleeve

(Wo)man Live to Move Dance Company

Buya Matheta Dance

Khaikari – The Awakening (Cape Flats Kung Fu) Metronome Productions

Careful Amaciko KwaZulu Theatre Production

11 Walls in 7 Days Cece Otto 2-4-1 Double The Fun - Pet Tale Cherryco

Clout Ziphelele Losi Comedy Love with Tseliso Masolane Tseliso

2-4-1 Double The Fun Cherry’s Magic Show Cherryco

Compassion, Love & Grace New Dawn Visions Productions

A long story short Saxola Ketshengane

Damsel in Distress Wela Kapela Productions

A Play on Words (Radio Play) Slick ‘n Sleeve

DE|COMPOSITION Response-Ability / Revolution Movement

A Star is Born: The rise and fall of Judy Garland Wela Kapela Productions

Dear Donald, Dear Hillary (Their Secret Correspondence) Sally Vahle

Acapella Street Corner Chamber Ensemble Alexander May I’Mpossible Alexander May As If The Rain Watched Over Her Collegiate Girls’ High School AZANIA Isigqi Somhlaba Art project Bed News RFM Arts Academy

Deus Nos Acudi - God Help Us Pak Ndjamena Project

Dream, Journey and Passion New Dawn Visions Productions Emandulo Village Songs Ne-AhtYah Enact Memory Archive Marcia Benedicta Peschke EOAH a noah and edgar episode 3 (to the moon and back) EOAH productions Fairy & Folk Tales Reckless Haven Productions Fed Mthokozisi Zulu Four Hands Piano Duo Girl with the Magic Paintbrush Daniel Hutchinson Gone But Not Forgotten Gowar Creative Hub

Initiation Is’Thatha Dance Project Isacholo Masifunde’s Academy of Creativity Isibazi Sabelo Cele Creations IsiXhosa Storytelling Explosion Izinwe Concepts iStimela Sendaba ASSITEJ SA Iva Collective: Umhlaba Ophezulu / Higher Ground Iva Collective Izibazi Zomendo Xiluva Collective Jam Every Other Day F Creations

Guilty Sihle Shaun Wilberforce

Kgosi Mapuru (An outcry from the North) Humbledrop Productions

Guru Indian Music I Saraswathi Padasalai School of Fine Arts

Khulani Umzimb’ Ukhalimali Imonti Jazz Band pty Ltd

Heart of Gold Thato Nkwe

KZN Philharmonic Orchestra: The Joy of Symphonic Music Concert 1 & 2 KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra

Dikakanyo The Art Cave

Humans Listen Point of Humanness

Dipalo_The Audio Version ASSITEJ SA

I am Nelisa Entertone

Don’t Try This at Home Brendon Peel Entertainment

In My Shoes Sydney Ndhlovu

I Think I’m Depressed Inyani Books Ile (Island, in French) Sophie Joans

Lesedi Khauhelo Maikhi

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

Let Me Reintroduce Myself, She’s Come Undone Lihleli Astraea Simonè Williams

BANG Entertainment

Let My Love Be Heard Rhodes University Chamber Choir

Perfect Day - Pictures from a Dark Room Circle Productions

Liminal - Documentary Joy Film Productions

Pieces of Paradize Cia Paraladosanjos

Looking forward Ariel Juana ft. Stanley Matlou and Simon Manana

Positive Raps With TNG TNG Records

Mad About the Boys Wela Kapela Productions Mafungwashe Rhodes University Drama Department Magroot-Man Places and Faces Theatre Productions Masimbonge Sessions Masifunde’s Academy of Creativity Amagents Themba Mahlangu Mobile Inertia Siphumeze Khundayi Mohlomong ke Fapane Maybe I’m different? Drizzles Productions Mommy mommy... Thami Majela My Bleeding Thing Zizipho Bam Next! Wela Kapela Productions Old soul waiting Mabu Art Foundation Out of the Can Can of Worms SA Out of the Red C

Private number Arts For Life Theatre Raise the Bar Innovative Talented Young Minds Resonating with the Earth Fahmeeda Omar Return to Organic Intelligent Seth X Roots Unleashed Conquerors Reggae Band Ocasia Rushion Booysen

The Brazilian Jazz Quartet Couch Concerts SA The Core AFDA Johannesburg The Fearless Warrior FBO Media and Supplier The Flower Hunters Maggie Gericke The Fountain of Youth Amen Ease Hip Intonga Entertainment The Gukurahundi Genocide Uloyiko The Magic of Sideshow Brendon Peel Entertainment The Memoir Monologues Anastasia Amy Vorisek The Shack Totem Production The Show Must Go Online Maritzburg College

Pamela Dyantyi Umnqa! - Never Defeated Imvelaphi Unmasked Lindzay Jade Naidoo Verloren Spark in the Dark War of the Gods Amaciko KwaZulu Theatre Production Wet&Dry Cia Paraladosanjos Your Perfect Life F Creations Weyisile (Conquered) KWANTU Designs, NPC Enough is Enough Rob van Vuuren Ready to Live Robby Collins It’s a mess Khanyisa Bunu

Ruth Love and Race Productions

Tainted Themba Mahlangu

Smoke and Mirrors Brendon Peel Entertainment

Lil.Mk Phanuel Molefe

Soul Claps Talk Soul Clap Sessions

Therapy Session Unrehearsed Projects

Star Dance Atlehang Mnisi

TORINAOSHI Tsukuba Indy LLC

From Within the Chrysalis GFI Art Gallery

Stories We Told Ourselves NewMusicSA

Tough Smile 4Play Theatre Productions

Paintings Jacqueline Griffin-Jones

Stuppet Stories Returns Carol Anne Preston

Trauma & Scars Senetisiwe Ginindza

Eastern Cape Landscapes Leseli Jack

Talk Show-Engaging Conversation New Dawn Visions Productions

Strong Women - Look Beyond the Obvious Ubuhle Beads

NMU Exhibition Nelson Mandela University

The 6th Floor Rethabile Headbush

uMalkom noMeri in: The Night Of Revelations

White Noise Chester Missing & Conrad Koch Creation of The World: |Xam Then and Now Bushman Heritage Museum

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

A RT I S T I C C O M M I T T E E T h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l i s h o n o u r e d t o b e s u p p o r t e d c u r a t o r i a l l y b y i t s A r t i s t i c Committee. The Ar tis tic Committee is a body comprised of experienced specialis ts from v a r i o u s a r t i s t i c d i s c i p l i n e s . T h e i r r o l e i s t o a s s e s s a p p l i c a t i o n s , m a ke o v e r a l l c u r a t o r i a l a n d p r o g r a m m e i n p u t , a n d s e l e c t t h e S t a n d a r d B a n k Yo u n g A r t i s t s , a l o n g w i t h t h e A r t i s t i c D i r e c t o r. I t w a s n ’t a n e a s y y e a r t o p l a n , a n d a n y n e w p r o g r a m m e d i r e c t i o n s w e r e s w a t h e d i n p a n d e m i c c o n s i d e r a t i o n s t o o. No n e t h e l e s s , t h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l A r t i s t i c C o m m i t t e e b r o u gh t g r e a t v i s i o n a n d c a r e t h r o u gh t h e i r p r o c e s s e s , a n d t h e i r s u p p o r t c a n n o t b e understated.

C A RO L I N E C A L B U R N

DAV I D A P R I L

T H E AT R E

DA N C E

JAMES WEBB

V U L I N D L E L A N YO N I

MUSIC

V I S UA L A RT S

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

T H E N AT I O N A L A RT S F E S T I VA L B OA R D T h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l o w e s a d e b t o f g r a t i t u d e t o t h e N a t i o n a l A r t s Fe s t i v a l b o a r d . T h e i r w i s d o m a n d p e r s p e c t i v e a s s i s t e d u s i n m a k i n g c h o i c e s a n d a s s e s s i n g r i s k t h r o u gh o u t a t u m u l t u o u s y e a r. T h e Fe s t i v a l w o u l d l i ke t o a c k n o w l e d ge s t h e t i m e a n d e x p e r i e n c e t h a t w a s s h a r e d b y t h e s e c o m m i t t e d i n d i v i d u a l s w h o b e l i e v e i n t h e a r t s a s m u c h a s w e d o, a n d t h a n k t h e m fo r t h e i r p a s s i o n , c o m m i t m e n t a n d g u i d a n c e .

M r Ay a n d a M j e ku l a ( Ch a i r ) Ms Elinor Sisulu P r o fe s s o r J a y P a t h e r Dr Siz we Mabizela Dr Siphiwo Mahala D r H l e z e Ku n j u Ms Michelle Constant Mr Sikkie Kajee Ms Annabell Lebethe M r To n y L a n ke s t e r Mr Paul Bannis ter Mr Mandla Mbothwe M s No m k h i t h a G y s m a n ( a p p o i n t e d No v 2 0 2 1 ) M r Ro b e r t Gr a c e ( a p p o i n t e d No v 2 0 2 1 ) P a t r o n s o f t h e N A F: Ju s t i c e A l b i e S a c h s a n d M r Gr a h a m e L i n d o p

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

THANKS TO THE TEAM Monica Newton (CEO)

Rucera Seethal (Artistic Director)

Kuhle Ngqezana (Online Content) Mabel Mnensa (Copywriter) Refilwe Mathapelo Mofokeng (Copywriter) vangile gantso (Copywriter) Nkhensani Manabe (Copywriter)

Nobesuthu Rayi (Executive Producer)

SEO and Digital Advertising - Crackerjack

Zikhona Monaheng (Fringe Manager)

Design Buntu Fihla/Fihla Consulting

Nicci Spalding (Technical Director)

Ryan Bruton (Operations Manager) Selina White (Village Green Director) Charl van Deventer (Finance Manager) Guy Nelson (Production Manager) Abigail Thatcher (Production Manager) Kay Mosiane (Production Manager) Jim O’Gorman (Stores Manager) Akhona Daweti (Box Office Manager) Frankie Murray (Project Manager) Nqobele Mbhele (Production and Finance Assistant) Lumka Klaas (Administration) Langaliphumile Nyanda (Travel Officer) Nomfundo Nondzube (Production Assistant) Danielle Wessels (Reception and Administration)

Website - Devlabs Daniel Bailey (Website and Online Staging) Reason Hlongwane (Developer) Elsabe Bester (Developer) Andrew Glanville (Developer) Chris Pretorius (Web Design)

Media/ Communications Sascha Polkey/Rabbit in a Hat (Communications Manager) Kuhle Mkhize (Communications Assistant) Steph Dvorak (Online Content + Social Media)

Photography Mark Wessels (Photographer - Cape Town & Makhanda) Rogan Ward (Photographer - Durban) Exhibitions Amy von Witt (Visual Art Production Manager) Tshegofatso Makube (Visual Art Production Manager) Juanito Featherstone (Visual Art Production Manager) Julia Ruth Arbuckle (Nature is Louder Assistant) Gemma Garman (Exhibitions Assistant)

Technical Team Armand Steenkamp Mthandazo Mofokeng Pule Sonnyboy Setlhako Benjamin Mills Mohammed Cloete Enrico Cloete Solly Thaane Aubrey Ndaba Carol Preston Gladman Balintulo Barry Strydom Sivu Gubula Matthews Phala Alexander Farmer Mandla Mtshali Keegan Adams Merle Gideon Onkgopotse Nene Craig Barnard Elijah Makgobenyane Sipho Makhathini Mlondi Mthethwa Cush Solomon Pearl Mohale Saggies Gininda Bafana Michael Kobedi Gift Sithole

National Arts Festival Experience 2021

T H AT M A D E I T H A P P E N Lerato Maruping Baxolisa Jacob Sandiso Memani Vincent Rasana Gcobani Sakhilev Ndabeni Anesipho Fobosi

Jeandré Strauss Bongani Eric Mlatsha Shannon Rutherford Simamnkele Saki Zandi Luxolo Gaga

Stores Crewman

Andiswa Kene (Supervisor) Ntombizodidi Lumka Beja Melikhaya Kene Nthabiseng Mothlabane Butsha Ngani Anelisa Sukula

Luzuko Mark Faxi Zukisa Mantawule Luvuyo Sandi Wandile Tyupu Khayelethu Nase Sinalo Malunga

Stores Assistants ThembinkosiBusakwe Malibongwe Melitafa Sithembile Nombombo Oyisa Ralo

Set-up Crewman Mzivukile Vivana Siviwe Reotholwi Mandevu

Front of House Isabel Strauss (Supervisor) Gerhardus Bosman Zulu Booi Susanna Bosman Dorothy Botha Valentia Daweti Yandiswa Madinda Sisanda Mdoko Bulelwa Mgqobele Denver Stuurman Pumla Tsili Xolile Peter Zingela Anelisa Songongo Siyabulela Eric Gora Abongile Dube Anathi Mjombose Fundiswa Ngindo Shannon September Versha Oerson Daniels Nolusindiso Zabo Michaela Natasha Wessels Pamella Precious Ndovela

Box Office/Customer Service

Drivers Sandi Monde Siphesihle Mafungwa

Stage Hand Cleaners Onke Antoni Vuyani Banga Zandile Faxi Avukonke Gulubele Anelisa Kahlana Eric Lubelwana Eric Madinda Ntsikelelo Elvis Maholo Phumeza Mali Simamkele Masutu Sphokazi Matomela Thembelani Mene Ntombelanga Mpati Luxolo Nombombo Xolelwa Papu Thanduxolo Radu Luvuyo Shwempe Siseko Stofile Luzuko Tshwaxa

SEE YOU AT THE NATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL 2022

23 JUNE TO 3 JULY

national arts festival experience

National Arts Festival Review 2021

Articles inside

THE ARTS AND GRIEF

VOICES OF WATER AND WIND: AN ODE TO THE ARTISTS WHO HELP US LISTEN

A FESTIVAL OF SURVIVAL AND HOPE

THE 2021 NATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL ADAPTS TO A CHANGED AND CHANGING WORLD