Samanthole Arts Foundation

The Letter Reader  tells an intuitive coming-of-age story shot in a remote mountain village in the magical Drakensberg - it is impossible not to enjoy the scenery of the veld, of open spaces with earth huts planted scarcely on this dusty and misty village, the simple beauties of river and mountains, the clean line of the horizon. It highlights the power of the pen and the written word through the eyes of a 12-year-old boy, Siyabonga affectionately called Siya in the film. The 30-minute film which was released in late 2018, is currently streaming on Netflix and Showmax. The drama is about a young Johannesburg boy called Siyabonga played by Bahle Mashinini, who relocates to a village in KwaZulu-Natal to live with his grandmother while his parents work through their marital problems. Many people can relate to Siya's life having to go stay with his grandmother because grandmothers played and continue to play a pivotal role in cushioning children from the traumas of failed marriages or

Today I feature on this blog arguably one of the pioneers of modernist Black South African theatre makers. Selaelo Maredi is synonymous to local and international theatre making. Maredi the actor, director, playwright, teacher movie star and mentor having been one of the founding members of Experimental Theater Workshop 71 founded in 1971 which propelled him for reaching greater heights in the global theatre industry.  I met him for the first time few years ago at the Olive Tree Theatre in Alexandra township during the opening reception of Roelf Matlala's play titled Birthday   . This was after many years of cajolement by Matlala to meet this great man because Matlala he thought we will relate, which we did as Maredi affectionately calls me Mahlo A Tau - Lion's Mane. However, I have encountered his work long before that through my friends Roelf Matlala and Moses Rasekele D who both at some point produced and directed Maredi's work. Rasekele produced and directed Maredi'

Professor Mongane Wally Serote pic by African News Agency  This is rather a difficult task and one of the first attempts to review a book for my blog, especially of a national Poet Laureate, Professor Mongane Wally Serote. I first came across his work when I was in high school through his poem called City Johannesburg . I loved this poem so much that I plagiarized it, I did with it as I pleased. Replaced Johannesburg with Phomolong which was the name of my high school. I was incredibly proud of myself. I was excited and I showed this poem together with others I wrote to my English teacher Mr. Dan Marolen. From reading just first line, Mr. Marolen remarked 'Chepape this is not your poem but that of Professor Mongane Wally Serote. I am glad he influenced you to attempt writing poetry."  Later after high school when I moved to Johannesburg to study art, I then encountered Professor Serote through interviews he conducted that were screened at Johannesburg Art Gallery w