Samanthole Arts Foundation

TRIBUTE: 'I cannot go on stage armed with Stanislavski no, I am armed by aboDlangamandla', said Mncedisi Shabangu It would not be an overstatement to say that Mncedisi Shabangu is one of the most influential theatre makers, television actors and arts educators in the contemporary theatre and entertainment sector of South Africa, as evidenced by the tributaries generated the world over, since his passing on Sunday the 24 th July 2022 aged 49. His work has been lavished with theatre and television awards including Standard Bank Young Artists Award, Fleur Du Cap for best actor and SAFTA. His performances were watched and appreciated not only in the country but the world over. His collaborations with some of leading figures in the arts such as John Kani, Gregory Maqoma, Lara Foot and William Kentridge, to mention a few, attest to my opening assertion of this eulogy. Mncedisi Baldwin Shabangu. Picture Credit: Facebook In order to get to the crux of my tribute to Mncedisi 'The

Tribute to Dr Don Mattera  My first encounter with Don “Bra Zinga” Mattera was through his work, a poetry anthology of his, to be specific. It was in 2008 at the Rhodes Park Library In Kensington that I first interacted with his world. Seven years later, he would grace one of my Children’s Book Clubs with his presence at the very same library when we celebrated an anniversary. He graciously performed to the gallery of elated kids. I loved children so much and always advocated for their protection, good health care and education that will propel them for active citizenship. Khehla Chepape Makgato with Don Mattera at The Rhodes Park Children’s Book Club in  2015. Mattera was, in person, a remarkable human being. Few times in which I was privileged to be at events he was in, I always marvelled at his grace and poise. One of his famous quote every time he took a podium at artsy gatherings is that ‘On your marks, get set, look back and see who you could pick before you go’.  Th

  ‘How do you put a nation’s history on stage?’ is a question that comes to mind when engaging historically nuanced theatre productions such as Kunene and The King staged at the Joburg Theatre from 25 th May to 19 th June 2022. This play is written by John Bonisile Kani, arguably the South Africa’s most important theatre legend and also performed by him alongside yet another important thespian ever to come out of South Africa, Michael Richard. This piece is star-spangled in its entire outfit for it is directed by Janice Honeyman, multi-award winning artistic director with lighting by Mannie Manim, the co-founder of the Market Theatre with Barney Simon. On the stage, with the setup taking you into the house in a suburb of Killarney, the overture music by Sibongile Khumalo welcomes you, Theta Wathula Nje playing softly in the background. The song was originally composed by Victor Ntoni. Overture music on stage is there to prepare the audience of what is to happen, it is a reflection o

The national department of Sports, Arts and Culture has been in the news again - not because it is introducing proper arts education in schools, not because it building new provincial art museums and galleries, not because it is building community art centres, not because it is implementing strategies for audience development for theatres, galleries and museums BUT because it has proposed possibility for an installation of a “monumental” flag, 100m in height, to serve as a national landmark and tourist destination to the tune of R22m. The department of sports, arts and culture plans to spend R22m on installing a flag that is more than 100m in height. Stock image.  Image:   123RF/rawpixel Defending this decision despite the public outcry, Minister Nathi Mthethwa said “And it’s disingenuous to say it's not important, if it's not important, your sister organisation AfriForum wouldn't be in court today fighting for the old flag.  So I think we must clarify this thing

  This compilation of black women artists, emanates from the misconception that there are very few practicing women artists in South Africa. The way the visual art structure is designed, only few black artists make it to the top let alone black women artists. I would like to honor and celebrate these artists and share their work with general public who may not have known them before. I say with this blog post, KNOW THEIR NAMES and CHECK OUT MORE OF THEIR WORKS ONLINE. The following artists are arranged in no chronological order. Suffice to say there are still many more. Helen Sebidi, detail of  The Dispossessed , 2011-2012. Acrylic on canvas. 165 x 220 cm. All images courtesy of the Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg. 1. Helen Mmakgabo Mmapula Mmankgato Mmakgato  Mmakgabo Mmapula Mmangankato Helen Sebidi  (5 March 1943) is a South African artist born in Marapyane (Skilpadfontein) near Hamanskraal, Pretoria. She  lives and works in Johannesburg. Sebidi's work has been represented in

Can Themba - The Making and Breaking of the Intellectual Tsotsi is a captivating piece of work chronicled by Dr Siphiwo Mahala, arguably the most clinical contemporary scholar of Can Themba. It is a treat for those who appreciate the African literary work and those fascinated by how literary culture contributed to the revolution of liberating black people from the chains of apartheid and white supremacy. Mahala brings forth the dynamisms of the character of Can Themba, born Daniel Canodoce Themba,in a simple dictum usually unexpected from a seasoned scholar or academic who is now a senior lecturer in the Department of English at the University of Johannesburg. “To understand Can Themba,to understand the forces that made him and broke him, we need to get inside the House of Truth where his life unfolded” (Mahala, 2022). The reviewer in his studio reading Can Themba The Making and Breaking of the Intellectual Tsotsi by Siphiwo Mahala.  Mahala let us inside the House Of Truth, Can Themba