Samanthole Arts Foundation

Between month of October and November 2022 saw the city of Polokwane through Polokwane Auditorium at Library Gardens host series of activities under the banner of Limpopo Indigenous Arts Festival, henceforth LIAF, from artistic direction of Solly Hlabirwa Malaka. Art and theatre fanatics gathered around for the inaugural flighting of LIAF.  Nat Ramabulana, Solly Hlabirwa Malaka, Moses D Rasekele and Khehla Chepape Makgato (the author) at PolokwaneAuditorium 2022. Pic Supplied  It was for me a great privilege to be a part of this festival for various reasons. Firstly because of my debut theatre production I produced for The Market Theatre, Man Alone written and directed by Roelf Matlala was on the line-up. Another reason was to watch Moses D Rasekele's seminal work of directing one of the country's theatre classics Beautiful Things written by Selaelo Maredi staring Nat Ramabulana as Muzi and Andisiwe Mkuyana as Noni. The two- day festival was incredibly mesmerizing

Xoli B in his element during a recent show. Photo: Khehla Chepape Makgato Watching Xoli Bongwana dance is magical, watching him sing on stage is an enthralling and healing experience. From my humble knowledge of the local music, his performance from onset was resplendent of Jabu Khanyile’s influence. This punctuation was attested by his rendition of Khanyile’s popular number Sponky-Ponky. So many exciting spiritual moments attends the ear trained in the South African Afro Soul/Afro Ballad/Authentic contemporary music with a twang of Xhosa with employment of other local languages such as Sesotho, Setswana, IsiZulu and a bit of mouth-beats. Xoli B which is his stage name is an articulate, modest man with a distinctively mellow, soulful voice and the eagerness to be modest and humane with his audience. His first music solo concert at The Lesedi at Joburg Theatre on Friday, 21 May and Saturday, 22 May 2021 titled UZURI, featured a six-piece accompanying band. He continues to te

Ugandan-born collage artist, Benon Lutaaya draws inspiration from his own life experiences and explores issues related to homelessness, isolation, fear and identity. He works with paper collage, acrylics and mixed media to construct fragmented, fragile and visually rich collages that speak to his continuing journey of creativity through vulnerability. Following his most recent exhibition at GIBS, which we brought to you a few weeks ago, The Journalist’s Khehla Chepape Makgato speaks to Lutaaya about life as an artist, his obsession with hard work and being an entrepreneur. Ugandan born artist Benon Lutaaya. Photograph courtesy newvision.co.ug What are the origins of your interest in the cultural meanings of collage, and how did you come to evolve the wide-ranging, interdisciplinary approach to collage? First of all, I believe that, our life itself is a collage of a series of experiences. My interdisciplinary approach to collage was born out of my total lack of financial res

The reinterpretation of a groundbreaking eye-witness account of Marikana Massacre from a book to stage is significant. It was inevitable that at the occasion that marks a decade of tragedy that saw countless bodies of men fighting for the living wage of R12 500 then, be staged in some form of another art discipline to remind, resurrect and reposition our focus in a just and fair fight for many black people of South Africa living below the poverty line in the democratic South Africa 28 years on. It is interesting to observe that since the first all-black musical theatre piece King Kong debuted the stage in 1959, years later the musical in South Africa continue to enjoy share of honour and respectability.  Marikana – The Musical theatre production at the South African State Theatre to commemorate the Marikana massacre. Picture: Supplied Introducing the book We Are Going To Kill Each Other Today - The Marikana Story, Riaan de Villiers wrote: 'I was not at Marikana, and did

A stage piece set in a small mining town of muddled Democratic Republic of Congo called RUINED, written by a multi award winner and African American playwright Lynn Nottage opened at the John Kani's Market Theatre on the 12th August 2022. This play which won several awards including the prestigious  Pulitzer Prize  (2009) and  Drama Desk Award (2009) is directed by Clive Mathibe and performed by star-studded Hlengiwe Lushaba Madlala, Fulu Mugovhani, Shoki Mmola, Sami Maseko, Molefe Monaisa, Thapelo Sebogodi, Edward Nkomishe, Anele Situlweni and Vaughan Lucas with debut musical and compositional direction by Banda Banda. This colossal production has Hlomohang Mothetho on lighting design,  Karabo Legoabe on set and props, Motshidisi Monyaneng on constume design and stage managed by Lebeisa Molapo with Irvin Taylor as stage manager intern. Ruined Cast. Pic Supplied  This tear-jerking 2-hour piece is so captivating that you sit on the edge of your theatre seat the entire time, only

In days post-covid 19 pandemic where lockdown regulations are been scraped out, it is befitting to take some time off and mingle with theatre fanatics and bask at the talent of women displayed lavishly on stage. On Tuesday the 2nd of August 2022 I took the pleasure of attending the opening reception of  HerStory International Theatre Festival at the Soweto Theatre in Soweto. To say I was impressed, would be an understatement. The truth is I was blessed to sprawl at the talent, prowess and magic of indomitable black women from various countries at the festival.  This festival is a brainchild of Napo Popo Masheane, the Award-winning creative director, poet, playwright and activist. The opening night further made me appreciate the contributions made by women in our society on daily basis. Having being raised by my grandmother Motlamogadi Makgato and my sister Dikeledi Mothiba, alongside countless aunts, mothers and grandmothers from the village of Makotopong, this festival in my view paid

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