There are all kinds of activities on the go in Newtown for the Women’s Day weekend, from dance and poetry to jazz, exhibitions and book launches.
Mary Fitzgerald Square – traditional dance
9 August

Festivities start at 9am with a traditional dance programme on Mary Fitzgerald Square presented by ACUMDA and the Gauteng Province of Sport, Arts, Recreation and Culture. Mosadi Otswara Thipa Kabohaleng celebrates women’s right to be, as well as acknowledging their efforts in social life and nation building. This promises to be an experience of extravagant costume and colour, of soothing traditional music with finely crafted dance choreography. Exuberant performances will be done by girls, young women and women.
Sci-Bono Discovery Centre – free entrance to women and girls on Women’s Day
9 August

Sci-Bono will be offering a free visit to the discovery centre for all women on Women’s Day. This will include the group of people that they visit with, whether it is a group of friends or their families. In addition to being able to enjoy some of the most interesting and interactive exhibits in the country, they will be able to enjoy extraordinary science shows and some fun hands-on science workshops.
Moving into Dance – The Woman in Me
9 August

Moving into Dance is hosting a dance workshop from 10am to 12 noon at their new building on President Street. The theme is ‘The Woman in Me’. It is a celebration of womanhood through dance and creative movement, a time for woman to get away from their routines and focus on themselves being the powerhouses that they are in family and society. All women are welcome and the workshop is free of charge.
The Lab – Pages of Dedication
9 August

Gladys Agulhas Theatre Works presents Pages of Dedication, a collaboration including dancers from Agulhas Theatre Works learnership programme, children and senior citizens from Eldo’s. There will be performances at 1pm and 5pm on 9 August at The Market Laboratory.
Bassline – Sibikwa Women Word Slam
9 August

Also on 9 August between 12pm and 6pm at the Bassline emerging poets will participate in a word slam about women. This event is part of a festival hosted by the Sibikwa Arts Centre and this year’s theme is Seriti sa basadi or women’s dignity. Young female poets from the Basadi group in Kwa-Zulu Natal will make their second appearance in Gauteng. A new group of poets from Free State who recently appeared at the Grahamstown National Festival of the Arts will be participating. From Gauteng we have Sistah Raphulu, Buwa Africa and Poets of Light amongst others. Throughout the event an open stage will be available for poets to buy the ‘mic’ for R5 for a five minute slot. A DJ will keep the energy going throughout the afternoon. Audiences can expect to be wowed by the talent. The festival continues at the Sibikwa Arts Centre in Benoni on Monday 10th August 2009 from 10am to 4:30pm.
Sci-Bono Auditorium – Mini film festival
9 August

A film programme including screenings and discussions with directors and producers supported by the Gauteng Film Commission will take place in the new auditorium at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre on 9 August at 3pm. Various industry practitioners will be available to interact with young women with an interest in joining the film industry.
Xarra Books – Launch of The 30th Candle
9 August

A new book entitled ‘The 30th Candle’ by Angela Makholwa will be launched at Xarra Books at 2pm.
Museum Africa – The Jozi Book Fair
8 and 9 August

The Jozi Book Fair hosted by Khanya College and Botsotso Publishers takes place all day on 8 and 9 August at Museum Africa. The book fair brings together publishers, writers, translators, book distributors, libraries, resource centres, readers and the general public. The programme includes book launches, conversations, poetry readings and panel discussions. A full programme can be viewed by visiting www.newtown.co.za.
Museum Africa – Face Her
9 August

Face Her, a photograph exhibition opening at Museum Africa on Sunday afternoon at 4pm, showcases the work of emerging photographers from the Market Photo Workshop, inviting a dialogue about women’s lives and gender in our society. The images presented here show us faces we’ve seen before, so many archetypes and bear witness to the experiences of women across a multiplicity of locales, roles and ages. They also reflect on the lives, dreams and aspirations of these photographers as the new observers, producers and commentators. All too often, the ways in which people portray others is a reflection on the ways in which they choose to portray themselves. Here we celebrate women, in a fragment of time, in a slice of light, in Southern Africa.
1 Central Place Courtyard – Photographic projections
9 August

The Market Photo Workshop is presenting a public screening of select photographic works in celebration of Women’s day on Sunday. The screening will take place in the courtyard of No 1 Central Place, Newtown, from 8pm to 10pm. The works being screened are all drawn from previous group exhibitions, curated by the Market Photo Workshop, which were exhibited as part of previous Newtown Women in Arts Festivals. Included in the screening are works from celebrated photographers and Photo Workshop alumni such as Nonsikelelo Veleko, Zanele Muholi, Sabelo Mlangeni, Tracy Edser, and Musa Nxumalo among others. Works from exhibitions as varied as In Transit, Chances are, Face her, and Seeing Women are going to be screened. Each exhibition, approached thematically, contains work geared towards a curatorial approach that responds to issues around gender roles, women and the social environments they occupy. No 1 Central Place has convenient underground parking available and is across the road from Mary Fitzgerald Square.
Mary Fitzgerald Square, Jeppe Street – The Fast Art Girls
9 August

The Fast Art Girls will surprise and delight. After intense mayhem caused on the sidewalk outside Joburg Art Fair earlier this year, the Fast Art Girls will again make a much-demanded second appearance in their flashy cheap art-sauce trailer during the Newtown Celebrates Women’s Day weekend - on Sunday night outside Cappellos on Jeppe Street. The Fast Art Girls with their Fast Art Trailer, exchange their ideas about Art, Value and Viennas. A range of their exclusive, authentic artworks is available, to anyone wanting to engage with them. Don’t miss the opportunity to acquire one of their sought after and highly valuable products.
Nikki’s Oasis – Women in Jazz
8 and 9 August

Nikki’s Oasis presents ‘Women in Jazz’ with the Hlulani Hlangwane Quartet. Hlulani is a South African born female Jazz singer, arranger, and composer who has dedicated her life to music. Whilst studying jazz at the University of Cape Town, she performed in venues around Cape Town with a trio of students she had met at UCT. Her style is varied – she mixes soul and R&B into her sets and when she isn’t performing, she is usually composing contemporary music or arranging jazz standards. The band will perform at 20h00 on Saturday 8 July and at 16h00 on Sunday 9 August.
Sophiatown Bar Lounge
9 August

Sophiatown Wathint’ umfazi wathint imbokodo is offering free neck and shoulder rubs for all women customers, live music and poetry by Jesica, the song poet.
Ko’Spotong
9 August

At Ko’Spotong there will also be free neck and shoulder rubs for women, live music by pop Idol finalist, Thabs, poetry by ‘Buya Afrika’ and a female DJ line up.
Cappello
9 August

Basadi@Cappello starts at 2pm on 9 August with a chocolate fountain, complimentary drinks for women on arrival and female DJs to get you into a party mood.

There’s just one month to go and counting; on 29 August, film producers The Film Factory and their team start filming SA’s newest horror movie - Night Drive.

It is an emotionally charged and terrifying journey into the dark heart of the African Bushveld.

Night Drive is a gritty South African thriller/horror, set against the backdrop of the beautifully romantic African Bushveld, where an eclectic mix of tourists is left stranded during a night drive. It is only when they realize that they are being hunted by a group of poachers that the terror truly begins. The film is set in the present day and over one night only.

The Film Factory felt it was a natural choice to approach director Justin Head to write and direct Night Drive, known for his passion for Africa and the bush, and already now in pre-production he’s bringing a rawness to the project, ensuring audiences will be riveted to their seats as they watch the drama unfold.

Added to this is the “who’s who” of actors who have jumped at the chance to star in the movie; from seasoned theatre veterans to high profile television faces to fresh new talent. The stellar cast includes, amongst others; Corine Du Toit (Egoli, Getroud Met Rugby), Brandon Auret (Isidingo, Hansie – The Movie, Angels Song) , Leroy Gopal (Backstage, Home Affairs, Scarred Instinct), Greg Melvill-Smith (Mr Bones, 7de Laan, The Bang Bang Club), Clare Marshall (Run for your Wife, Wife begins at 40, Feast of the Uninvited), Yule Masiteng (Mzansi, Scandal, Jozi H), David Sherwood (Shaka Zulu, King Solomon’s Mines, Hansie - The Movie) and Akin Omotoso (Generations, Big Oakes, Isidingo).

Producers C A van Aswegen and James Carroll are still staying “mum” about who will be playing the lead character role but confirm that after a nationwide search, audiences will be extremely happy with who has been cast as South Africa’s next action hero, a face instantly recognizable to many television drama series’ fans.

Says Van Aswegen; “From the outset, we have had plans for Night Drive to be released internationally. Since ‘The African Safari’ plays such an important role in experiencing the ‘dark continent’, there is going to be an immediate connection and affiliation with audiences everywhere in the world, not only in South Africa.”

He continues; “We have already received tremendous interest from international shores to release in other territories, so with this in mind we needed to cast an actor who possessed the qualities of an international star. After a long search, not being prepared to settle for second best, we believe we have found him! We will shortly be making his identity known… watch this space for details!”

Night Drive is currently in pre-production and goes onto set on various locations around South Africa, on 29 August and films until the end of September 2009 with plans to release in 2010. More information will be released along the journey to terror…
Night Drive produced by: The Film Factory
Producers: C A van Aswegen, James Carroll
Co-producer: Susana Kennedy
Writer/Director: Justin Head
Release date: 2010
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Behind the Scenes
• Night Drive is the second movie this year from The Film Factory’s stable, to go on set, as Bakgat! 2 has been on set since June and are wrapping this week.
• These two movies form part of The Film Factory’s ambitious “Launch Sequence Project” whereby they have committed to producing three movies within the space of one year, from concept to production. Their third movie Superhelde begins pre-production in October 2009.

The Film Factory – A History
The Film Factory was established in 2003 for the production of the South African/Nigerian co-production feature film Blood Hunt, and comprises of 3 young and innovative, out-of-the-box thinkers; Danie Bester, C A van Aswegen and James Carroll.

Right from the outset, The Film Factory has pioneered their way forward, providing the entertainment industry with a number of “firsts” along the way:
• Pinky Pinky (2005) was a short film co-written and produced by James Carroll while still at AFDA, as his graduation film. It is the most played short film on M-Net/DSTV. The Film Factory is currently developing it into a feature film.
• Ouma Se Slim Kind (2007) – the first South African film to be released digitally. The Film Factory produced the film and facilitated post production. Ouma Se Slim Kind was South Africa’s official submission in the Foreign Language Category in 2008’s Academy Awards.
•Bakgat! (2008) – The first independent film that was developed from concept to final delivery all done in-house. Bakgat! 2 is currently on set with plans to release 2010.
• The Launch Sequence Project (2009) whereby three movies will be produced and financed independently by one production company within a one year period.

The Film Factory is a boutique facility, following new age principles in film with a strong belief in the advantages of digital innovations. They strive to continually set new trends, pushing the boundaries that are currently in existence, to ensure that South African audiences receive the best films possible in a league of their international counterparts.

The Film Factory has also notched up an impressive list of credits in various other entertainment genres:

Television Documentaries
The Film Factory have provided post production on over 40 documentaries including a tribute series documenting the life and times of Nelson Mandela, “Counting the Booty” – a series highlighting the effects of the Angolan Border War for which “Betrayed” was nominated for a SAFTA (2008) and “Afrikaner, Afrikaan” – a documentary investigating the identity of the Afrikaner today.

Television Drama Series
Post production has been provided on many television series, including Kruispad (which received 5 Veertjie awards earlier this year) and currently Getroud Met Rugby – KykNet’s highest rated show ever.

Television Music Shows
MTV Base – producing a 1 hour documentary on “the making of the music video” for Gabon and editing and providing post production on a number of TRL episodes.

Music Videos
The Film Factory has produced over 50 music videos for the South Africa’s hottest artists including Karen Zoid (“Kaapstad” voted as one of MK’s top 10 best videos of 2008), Glaskas, ef-eL, Shaun V, Melanie Lowe, Johnny Neon, Melktert Kommissie, Albert De Wet, Incha (featuring Danny K and HHP) and Hi-5 – “Kinders van Die Wind” winning a GMT Award in 2005 for Best Music Video.

Theatre is thrills, lights, laughter and tremendous fun.  It’s imagination, magic… and excitement!

The National Children’s Theatre Workshops (NCT) are directed by multi-award winning Joyce Levinsohn, who has had many years experience in bringing theatrical arts alive, while the NCT’s highly experienced, dedicated and specialist teacher/actors facilitate the workshops.

NCT provides challenging, innovative and stimulating Theatre Workshop classes on a weekly, year-round basis for children aged 7-17, giving all children the opportunity to develop their communication skills, unleash their imaginations and self-confidence and powers of expression.

The syllabus includes drama, improvisation, script reading, singing, musical appreciation, mime, physical theatre, public speaking, modern, hip-hop and African dance. A TV presentation course will be offered according to the demand.

Learn theatre techniques in a real theatre. The Saturday morning Theatre Workshops are presented at the National Children’s Theatre, 3 Junction Avenue, Parktown in Johannesburg, and will be starting the third term on Saturday 8 August, until Saturday 19 September 2009. Times are from 09:30 to 12:00 noon.

The cost is R70 per child per session. Fees are payable for the term and depend on how many weeks there are in the term.

Levinsohn simply says, “Our training doesn’t just help youngsters perform on stage. Once they gain confidence, they perform better in life.

The workshops have been made possible by the generous support of the National Arts Council, Department of Arts & Culture, and the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund.

For more details please contact Sue on 011 484 1584 mornings only or admin@jyt.co.za
Visit our NCT’s website: www.jyt.co.za

Those who could not experience the Amaz!ng vibe at the National Arts Festival this past July can still get a taste of the Grahamstown magic at various theatres across the country in the forthcoming months.

One of the Festival Main programme productions that will be making its way to Cape Town in August is Mike van Graan’s hard-hitting Iago’s Last Dance, directed by Lara Bye. It will be running at the Artscape Arena Theatre from the 11th – 22nd of August. This challenging HIV/Aids drama premiered at the National Arts Festival this year, and also ran at the National Schools Arts Festival. Justin Wilkinson`s hilarious comedy Buttler’s and Botox, selling out at the Festival as part of the Fringe Comedy programme, will be on at the Artscape from 25 – 29 August.

The Baxter Theatre in Cape Town will be hosting sell-out comedian David Newton from the 20th - 22nd of August with his popular Grahamstown tribute, “Best of the Fest”. Newton brought three different comedy shows to the Festival this year, with sold-out performances across the board. Apart from Newton’s two own one-man shows, he produced, directed and co-wrote “Dekaf” with upcoming comedian and actor Sivuyile “Siv” Ngesi, who will be the opening act for Newton’s “Best of the Fest”.

Jeremy Crutchley’s 40 characters, all played by him, will also make an appearance on the Baxter stage in the Festival sell-out, I am my own wife, written by Doug Wright and directed by Janice Honeyman. The season is extended to the 15th of August due to public demand. The Baxter will also see Festival veterans Liz and Nicholas Ellenbogen’s back in action with the evergreen A Midsummer Night’s Raiders from 19 August – 5 September. The Ellenbogens celebrated 20-years of Raider’s at this years’ Festival with sold-out performances.

Popular Festival duo, opera sensation Zanne Stapelberg and classical guitarist James Grace, who brought Canciones Espanolas to Grahamstown’s Main Music stage, will both be performing at the Klein-Karoo Klassique Festival, running from the 14 – 16 August in Oudsthoorn. Canciones Espanolos will also return to the stage at the Aardklop Festival in Potchefstroom on the 3rd of October.

Gauteng won’t be missing out either, with Ntshieng Mokgoro’s (Standard Bank Young Artist Award Winner for Drama 2009) The Olive Tree, running at the State Theatre in Tshwane from the 4th – 23rd of August. The State Theatre will also be hosting Festival Fringe production, The Report to an Academy, written by Franz Kafka, directed by Karoly Pinter with Sello Maake ka Ncube, from 4 September – 4 October. Ben Voss, directed by Janice Honeyman, can also be seen in Festival Fringe Comedy favorite Beauty and the BEE at the State Theatre from 6 – 25 October.

The Market Theatre in Johannesburg also hosts two productions that were part of the Festival’s Main programme, as well as one of the Fringe favorites. Fred Khumalo’s Touch my Blood, adapted for the stage and directed by James Ngcobo, will run until the 23rd of August, alongside Theatre Tallipot’s spectacular dance creation Ma Ravan. Ma Ravan will also be at the South African State Theatre from 27 – 29 August as part of the Capital Arts Festival. Utlwanang Theatre’s political satire Mr. Flatnose, that formed part of the Fringe Comedy programme, will also be running at the Market until the 16th of August.

South African funny-man-turned-dance-sensation Rob van Vuuren, who starred as himself in Rob van Vuuren is Rob van Wurin at the Festival, will be entertaining audiences at the Joburg Theatre Complex from the 11th – 22nd of August.

The Wits Downstairs Theatre hosts Lozenge, the suppression of pain from 30 July – 8 August. This physical theatre production is directed by Kieron Jina, and was the official Wits School of Arts entry to the National Arts Festival in 2009. The Wits Amphitheatre will also welcome Atandwa Kani and Nat Ramabulana on stage from 28 July – 1 August and 5 – 22 August, with ID Pending and Hayani, directed by Warren Nebe. This is presented by The Company Laboratory, a professional company for Wits graduates hosted by Wits Dramatic Arts, in collaboration with the Wits Transformation office and the Carnegie Corporation.

The University of the Freestate’s Mmametsi, also featured as part of the Student Theatre programme at the Festival, will be running at the Sceana Theatre in Bloemfontein until the 31st of July. Suitcase Stories, directed by Amy Jephta and Nadia Caldeira was the University of Cape Town’s Festival production, and will be on at the UCT Drama Department’s Arena Theatre until the 1st of August.

Other Fringe highlights travelling the country include Iain “Ewok” Robinson’s stand-up show Spitfire (Kearsney College Auditorium, 15 August), and songstress Nianell performing in Polokwane on the 8th of August, as well as on the 20th of August in Durban.

Sepoko Summit by Ghamakhulu Diniso of Sharpeville will be one of the highlights of the Khanya Theatre Festival in Johannesburg CBD. This festival brings seven plays from the Baxter Theatre’’s annual Ikwezi Theatre Festival in Cape Town to Joburg, and will be running until the 7th of August.

Festival hit The Parlotones will be performing on the 1st of August in Howick.

The Famished Road, based on the award-winning novel and writings of Ben Okri and directed by Helen Iskander, will form part of the Aardklop programme in Potchefstroom from the 1st – 3rd October.

While these and other 2009 Festival gems continue to delighting audiences across the country, the National Arts Festival management has now turned its attention to organising the 2010 event, which coincides with the FIFA World Cup and will be extended to 15 days, starting on 20 June 2010.

For those wishing to apply to participate on the main programme, you have until 15 August 2009 to do so.

Detailed proposals for the Main Programme should include:
• Background of the institution, organisation or individual submitting the proposal
• A narrative description of the production / exhibition / performance
• Brief narrative biographies of the principal artists in / proposed for the production / exhibition
• An artistic statement motivating why the work should be presented at the 2010 Festival
• A preliminary budget.

The following must also be included with the proposals:
Theatre:  a play-script or a script in progress
Music:  CD
Dance:  DVD
Visual Arts: a portfolio (if applicable) or full details about the works for the exhibition.
Cross-disciplinary or multi-disciplinary proposals should include at least two of the items listed above in the proposal.

Proposals for genres which are not listed above must include samples of previous works and as much detail as possible so that the Festival Committee have all the relevant information on which to base their recommendations.

Please check detailed requirements for individual disciplines on the website, www.nationalartsfestival.co.za.

Domestic violence comes under the spotlight in Domestic: A Women’s Day Exhibition at GoetheonMain from 6 to 28 August.

Domestic violence thrives in South Africa. Those who are not directly involved tend to ignore it, and those who are, would rather not talk about it. The topic is shrouded in a secrecy motivated amongst others by intimidation, shame and the fear of stigmatisation. Sometimes financial dependence prevents victims from speaking out, at other times cultural expectations are to blame, with many factors adding to the already complex relationship between victim, perpetrator and the outside world.

For Domestic, ten female artists including Jodi Bieber, Reshma Chhiba, Zanele Muholi, Alison Kearney and Gabrielle Goliath will exhibit work that is the visual expression of a personal dialogue each one has conducted with a woman who is in some way affected by, or victim of domestic violence.

Curators, Jacki McInnes and Melissa Mboweni, believe that by telling the particular stories of affected individuals, the exhibition will have more relevance for people who may themselves be affected. In addition, the idea of ‘individual stories’ aims to dispel the myth that women affected by domestic violence have character defects and in some way ‘bring domestic violence upon themselves’. The curators say: ‘South Africa boasts one of the most progressive Constitutions in the world and yet our advancement towards human dignity, safety and personal fulfilment will continue to be dogged as long as prejudice, ignorance and social inequality muddy the waters’.

The curators hope to stimulate a dialogue that encourages an understanding of the circumstances and rationales behind domestic abuse. Visual art is able to speak a universal language and can also provide a less threatening space for negotiation on matters not easily verbalised. For these reasons McInnes and Mboweni believe that the show can play a vital role in the creation of public awareness where theorising and promulgating of laws often fail.

Exhibition opens: Thursday 6 August at 18h30.
Artists’ walkabout: Saturday 15 August at 12h00.
GoetheonMain, 245 Main St, in downtown Johannesburg.

The Faculty of the Arts at the Tshwane University of Technology is holding a seminar on Making Business Sense of Fashion Technology.
It will be presented by Professor Michael Ogembo Kachienga’ (PhD) Biomed. Eng. (UCT), Professor of Technological Entrepreneurship at the Graduate School of Technology Management, University of Pretoria on Thursday, 6 August at 3:00 in the Boardroom, Building 5, Room G08, Faculty of the Arts.
 
ABSTRACT
Technological entrepreneurship, intellectually, means making business sense of technology in the process of wealth creation. The convergence of technological capital, financial capital and human capital in creating economic value forms the basis of technological entrepreneurship. Technological entrepreneurship fascinates both entrepreneurs and business owners as a tool of teasing out beneficial relationships of technology, finance and human capital in the process of value generation for business.
The lecture gives an overview on how to exploit technological innovations in the process of wealth generation in the fashion industry.
BIOGRAPHY
Professor M O Kachienga’ is a Professor of Technological Entrepreneurship at the Graduate School of Technology Management, University of Pretoria. He holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering and BCom.(Hons) in financial analysis and investments, both from University of Cape Town. He also holds MSc (Distinction) in electrical engineering specialising automatic industrial drives. Prior to present position at the University of Pretoria, he lectured at University of Cape Town and also worked as a business management consultant for industrial establishments and international development organisations, including the World Bank and GTZ (German development projects management group).
He is widely published in technological entrepreneurship, industrial engineering and entrepreneurial finance. His articles have appeared in such prestigious journals such as journal of Nuclear Technology, Journal of Power Engineering and IEEE Transactions – Business & Power Systems and Medical journals. He is a frequent contributor to Financial Mail Magazine.
INVITATION:
All are welcome to attend, including fourth year students and beyond. If you wish to attend, please supply your name to Runette Kruger at 012 382 6021 (or e-mail krugerr@tut.ac.za) by Wednesday 5 August, by 13:00.

The National Arts Council will host the 4th World Summit on Arts and Culture at the Museum Africa, Newtown Cultural Precinct, Johannesburg, in September.
Taking place from 22-25 September 2009, the Summit theme: Meeting of Cultures: Creating Meaning through the Arts, will explore issues relating to the arts as facilitator or provocateur of intercultural dialogue.
Annabell Lebethe, CEO of the National Arts Council, comments: “Winning the bid to host the 4th WSoAC is a significant achievement for the National Arts Council of South Africa [and our partners] and a major opportunity for the creative sectors across Africa.”
“We look forward to a catalytic event which will engage delegates in a sharing of best practices from across the world towards creating an environment which will enable tangible advancement for Africa’s arts and culture sector,” continued Lebethe.
Landmark event for Africa
The 4th World Summit on Arts and Culture (WSoAC) is the first of its kind to be held in Africa. The event is heralded as a landmark international event which will enable firsthand exchange between policy makers, funding agencies and other key players in arts and culture. There will be a special focus on the African experience at the Summit.
Partners
The National Arts Council of South Africa will host the Summit with the International Federation of Arts Councils and Funding Agencies (IFACCA).
The South African partners for the 4th WSoAC are:
The Department of Arts & Culture (National)
The Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation
The City of Johannesburg o
The Johannesburg Tourism Company
Business Arts South Africa
International partners for the 4th WSoAC include:
Arts Council of Finland
Danish Arts Agency
Arts Council of Norway
The Commonwealth Foundation
Programme Director
South African playwright Mike van Graan is the Programme Director for the 4th WSoAC. He currently serves as the Director of the African Arts Institute in Cape Town and as the Secretary General of the Arterial Network - an informal network of individuals and organisations committed to developing the African creative industries.
Intercultural Dialogue
A major component of preparations for the 4th WSoAC is a research survey conducted on IFACCA’s behalf by ERICarts: ‘Achieving Intercultural Dialogue through the Arts and Culture?’. The results of the survey, and related resources, will be published at www.ifacca.org/topic/intercultural-dialogue-cultural-diversity.
Summit Legacy Initiatives
A series of 4th WSoAC legacy initiatives aimed at helping develop the arts and creative sectors on the African continent are currently in development and will be announced at the end of the Summit.
Delegates
It is estimated that the 4th WSoAC will attract about 400 delegates from 70 countries ranging from Mongolia to Morocco, Kenya to Colombia and Finland to Fiji.
Interested parties are invited to register online. Log onto: www.artsummit.org for more information.

Some notes here on key Free State Black Writers who have published books over the years and whose works number thousands in the public libraries….

OMOSEYE BOLAJI

Has contributed astonishingly to Free State Black Literature over the years. A key writer of fiction, poetry, drama, literary criticism, biography etc. He has pus published over 20 books including Impossible love, The ghostly adversary, People of the townships, the subtle transgressor, Tebogo and the Haka, Tebogo and the epithalamion among others. Omoseye Bolaji has received numerous awards for his contributions to African literature including a Lifetime Achievement Award, The Chancellor’s Medal (from the University of Free State) and a Chieftaincy title from the King of Ibadanland in Nigeria.

LEBOHANG THAISI

A poet, literary critic and essayist. His debut book, A Voice from Mangaung (a collection of poems) has been celebrated with many articles written on the work and published in journals nationally. Some of his essays on literature have also appeared internationally, including on the Internet. A sophisticated, well read lover of literature

KGOSIETSILE Dinthloane

A poet extraordinary whose works have been published all over the world, including Europe and USA. He is highly devoted to poetry of the highest quality and is not tolerant of what he believes in inferior in this wise. Known wildly as “The Bibliophile” – mainly because of his extraordinary knowledge of literature worldwide, his library of books is very impressive and embraces writers from every corner of the world. Also a critic who has published many discerning articles on artists and writers.

CHARMAINE KOLWANE

Achieved renown as the first black female in the Free State to publish a critical work (book) titled Omoseye Bolaji: Chanelling one’s thoughts onto paper. The book has been a critical success, available and discussed in world class tertiary institutions like Yale University, North Western University (USA), Cape Town University, Indiana University among others. Like other good writers, Charmaine reads a lot and has written hundreds of poems.

TEBOHO MASAKALA

An imaginative very young writer already making waves locally and nationally as a very good writer of short stories. Important articles on his literary work are already available in journals, and on the Internet. Teboho is a very unassuming g humble young man very much in love with creative writing. He admits that he still has a great deal to learn and has great respect for established writers like Saint George Vis and Flaxman Qoopane.

RICHARD SEAPE

Another young writer incredibly so much in love with poetry. He enjoys writing in Afrikaans, though his poems in English are also of the highest quality. Popularly known as “Skietreker” he has incredible passion for literature and already has hundreds of cuttings on world-wide literary articles, and write ups! Has already published a book of poems (in Afrikaans)

PULE LECHESA

He is the most respected black literary critic from the Free State. His two major books, Four Free State Authors and The Evolution of Free State Black Literature continue to be hits around the world. Pule loves the world of writing a lot, reads prodigiously (like Lebohang Thaisi) and has done a lot to put the Free State on the map with his connections with international literary figures who dominate the Internet and pertinent publications.

THABO MAFIKE

Dubbed “the perfect gentleman” by admirers, but he is also a formidable author, publisher and Sesotho writer. Has the distinction of writing and publishing the longest book locally – Tjhe Bo Bophelo. A prolific writer he has published about ten books including poetry, drama, children’s books, motivation etc. Also a pastor, Mafike is impressive with his suave decent character.

Neo Mvubu

For sheer talent and class, as a writer Neo Mvubu’s talents belong to the top drawer. As a female the sky seems to be the limit for her with her excellent diction, effortless writing ability and great potential (as she’s still in her early 20’s) Neo hit the scene by publishing dozens of poems in newspapers and magazines, and showing her clout as a fine journalist. Short stories written by her have been published in journals, books and on the Internet. Her main project now “is a novel; hopefully a majestic, powerful novel” she says.

SELEKE BOTSIME

There was a lot of hype when Seleke Botsime’s maiden book, Blasphemy was launched in 2009. Seleke, who fell in love with reading and writing as a youngster (like so many writers) has published scores of articles and columns in publications. He has been widely praised for his powerful writing style which incorporates a plethora of Biblical imagery and is often morally uplifting. He was named “Free State Columnist of the Year” for 2008. He already has an impressive national and international profile as can be ascertained from the Internet.

JOB MZAMO

Many literary pundits believe that Thamsanqa Job Mzamo is the most outstanding poet in the Free State. Apart from his prolificacy, his superb and inventive use of language and diction allied to imagery mark him out. Even most of his rhymes do not look forced or contrived. Mzamo is also the man behind Mzamo Poetics which has been boosting grassroots literacy (specifically poetry) over the years. Although other works have been expected from him, literary pundits for now are forced to concentrate all their attentions on his one known book, Pride of my heart (2001)

FLAXMAN QOOPANE

A man who fell in love with the world of writing whilst he was in exile outside South Africa, He has now published many books including lots of personal biography, and essays on literature. His books include A poet abroad, Memoirs of a Cultural Activist, City of Roses and Literary icons, The Conference

The three main prize-winners at the Unisa National Strings Competition in Pretoria all took part in the Sanlam National Music Competition in their earlier days.

It proves yet again that the Sanlam National Music Competition run by the Tygerberg branch of the South African Society of Music Teachers (SASMT) is a wonderful, all-embracing learning school without peer in South Africa.

In the second Unisa National Strings Competition in Pretoria recently, the three main prize-winners had two things in common – they are currently students of the acclaimed Cape violin teacher, Jack de Wet, and have all benefited from the unique experience of participating in the Sanlam competition, a springboard in their fledgling years for their development, success and acclaim.

•Avigail Bushakevitz (now 21) from George, who won first prize at Unisa, was the winner of the Strings section at Sanlam in 2001;

•Jacqueline-Wedderburn-Maxwell (only 16) from Durban was placed second. At her first Sanlam competition in 2002 she was adjudged the most promising candidate under 10 and won the Strings section. She again won Strings in 2003 and added the bronze medal for third place overall, before crowning her achievements in 2005 by walking away with the Strings section prize and the overall gold medal.

•Capetonian Vicente Espi (22), in third spot in Pretoria, started his winning streak at Sanlam in 1998, topping the Strings section. He returned two years later to win not only this section again, but also the overall gold medal.

Comments Leon Hartshorne, chairman of the SASMT’s Tygerberg branch and director of the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre in Parow:

“The results at Unisa are no exception. They are reminiscent of what happened at the first two national Artscape youth music competitions, for example.

“It seems that the Sanlam competition is doing exactly what it sets out to do when our branch initiated this project for primary school instrumentalists 21 years ago with financial backing from Sanlam.

“Our aim is to identify promising music students country-wide and give them the opportunity to compete on national level early on in their development as musicians.

“This is boosted by the interaction of participants within and between the peer groups at the competition, not to mention the divergent forms of repertoire they witness and experience as they progress through every round - with their trusted teachers at their sides to motivate and polish them and assist with the critical selection of works to perform.

“Well done, Avigail, Jacqui and Vicente – you’ve done us proud and we’ll keenly follow your further progress as musicians.”

This year’s Sanlam competition for primary school learners takes place from 21 to 25 September in the Hugo Lambrechts Auditorium in Parow and is an ideal opportunity for local music lovers to see South Africa’s budding instrumentalists in action. More information will be provided nearer to the event.
Enquiries: Leon Hartshorne 021 939 9105

Calling all NGO’s and CBO’s, social justice organisations and interested parties; would you like to read your work or launch your book, publication or newsletter?

Would you simply like to take part in network conversations with other organisations?

Perhaps you would like to screen a short video (15 min max) or do a presentation of your organization and your work. Come participate in the Khanya College NGO and CBO Fair.

As part of the Khanya College Winter School, the NGO and CBO Fair offers NGOs and CBO’s a space to exhibit their publications, profile their work and profile their organisations. The fair also offers these organisations a space to network with each other, engage donors and government donor agencies.

Several platforms will be created for non-governmental organizations, community based organisations, donors, the government agencies and the press to engage, debate and discuss issues relevant to the work of civil society organisations. These platforms include the fair itself, round-table discussions and interviews with various stakeholders, workshops, book launches, viewing corners, exhibitions and screenings, among others.

There will be a selection process and the chosen entries will be given a platform to showcase themselves and their work to a captive audience comprising of other organisations, donors and the general public.

All submissions must be accompanied by your full contact details, a copy of your ID, a profile of the organisation that you represent and a letter of declaration stating that the submitted work is your own original work.

* Note: All submissions sent to Khanya College will NOT be returned

Send all submissions to:

NGO Fair Submissions
Khanya College
PO Box 5977
Johannesburg
2000

or you can drop them off at:

5th Floor Vogas House
123 Pritchard Street
Johannesburg
2001
For more information contact:
Katlego Gabashane
082 710 3858
011 366 9190