EC youth arts boosted through festival

YOUNG people from Mdantsane and Duncan Village battled it out in song, drama, poetry and dance at the Phaphama Cultural and Heritage Festival held at Mdantsane Arts Centre yesterday.

More than 25 creative art groups celebrated Heritage Day with modern and traditional performances.

Event organiser, Andile Sentwa, of Team Community Development Centre, said the festival reminded young people of the significance of the cultural holiday.

“Performing arts in the Eastern Cape is low but there is a lot of undiscovered raw talent here. Young people interested in the arts industry don’t have access to the relevant platform.

“Through this festival, we try to expose them to a new experience and to opportunities available to them,” he said.

“We are trying to introduce young performers to arts centres in East London because they are a place where they can rehearse and develop their talents.”

The different groups performed items which spoke to culture, history, tradition and the significance of Heritage Day.

Drama group Elite, from Duncan Village, performed a 1952 play narrating the brutality of apartheid.

Their play was based on a true story of how the era shaped Duncan Village. Actress Unathi Jantjies said: “People don’t know that this story we’re telling is real, but that’s what Heritage Day is about.”

Mdantsane-born actress Nomathamsanqa Ngoma helped the performers prepare for the event. She said: “These aspiring artists need mentors and skills developers to work with them because their productions are so interesting.

“Through such festivals, we get to see potential and see how we can further develop them and see to it that something lasting comes out of these.” —