Dakada lands lifetime contribution award
Veteran actor and playwright honoured by province for his activism
Veteran stage actor and playwright Khanyiso Billy Dakada has been recognised by the provincial government for his arts and culture activism in promoting drama and theatre, while the Daily Dispatch’s
Lulamile Feni won the arts and culture journalism award for the third time.
Mthatha-based veteran Dakada, who has spent more than 40 years in the arts industry, had helped develop scores of actors in the Eastern Cape and featured in many stage productions, many of them about Nelson Mandela.
Department of sport, recreation, arts & culture MEC Fezeka Bayeni honoured more than 30 artists at the sixth Eastern
Cape Provincial Arts and Culture Awards at the East London International Convention Centre on Friday night.
Dakada, who has a drama group called Khanyiso Social Enterprise, walked tall to collect his “Lifetime Contribution to the Development and Promotion of Arts and Culture Award” at the 2019/2020 awards.
In this category he competed against the likes of well-known choral music conductor Mzwandile Matthews and cultural expert Loyiso Nqevu.
On accepted his award Dakada said: “I am honoured, particularly for the people of the OR Tambo and artists of the entire Eastern Cape. This means a lot to me.”
He began acting in 1977, and has won awards in other countries, including Denmark.
The department received more than 180 public nominations for 23 different categories.
Nominations were open to any person who had achieved in any of the categories provincially, nationally or internationally.
Seven adjudicators, all professionals in the music, indigenous knowledge, language, visual arts and performing arts genres, selected the winners for each category.
Some of the professional and amateur categories included visual arts, arts and culture journalism, music, dance, sign language development and promotion.
Bayeni said: “Cultural diversity remains the Eastern Cape’s strength in attracting tourists and it should be protected by all means. The awarding of homegrown artistic excellence reinforces the department’s commitment to protect the wealth of talent which may so easily be lost to other provinces.”
Idols SA 2019 winner Luyolo Yiba, of King William’s Town, was also honoured and the MEC spoke proudly of achievers such Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi, Springbok rugby Captain Siya Kolisi and fellow players Makazole Mapimpi of East London
and Lukhanyo Am of King William’s Town, who were part of the team who won the 2019 World Rugby Cup.
Bayeni said the Eastern Cape was a hub of culture, creativity and heritage.
’The amount of creative talent this province has produced remains unmatched, but I will be the first to admit that most of this talent leaves the province for greener pastures.
“Our task as government, working together with yourselves as stakeholders, is to reverse the apartheid legacy of spatial inequality and migrant labour; that our creative talent must migrate to Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban to be successful.
“Our task is to unlock this creative potential and position the Eastern Cape as the creative heart of the country.”