Time to honour our artistic jewels

In his recent book titled Rugby, Resistance and Politics, Buntu Siwisa discusses, among other things, how easy and often we take our lived experiences for granted.

Some years back the Eastern Cape provincial government adopted an overarching branding: Home of Legends.

This came about after a number of political and research processes, which culminated in a manuscript, albeit yet to be published.

The idea of positioning the province as a home to all those who live in it, irrespective of origins and cultural backgrounds, was central in this branding process.

Indeed we have jewels on our doorsteps here in the province and specifically, within the Buffalo City Metro, and I feel we should relish their presence in our midst.

And they come from all walks of life.

However, we seem to have knee-jerk responses when celebrating our own — and when we do, it’s almost limited to sports.

I only recall moments where city people flock at the airport to welcome boxers!

I understand that we have been having it hard as a people in the country, province and city — issues of ailing economic situation, high unemployment rate, crime and poor service delivery — which all lead to abject poverty.

It is natural for people to be navel-gazing and cynical about their situations. But what has to be done?

I believe that the time to look up to politicians and the lot will not get us out of our misery. We should look at solutions from within ourselves.

The starting point is to know and appreciate ourselves as a people a little better, so that we can appreciate those among us who continue to inspire and make us proud beyond the sportspeople.

One area that has kept the lights in our souls, pre-and-post Covid-19, is the arts.

I am not sure how many people in East London, for instance, are aware that they are living with the only African Blue Notes Records artist — Nduduzo Makhathini?

In fact, the man, together with his celebrated jazz-artist wife, Omagugu Makhathini, left Johannesburg a few years ago, originally from Pietermaritzburg, but chose our city as the best place to build a life for their three children.

Makhathini has won so many Sama and international awards, and yet I am waiting for the day the city wakes up to also go and welcome him at the airport.

There are many jewels one can count, yet we do not often see or acknowledge them.

We cannot continue, like Siwisa argues, to take them for granted.

Are we waiting until they leave our city or they are no more? What a pity! Dr Philani Nongogo, — Mdantsane

I am not sure how many people ... are aware that they are living with the only African Blue Notes Records artist — Nduduzo Makhathini?