Festival honours for four East Cape acts
Singers, dancers among artists recognised with awards
Four Eastern Cape acts that wowed audiences at this year’s National Arts Festival are among the winners of the 2018 Standard Bank Ovation and Encore awards – accolades that open doors for next year’s festival.
The award winners were recognised in Makhanda (Grahamstown) on Saturday.
The coveted awards recognise “standout performances, innovation as well as successful challenges to the boundaries of creativity”, organisers said.
The 2018 Standard Bank Ovation awards convener, Tracey Saunders, said that since the awards’ inception in 2010, 167 ovations had been awarded. In total, 57 silver awards and just 17 gold awards had been handed out.
“While awards are essentially a subjective measure of an art form which is essentially immeasurable, they are not infallible,” Saunders said.
“But given the continued success of various award winners over the years, the ovations are as reliable a predictor as any of who and what to watch.”
She said the 2018 Gold Ovation award winners reflected the success of art forms that fall outside the traditional definitions of theatre.
This year three gold awards were made, five silver awards handed out, 16 ovation winners announced and 11 people honoured with an encore award.
Encore awards are given to those who show “merit and potential in works that can be developed”.
Overwhelmed first-time ovation winner Andiswa Ndlazilwana, 29, from Motherwell, said she had always been inspired by her late grandfather’s music.
“My production was my spiritual journey and a tribute to my late granddad, Victor Ndlazilwana, as he was my inspiration.”
Ndlazilwana said her grandfather played musical instruments, composed songs and was also a vocalist.
“I am so overwhelmed with excitement and going forward I will work on releasing my first album,” she said.
Also from Port Elizabeth, fellow ovation award winner Nomabotwe Mtimkulu, 31, said she had not expected to win, especially considering the many hardships she faced just to get to the festival.
“I struggled so much to get to the festival with accommodation and transport. I even thought my performance was not up to the standard,” the New Brighton singer said.
Mtimkulu said she was also planning to release her first album on September 1.
Encore award winner Akhona Mafani, 21, of the Steader Nkwinti Legacy group, said his group was extremely dedicated and well prepared for the show.
The multi-talented artist, born and raised in Grahamstown, said he formed Steader Nkwinti Legacy in 2015 after the death of his mentor, Mntunzima Nkwinti, whose legacy he wanted to carry forward.
“We write poems and plays and are also vocalists.”
He said his group would work towards turning Ingoma, the now award-winning play, into a film.
It was now their goal to work towards making films out of all the plays and drama they performed, he said.
Eastern Cape performers the Lumanyano Dance Group also won an ovation award.