The MEC’s surprise
The sixth edition of the Fingo Festival, which started on Tuesday, was graced by the unexpected presence of Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture MEC Pemmy Majodina.
The festival kicked off with exciting children’s games and entertainment at the Fingo Village Library Hall. Majodina entered the hall and quietly stood at the back, behind the audience.
This was while local arts and culture practitioners, who included Nomalanga Mkhize and Thandazile Madinda, were doing science experiments with the kids.
Sarah Baartman cultural affairs manager, Hastings Mqhayi, said the reason for the MEC to arrive in that way was that she wanted to see the standard of the Fingo Festival.
Mqhayi said that is because some people only prepare themselves when they hear that there is a high profile person coming to visit.
“Sometimes people only start to call and prepare them- selves when they know that an official is coming, and now if she comes unannounced like this, then she is able to get a taste of what is actually happening.
“So it was one of those surprise visits to check on that. Government is pumping funds in to Fingo and the Fingo Festival is actually doing what it says it is doing. Now she has a first-hand information of what is taking place.
“Fortunately this is what she saw when she came here, and we are proud that she spent some time here because of the tight National Arts Festival schedule,” said Mqhayi.
Xolile Madinda, director of the Fingo Festival, said this year the Fingo Festival was recognising all the youth struggles and combining that with the 40 years Soweto Uprising commemoration.
He said they could not leave out women’s influence in the Fingo Festival. He said their festival this year is specifically looking at the achievements of young people.
“We are trying to recognise all the people who contrib- uted in arts. For example our dialogue for today, we will be looking at how we as youth can free our minds from depending on government.
“We going to look at creative ways that we can use to survive artistically and otherwise. We don’t want people to depend on the state, we want them to depend on themselves and when the state happens to collapse then they would be able to hold and move on.
“We are trying to look at all of that artistically and check what actions have been made by the youth of Grahamstown with out the contribution of the government.
“We are not saying that in a negative way because if you go to government and ask for assistance that does not mean you not trying to make a living for yourself,” said Madinda.
He said the Fingo Festival also needs funding and that is one of the main challenges that they have.
He said the idea was to grow science in the community and make sure that such things are not ignored when they come to the location.
Madinda used as an example the kids that were shown science experiments at this year’s Fingo Festival.
He said during this sixth year celebration of the festival existence, they are trying to show that they can organise a successful festival in the location.
Last year Madinda said they employed more than 30 people, but this year they have reduced that number to 15 because of financial constraints.
He pleaded with everybody in Grahamstown to come forward and support the Fingo Festival.
Madinda said they have formed a partnership with Tru FM and also praised the Fingo Library which has been supportive.
Madinda said the festival was growing well despite the challenges they have.
• The Fingo Festival is free and takes place all day from 9am at an open air stage which offers children’s theatre, dialogue, community groups and artists. It continues until tomorrow, Saturday.