The View Point

The impepho press Woman of Words Poetry Festival, a multilingual online showcase, celebrating black women’s poetry, is an initiative supported by the Department of Arts Sports and Culture taking place on the 25th -26th September 2020.

This festival will comprise of two live showcases, a masterclass with Makhosazana Xaba, a writing workshop with Vuyelwa Maluleke and Lethokuhle Msimang, a screening of WeAreDyingHere and a workshop on creating the choreopoem hosted by New York based Bridges: A PanAfrikan Arts Movement.

Guest: Vangile Gantsho - Festival Coordinator and Poet

The Durban International Film Festival has been extended until 30th September 2020 by popular demand.

The Festival’s Opening film, This is Not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection by Lemohang Jerimiah Mosese, was awarded for Artistic Bravery and Best Direction. The jury felt this film was a work of art. The late Mary Twala, referred to as the matriarch of the industry, was rewarded this year’s Best Actress Award.

Guest: Dr. Ismail Mohamed - Director | Centre for Creative Arts, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal

Guest:Neil Brandt - Producer | Influence (winner of best South African documentary)

Guest: Cait Pansegrouw - Producer | This is not a Burial, it’s a Resurrection (winner of Best Director and Artistic Bravery Award)

Mankokosane is the reminder that we ought to celebrate our heritage - the preservation of childhood memories, story-telling and the expression of our beauty through song and design. The single, Mankokosane, embodies the richness of indigenous chants and games such as mankokosane, black mampatile, diketo, injuba and the likes.

The song was recorded with a 7 piece band and features Mpumi Dhlamini on accordion and vocals. The song was released on all streaming platforms today, in commemoration of Heritage Day.

Guest: Phomolo Sekamotho - Musician & Poet

This conversation helps us to understand the history of the Zulu kingdom and their famous leaders (iKumkani uShaka). By understanding these origins, it helps us understand the culture/tradition of polygamy through a modern and successful family. The show Uthando nes'thembu plays a critical role in dispelling the stereotypes and spent the last four seasons taking a look into how these relationships embrace Zulu heritage on Mzansi Magic.

Guest: Senzo Zindela - Founding Chairman & CEO | Zindela Pictures

Guest: Musa Mseleku - Anchor Cast member | Uthando nes’thembu – Mzansi Magic

On the eve of tourism month, we’re expanding on the net of tourism and we’re tapping into local culture and heritage to deepen the native narrative. We’re zooming in on rural tourism and the need to focus on rural areas for local economic development.

The Xolo Caves and Umzumbe River Trail in KZN are an example of how tapping into our native and tribal ways, can bring expansion and development to rural tourism.

Guest: Dr Sipho Nzimande - Chairperson | Ugu South Coast Development Agency Chairperson

Guest: Nkosiyazi Shaun Makhanya - Operator of KwaXolo Caves

Guest: Mandla Lamba - CEO | Verityhurst Academy

President of the Inkatha Freedom Party, Velenkosini Hlabisa – he succeeded Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi last year, it has been a year since the party has been under his leadership. We engage him on the State of the country; his year in office since taking office from Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi; the changes in the management structure of the IFP since the he took over.
We will also get his views on how the party intends to attract more young people - not only ahead of the 2021 elections but in the future.

Guest:Velenkosini Hlabisa - President | Inkatha Freedom Party

“One positive reflection we should gain from the current global pandemic is that we should prioritise and value our own knowledge systems. We need to do better in investing in our cultural identity and indigenous knowledge.

We need to ensure that it can be used as more than just gimmicks to attract Western tourists who expect us to ‘perform Africanness’ for their entertainment.” These are the words of Nombulelo Shange, a Lecturer in the Department of Sociology at the University of the Free State.

Guest: Nombulelo Shange - Lecturer in the Department of Sociology at the University of the Free State

Prof Ari Sitas was awarded The Order of Mapungubwe in Silver for his contribution to social science scholarship and progressive policy-making. He is also a renowned storyteller and poet.

He is a multitalented scientist who moves effortlessly between profound knowledge production and the arts.
Prof Ari Sitas was born on 5 December 1952. He received his Doctor of Philosophy degree at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1984.

Guest:Prof Ari Sitas - Sociologist AND Chairperson of the South African BRICS Think Tank (SABTT)

Born in Springs, situated east of Johannesburg, Pitika Ntuli grew up with a keen interest in art. As a young man, he got involved in politics, and he was an active member of the struggle against the apartheid government to which resulted in him being exiled from South Africa.

He arrived in the UK in 1978, after having spent a year in solitary isolation in a death row prison cell in Swaziland. Ntuli was released into exile due to international pressure that was placed on the South African and Swaziland authorities. Not long after his arrival in the UK, Ntuli immersed himself in the culture and became an active member as he engaged with the politics and general cultures of both his home and host countries.

Guest: Prof Pitika Ntuli - sculptor, poet, writer, and academic