Power Talks Eastern Cape is a series of grounding interactions between role players in the Eastern Cape with a particular interest in amplifying existing networks.
Bhisho’s event will be hosted at the Mbaula Backyard Sessionz, a private home/studio venue, which has over the past few years hosted several visiting artists, community markets, food stalls, and music performances. The programme will commence with a cycle tour of the capital, highlighting Bhisho’s historical relevance and sites. The start of a live painting session is planned to coincide with the riding tour, continuing throughout the proceedings. The programme will commence with a cycle tour of the capital, highlighting Bhisho’s historical relevance and sites. The start of a live painting session is planned to coincide with the riding tour, continuing throughout the proceedings.
A series of indigenous language (Xhosa predominantly) prompts, games and exercises - as well as a storytelling session facilitated by artist Mthwakazi - will be used to catalyse conversations. The motivation is to encourage the participation of local children in the programming, to bring them closer to and shed insight into the lived realities of cultural practitioners. At the entrance to the event space - a double plot backyard - stalls featuring jewellery, beadwork, food, music, books, children’s educational posters and apparel will be featured prominently. This living community comprising the different economies is the lifeblood of Mbaula Backyard Sessions; here the goal is to present the ongoing cross section of the region, whilst simultaneously having an organic engagement with invited officials and the public at large.
After a host’s introduction, proceeding will start with a healing musical experience from Qhawekazi Giyose that seeks to set a meditative tone for the discussions to follow. The first panel discussion, which will feature women in the creative industry, Noxolo Nelana, Khululekani and Sivu Giba, is to evoke engagement on the recurrent theme of ‘writing our own stories’ or ‘documenting our own histories.’ It is important to register modern and past black stories when one considers the current spread of misinformation coupled with the cry for the decolonisation of history. These practitioners reveal the many nuances in the art of storytelling and provide a glimpse to the social demands of finding our voice during celebration or peril.
Programming will shift from artists talking around the fireplace to live musical arrangements. The second dialogue will be between Lunga Mampangashe and Pumelele Lavisa, (two activists and musicians whose fervent involvement in the province highlights the wealth of experience in the movement mentioned earlier).
Performances by Ne Ahtyah and Umle and a set by DJ GodBlue will round out the programming. This programme seeks to realistically highlight some of the Eastern Cape’s artist-run spaces: officials from varying public and private institutions are encouraged to engage with the programming, in order to gain a snapshot, experience the province’s cultural community.
PROGRAMME
09:00 - 17:30
Live Painting Siyabonga Ngaki
09:00 - 12:00
4 Room House Gang and Lundi Mama
A Cycle Tour of Bhisho with guide Lundi Mama.
10:00 - 12:00
StoryTime with Madlamini - Minors Program
12:00 - 13:30
Telling Our Own Stories:
A panel discussion on the importance of black, female voices in media and art.
Host : Linda Mputa
Participants: Khululekani, Noxolo Nelana and Sivu Giba
14:00 - 15:00
Lunga Mampangashe in conversation with Pura Lavisa
Title: uHambo
15:30 - 16:20
Qhawekazi Giyose
16:50 - 17:30
Sasa Jobodwana
17:50 - 18:40
NeAhtyah
19:00 - 19:30
Umle
20:00 - 21:00
Refreshments
Back
