DRS MARAIS AND KHUMALO

National Arts Festival, Grahamstown matriarchs Lynette Marais and Sibongile Khumalo honoured by Rhodes University.

Rhodes University will be conferring honorary doctorate degrees on two National Arts Festival’s matriarchs over the weekend.

Lynette Marais, who was the Festival director for 20 years, will receive a Doctor of Laws (LLD) honoris causa and opera diva Sibongile Khumalo, festival committee chairperson, will be receiving a Doctor of Music (Dmus) honoris causa at the Rhodes University graduation ceremonies on Thursday and Saturday respectively.

Lynette Marais has been recognised as one of South Africa's most accomplished arts administrators. Her advice is constantly sought out by festival producers, arts funders and the government. During the Apartheid years, and specifically during the years of excessive State censorship in South Africa, she fiercely demonstrated her courage to give artists of all persuasions the right to express themselves through their diverse art-forms and through their diverse art content. Since taking over the leadership in 1989, she has grown the National Arts Festival to become the largest arts festival on the African continent. She has navigated the Festival through various economic and political terrains to make it the single most important Festival that all South Africans can claim to have the stamp of being "Proudly South African".

Sibongile Khumalo is honoured for her outstanding contribution to jazz, classical opera and popular urban music. “It‘s a moment of great pride, yet deeply humbling. I keep thinking of my parents, especially my dad, and their role in shaping my life,” said Khumalo.

“Both Lynette Marais and Sibongile Khumalo have a special brand of leadership that has unearthed many national treasures and have made many incredible investments to advance South Africa’s rich arts and cultural legacy,” said Festival Chairman Ayanda Mjekula. “Rhodes University’s vision to confer an Honorary Doctorate to both these leaders is an inspiration to the arts community. It is a strong endorsement of the role played by these women in growing the National Arts Festival to become one of South Africa’s most precious cultural gems,” he added.