ACT AWARDS

Joseph Shabalala wins Lifetime Achievement Award.

Since 1998, The Arts & Culture Trust awards (ACT Awards) have recognised almost 300 individuals, organisations and agencies. With new sponsorships from the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) and the Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO); as well as renewed sponsorship from the Vodacom Foundation and renewed support from Distell, CLASSICFEEL Magazine and Fine Music Radio 101.3FM, a total of ten awards were presented in the disciplines of Music, Theatre, Visual Arts, Craft, Dance, Design, Fashion, Heritage, Literature and Opera.

Artslink.co.za, a previous ACT Award recipient was another new media partner and helped to drive the public nomination process.

Sponsored by The Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Organisation (DALRO), the ACT Music Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Joseph Shabalala, the founder and musical director of the South African choral group Ladysmith Black Mamabazo. He set up the Ladysmith Black Mambazo Foundation, a music academy to promote and teach Isicathamiya music to young South African children and, while announcing his retirement in 2008, he continues to be the driving force behind the group at home in South Africa.

The ACT Theatre Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by The Southern African Music rights Organisation (SAMRO), was presented to illustrious South African actor, director and playwright John Kani with the ACT Visual Art Lifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by The Vodacom Foundation) going to renowned South African photographer David Goldblatt.