national Arts Festival Banner

Sunday, July 15, 2012

WELCOME YENZA THE RHINO!

(Moses Tembe - Chairperson: eThekwini Community Foundation (ECF), and Kathryn Kure. ECF Director)

One of the many innovative, inspiring projects currently being driven by the recently invigorated eThekwini Community Foundation (eCF) is the decoration of a rhino to be part of the exciting, awareness-creating Rhino Parade.

The Rhino Parade is an innovative campaign pioneered by the Wildlands Conservation Trust, based on the internationally-renowned Cow Parade concept, aimed at profiling the plight of South Africa’s Rhino whilst raising funds to support Wildlands’ rhino conservation efforts. The Wildlands Conservation Trust is an active, strategic partner of the eCF.

The eThekwini Municipality is adding a unique rhino to the Durban parade. Fondly named “Yenza” (isiZulu for a term similar to “just do it”) the Rhino has moved into the KZNSA Gallery where she took up residence on July 10.

Yenza will be based at the KZNSA Gallery and the crafters will be working at the gallery space to give her an extreme make-over. Artists working with recycled waste, who are deeply engaged in uplifting the skills of community-based crafters and who are absolutely passionate about saving the rhino population will work with local craft collectives to put on Yenza’s finery. The participating craft collectives include the Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust, the Ubunye and Ukhamba crafters and Sydenham Community Resources Centre, amongst others. The newly redecorated rhino will be unveiled on September 7, in time for the Rhino Parade.

Yenza is a three-quarter life-size female rhino measuring 2.5m long by 1.4m high by 1m wide. She is totally environmental, being made from a water-based resin. The rhino was originated by Peter Hall, and then cast following a mould-making process by Kim Goodwin at the hugely respected Goodwin Foundry in Lidgetton.

For more information, contact Kathryn Kure at 031 311 2044 / 083 252 0992 or email: kureks@durban.gov.za