(Edmund Mhlongo)
This year, Kwa Mashu’s K-CAP EMAC Centre celebrates its 10th
anniversary, after opening its doors in March 2004.
Founder and director Edmund Mhlongo was a member of Nelson
Mandela's National Peace Committee initiative. Mhlongo’s passion for the
performing arts helped guide the creation of the K-CAP (October 1993) and
therefore the construction of EMAC. The aim was to combat deprivation, youth
crime and lack of opportunity in the township.
Kwa Mashu Community Advancement Projects (K-CAP of Positive
Arts) is a youth integrated arts and multimedia empowerment organization
founded in October 1993. In April 1995, K-CAP was registered as a Development
Trust for arts education and cultural advancement (Reg. No. IT1116/95). Registered
with the Department of Social Development as a not-for-profit organization it
is now a Section 21 non-profit company.
The unique Ekhaya Multi Arts Centre (EMAC Centre) opened in
September 2003. It is the vision of the Kwa Mashu Community Advancement Projects
for integrated arts development in Kwa Mashu Township – an urban renewal node
as prioritised by President Mbeki in 2001.
The organisation recognized that there was a critical
shortage of arts and culture related facilities for disadvantaged KZN
communities and identified Kwa Mashu as the most viable location for a multi -
arts centre. Kwa Mashu was severely hit by political instability and violence
during the 1980s and early 1990s which led to many orphaned youth, yet the
township is richest in arts and culture having produced best artists for
screen, theatre, music and dance.
Ekhaya is a multi-purpose space for showcasing presentations
and performances. This includes facilities such as Ekhaya Imagination Compute
Lab (with Internet), recording studios Theatre hall, Dance Studio, Workshop
Space, and editing multi-media suites and facilities. The centre involves the
community in radio drama and creative script writing, video production, Film
Festival, traditional arts and cultural activities and African arts. The Ekhaya
Multi Arts Centre offers a wide variety of programmes each year.
Ekhaya Multi-Arts Centre’s contact number is 031 504 6970
and the complex is situated at B25 Giya Road, Kwa Mashu. (Postal code 4360) For more information visit www.kcap.co.za
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