Deadline: September
7, 2015
The National Eisteddfod Academy (NEA) is calling for entries
for its inaugural Indigenous Arts Development Festival.
With the support of the National Lotteries Commission (NLC),
the NEA’s Indigenous Arts Development project seeks to keep tradition alive by
encouraging and stimulating participation in indigenous dance, music, theatre
and storytelling activities, as well as promoting indigenous languages and
preserving the authenticity of indigenous cultural expressions.
The project will culminate in October with various
festivals, showcasing the best indigenous performances as identified at the
regional Eisteddfod activities in the Eastern Cape (Xhosa culture), Kwazulu-Natal
(Zulu culture), Free State (Qwa-Qwa) (Sotho culture), Limpopo (Venda, Tsonga
and Pedi cultures), North West (Tswana culture), Mpumalanga (Ndebele culture),
Northern Cape (Nama, San, Coloureds & Tswana) and Gauteng (diverse
cultures).
12 regional facilitators were appointed to identify possible
participants for the festival, to provide or facilitate training in indigenous
arts practices and to co-ordinate festival activities in their respective
provinces.
The KZN facilitators and their contact details are:
Langalakhe Nkosi,
KZN, 079 604 0596 stanley.skhuni@gmail.com
Nhlakanipho Nkosi, KZN, 078 942 8800 info.skiroz@gmail.com
Interested Individuals and groups may enter free of charge,
in any of the Indigenous art and home-grown art categories. However, it is
important that they familiarise themselves with the categories that are offered
by referring to the NEA Indigenous arts prospectus, which is available from the
NEA office or the regional representatives. Participants needing support with
verifying the authenticity of their performance regarding regalia, style of
music, dance / movement should contact their regional Representative /
Facilitator.
Adjudication of performances will happen at a selected venue
in each region and each participant / group will receive a certificate and a
written feedback report from adjudicators. On the recommendations of the
adjudicators the best performers of the various events could be invited to
perform at special Showcase events that will acknowledge the best performers in
the region.
Indigenous art is performed by indigenous people who lived
in a place long before other people came to live there. In South Africa, this
particularly refers to the San and Nama people. However, the many cultures that
are now considered indigenous to our country, although not in the same sense
that the San and Nama were, brought their innate culture with them as they
migrated south from various places since the 16th century. It is in this sense
that indigenous art also refers to home-grown art. Home-grown art expresses the
innate qualities that have developed and characterise the different people of
our land.
Given the challenges of the urbanisation of people and urban
influences, as well as the apparent low level of interest in performances in
indigenous languages amongst the youth, it is important to find ways to promote
and preserve indigenous arts practices so that people should know where they
come from, where they are and where they are going.
This project aims to keep tradition alive for generations to
come by supporting communities – both urban and rural - to re-discover their
roots and to preserve and promote pride in their cultural heritage.
In recent years the annual Eisteddfod activities of the NEA
have attracted participation of more than 400,000 young performers in various
regions and provinces. By extending this platform to indigenous performing arts
activities in various communities, this project hopes to motivate the youth and
make them aware of their latent talent.
Entry forms must be submitted before September 7, 2015.
For information contact the NEA office at tel: 011 886 6005
/ fax: 011 787 3534 / e-mail: info@eisteddfod.co.za
and additional information is available on the website: www.eisteddfod.co.za
Follow the NEA on Twitter @NEA_Eisteddfod or Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nearsa
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