(Philisiwe
Twijnstra, Anele Mkhize, Nobe Khoza, Breshnev Guveya (Zimbabwe),
Buhle Maphanga
& Maria Atalia (Mozambique).)
Appropriately ahead of Freedom Day, the
Wushwini Pan African Centre for Arts Culture and Heritage will be hosting an
elegant Pan African Evening – a bespoke fundraising gala dinner at the Durban
ICC on April 26, 2018.
The centre is facing financial challenges
from not receiving sufficient funding to present its programmes. It is hosting
the dinner in an endeavour to supplement its funding.
The Gala Dinner will have a sumptuous
three-course meal and a night filled with entertainment of music and dance from
artists such as Tu Nokwe, Themba Makhathini, Mbuso Khoza, Madala Kunene, Dance
Extravaganza directed by Reggie Denster, Zulu Dancers and Gumboot Dancers.
There will be artworks by one of South
Africa’s celebrated artists, Welcome Danca, for sale in the foyer.
Simultaneously one of the most picturesque,
tenacious and important community arts centres, Wushwini Pan African Centre for
Arts Culture and Heritage was launched in 2011, built from a vandalised school.
The centre is providing capacity building for the community people especially
children, youth and women. The structure was supported by KZN Department of
Arts and Culture and Eager Artists who are the permanent residency artists at
the centre.
The centre boasts a 100-seater theatre; art
gallery; heritage room; film studio; recording studio; open air theatre;
storytelling arena; office block; restaurant; library and multi-purpose hall –
parts of which still being renovated.
Wushwini community is based at KwaNgcolosi
not far from Hillcrest, under inkosi uBhengu who is the inkosi of KwaNgcolosi,
falling under Ward 9. This is a poverty-stricken area where the large percentage
of the community is unemployed especially the youth and women. The lack of
facilities especially for the youth is contributing to high level of teenage
pregnancy, youth being affected by HIV/AIDS, liquor and drugs abuse.
Wushwini Community is a stone’s throw away
from the beautiful Inanda Dam which exposes the area to tourists and there is a
potential of developing rural and cultural tourism. Since its inceptions,
Wushwini has staged spectacular festivals that showcased not only South African
works but also Africa and the world, it has trained more than 60 young people
who are now active in the industry some of them have taken part in Mzansi Magic
Films, some are part of professional stage productions earning to support their
families.
“We have ten capacity building programmes
per year focusing on women, children and youth, we also have touring
productions such as Let My People Go,
Chief Albert Luthuli Musical and King
Cetshwayo, the Musical to promote our history, culture and Heritage to the
world,” explains Wushwini’s Founder and Managing Director, Jerry Pooe.
The aims and objectives of the project are
to raise money in order to empower youth, women and children through arts, to
tour historical and political education productions, to create and sense of
responsibility to young people, to encourage South African business to
participate in building our communities, to celebrate African Culture, Arts and
Heritage and, lastly, to support the provincial and national drive for the
creation of job opportunities, skills development and promotion of social
cohesion and behavioural change.
The guests will be requested to purchase
the tables, which are from R10,000 to R20,000 per table or R1,000 per person,
they can also pledge to fund the centre or with in-kind support and to purchase
the art works which will be on display.
To book or for more information contact
Pamela Shandu on 073 957 9275 or Jerry Pooe on 083 732 1640 or email:
wushwiniarts@gmail.com
Posts
