(The
five artists changing the face of the creative industry: Jefferson Tshabalala; Sisonke
Xonti; Lulu Mlangeni; Blessing Ngobeni & Nthato Mokgata)
This November sees five of South Africa’s
most innovative and talented artistic individuals being awarded one of the
country’s most sought-after arts prizes.
Since its inception in 1981, the Standard
Bank Young Artist Awards (SBYAA) have served as a marker for the artistic work
that’s being created, and aspired towards, across the country. This year’s
batch of winners prove that the SBYAA still seek to reward passion, dedication,
and a desire to carve out new ways of creating and engaging with art and the
world around us.
At a ceremony in Johannesburg on November 5,
the 2020 SBYAA winners were announced. The winners are Blessing Ngobeni (Visual
Art), Nthato Mokgata (also known as Spoek Mathambo) (Music), Lulu Mlangeni
(Dance), Jefferson Tshabalala (Theatre), and Sisonke Xonti (Jazz).
This year marks 36 years of Standard Bank’s
sponsorship of the SBYAA and sees each of these young artists receiving a cash
incentive, as well as a commission to premier a new work or exhibit on the Main
Programme of the 46th National Arts Festival, taking place in Makhanda
(formerly Grahamstown) from June 25 to July 5 2020.
About the artists:
Nthato Mokgata is a musician, artist,
producer, rapper, and singer-songwriter. Through his solo career and projects
such as Batuk and Fantasma, he has toured the globe extensively. He is also the
director of Future Sounds of Mzansi, a documentary exploring South Africa's
cultural landscape, 20 years into democracy.
Blessing Ngobeni is a fine artist who
strives to simultaneously uplift others, while challenging the status quo through
his art. Using painting, sculpture, video, audio installations and live
performance Ngobeni speaks truth to power, continually highlighting and
questioning corrupted systems of power in South Africa. Ngobeni also mentors
and provides support for young artists.
Sisonke Xonti is a jazz saxophonist,
composer, and bandleader. A passionate collaborator, Xonti has worked with, and
performed alongside, artists such as Hugh Masekela, Lira, Bokani Dyer, and
Simphiwe Dana to name a few. His full-length album, Iyonde, was released in 2017.
Lulu Prudence Mlangeni is a dancer,
teacher, and choreographer. Mlangeni’s practice incorporates a strong element
of texture to the art of movement and has seen her perform on stages across the
world. Her recent dance piece, CONFINED,
is inspired by the political stalwart, Winnie Madikizela Mandela.
Jefferson Tshabalala is a writer, director,
performer, and the founder and owner of the live arts production house, Kiri
Pink Nob Arts (Pty) Ltd. Tshabalala merges poetry, hip-hop, comedy, and
traditional dramatic arts to communicate nuanced and far-reaching stories. His
recent work Ekasi Lam – An Ode to Kwaito premiered
at the 2019 National Arts Festival.
Associate Producer of the National Arts
Festival, Nobesuthu Rayi, explains that in addition to the high calibre of
production, each young artist speaks to the status quo of the industry through
their work.
“On behalf of the Festival we congratulate
the 2020 SBYA's, they are all deserving artists whose body of work speaks for
itself,” says Rayi. “I have noticed with interest that all these artists are
aware of the status quo of our arts industry in SA and they have strong
opinions on the matter. To all the 2020 SBYAs, gqamani njengeenkwenkwezi
enizizo. Shine like the stars you are.”
Chairperson of the Festival Artistic
Committee, Brett Bailey, adds that awards like this give public validation to
artists, providing them with the opportunity and confidence to spread their
artistic wings. “They give a highly visible platform to the winners to showcase
their work and to lift them from their crowded field and provide the funding to
generate something new,” says Bailey.
For Standard Bank, who have sponsored the
awards since 1984, the awards present an opportunity to continue nurturing
platforms and artists who give rise to the creative economy of South
Africa.
Desiree Pooe, Head of Group Sponsorships at
Standard Bank, says: “The curatorial committee looks for artists who have
already proven themselves with a track record of work of high artistic quality;
artists who have a strong vision and who are not constrained to the commercial
mainstream.
It is a great honour for us to be
associated with nurturing the careers of these brilliant young minds, as we
strive to support South Africa’s creative economy by helping them build
sustainable livelihoods while staying true to their artistic muses.’
The National Arts Festival, celebrates 46
years in 2020, has grown to be one of the leading arts festivals in Africa. Its
objectives are to deliver excellence; encourage innovation and development in
the arts by providing a platform for both established and emerging South
African artists; create opportunities for collaboration with international
artists; and build new audiences.
The National Arts Festival established the
Young Artist Awards in 1981 to acknowledge emerging young South African artists
who demonstrate an outstanding artistic talent. These prestigious awards are
presented annually to deserving artists in different disciplines – dance, jazz,
music, theatre, visual art, performance art and film – affording them national
exposure and acclaim. Standard Bank took over the sponsorship of the awards in
1984 and has presented Young Artist Awards in all the major arts disciplines
over their 36-year sponsorship, as well as posthumous and special recognition
awards. The winners feature on the Main Programme of the National Arts Festival
in Makhanda and receive financial support for their Festival participation, as
well as a cash prize.
(To link direct to the NAF site click on
the large banner that runs across the top of this blog or visit
https://www.nationalartsfestival.co.za or visit Facebook:
www.facebook.com/nationalartsfestival; Twitter: @artsfestival or Instagram:
nationalartsfestival)
Stay informed by connecting with Standard
Bank Arts on:
Facebook: @StandardBankArts
Twitter: @StandardBankArt #AfricanheART
Instagram:
Standard Bank Arts
Website: www.standardbank.com/sbya
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