(Right: Anele Nene. Pic
supplied)
A decade of Imbewu Arts Festival honouring
creativity and artistic growth.
Presented by MagentaPro, the Imbewu Arts Festival is proud to celebrate its 10-year milestone with an exciting programme that places young artists and community development at its core.
Ahead of the main festival, Imbewu will host a special build-up weekend, known as “Fringe”, on November 29 and 30 at KCAP, featuring a brand-new addition to this year’s line-up: a dedicated film screening segment.
As part of its commitment to giving back, the festival has partnered with Sibalikhuli Development to offer a community workshop focusing on lighting, sound, stage management and proposal writing. These skills play a crucial role in empowering emerging creatives to navigate the arts sector with confidence and professionalism.
Festival director Fezeka Shandu says the partnership reflects Imbewu’s long standing mission to strengthen the artistic ecosystem: “As we mark a full decade of Imbewu, it felt important to invest directly in the young people who keep our industry alive. These workshops are practical, they are relevant, and they are exactly what many aspiring artists need to take their craft to the next level.”
The 2025 festival will officially open at the Courtyard Theatre at DUT on December 11 with Sullied, a critically acclaimed work that has travelled across the globe, including performances in the United Kingdom. Choreographed by Kristi Leigh and Sandile Mkhize, Sullied brings an international standard of dance theatre to local audiences while setting an inspiring tone for the festival’s 10-year celebration.
Central to Imbewu’s vision is the belief that young creatives deserve platforms that recognise their ambition and originality. Over the years, one of the biggest challenges facing new graduates has been the lack of opportunities to showcase fresh, boundary pushing work.
The Imbewu Arts Festival which runs from December 11 to 14, 2025, continues to address this gap by motivating emerging artists to build their skills, tell their own stories, and produce work of a high standard.
“Our goal has always been to make space for new voices,” adds Shandu. “When young artists feel supported, they create boldly, and that is exactly the kind of energy we want to see on our stages this year.” As Imbewu celebrates 10 years of nurturing talent and championing local content, this year’s programme promises to be its most impactful yet.
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