To celebrate youth month, Afropolitan Explosiv hosted an arts and film festival called “Ukubona Kabusha Showcase”, from the 5th to the 7th of June. Taking place at the Newcastle Show Hall, the festival brought together the finest artists from the region, from towns such as Ladysmith, Dannhauser, Charlestown and Utrecht.
To celebrate youth month, Afropolitan Explosiv hosted an arts and film festival called “Ukubona Kabusha Showcase”, from the 5th to the 7th of June. Taking place at the Newcastle Show Hall, the festival brought together the finest artists from the region, from towns such as Ladysmith, Dannhauser, Charlestown and Utrecht.
The festival took place over 3 days, beginning in Madadeni on the Thursday and Blaawubosch on Friday. The final and main evening of the showcase took place on Saturday the 7th of June, with many community leaders attending, including representatives of the Newcastle mayor’s office.
One of the highlights of the showcase was the screening of Remembering Nokutela, a film by Prof of Cherif Keita from Carleton College in Minnesota (USA). The film is a documentary on the life of Nokutela Dube, the early African intellectual and composer of songs. Nokutela, who was also the wife of John L Dube, co-founded with her husband Ohlange Industrial School—which was modelled after Booker T Washington’s Tuskegee (USA). In the film, Keita tracks his journey in KwaZulu-Natal, of trying to find the family of Nokutela Dube (who are the Mdima family).
Other highlights include a performance by KZN-based cellist and composer, Dr Thokozani Mhlambi. Mhlambi presented a riveting program of song and melody that fused ancient African festival forms (such as izibongelo, amahubo) together with classical music and opera. The result was a unique sound, which was very soothing to the festival audience. On exhibition, was an arts and craft exhibition, which profiled fine artists and jewellers from the region.
Afropolitan Explosiv is an arts and culture organization based in KwaZulu-Natal, with a focus on preserving African creative forms as well as mobilizing crafts for employment creation. By presenting a diverse program of film, discussion, motivational speaking, music and poetry, Afropolitan Explosiv’s aim was to create social cohesion. Festival organizer, NoBuntu Mhlambi said:
For interviews and further information, feel free to contact Afropolitan Explosiv’s program manager, Mrs N Mhlambi, +27767213351, nobuntu@afropolitanexplosiv.co.za.