The WORDFEST 2017 opening was a truly historical moment for the legacy of African Languages, Art, poetry and cultural performances. The opening was presided over by South Africa’s Heritage Ambassador, 2016 Mail and Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans recipient, entrepreneur and public figure Tando Songwevu (35), for whom this was a first-time feature ever National Arts Festival, where she presented opening remarks as the program director at event opening ceremony.
The theme for this year’s Wordfest programme was historical, focusing on three major events to have occurred and been nearly forgotten by South Africans, namely: celebrating the centenary of OR Tambo, celebrating the 40th year anniversary of the brutal murder of Steve Bantu Biko, as well as marking historically that 2017 is th 100th year since the sinking of the SS Mendi disaster in February 1917 on its way to the battlefields of WW1, and remembering the South African soldiers who bravely and courageously died aboard the SS Mendi.
“There is a symbolic synergy in the three narratives celebrated today,” said Songwevu. “No doubt they are a call to memory and historical consciousness – a call to transform dark yesterdays to bright tomorrow.
The opening ceremony featured a number of prominent South African public figures in governance, academic scholars and the judiciary. For the panel of judges, the purpose and desire that South Africans should know their history and their forgotten renowned figures and unsung heroes, past and present including all other efforts of national significance that would fertilize our growing democracy was one of the more important messages they wished to convey to the youth especially.
Among the panel of judges were Professor Chris Mann – a prominent South African poet and one of the main geniuses behind the Word Festival programme; cultural author and activist for the advancement of literature in the African Languages Dr Mathene Mahanke, former constitutional court deputy-chief Justice Judge Dikgang Moseneke, an unplanned and though welcomed appearance by retired Justice of the Constitutional Court Albert Sachs, Honorary MEC Dr Pemmy Majodina, Head of the Eastern Cape Department of Sports, Arts and Culture Mr Mzolisi Matutu, and a vote of thanks delivered by Dr Pamela Maseko.
Judge Moseneke was the elected keynote speaker at this year’s opening.
“It is well known that I’m an Africanist; this is not a political term, it describes a world view and it describes a way of life” Judge Moseneka said. “It is a problem that as African writers we must reduce our self-love, and this is a problem.
“Oppression does many things, and central to oppression is destroying the personal agency which we carry as Africans,” Moseneka continued his milestone address. “That we must make Africa central to our world is very important. And in understanding ourselves as Africans we must embrace all of our people: those who are xenophobic are stupid fools. Our government rejects xenophobia and we must continue to reject it also. We must continue to believe that Africa must rise, and that the African Renaissance is very important.”
The auspicious was carried along most well by Heritage Ambassador Songwevu, who was invited to the festival to promote the non-traditional sectors of Arts, culture and heritage and being the voice for those whose voices are not heard – such as cultural entrepreneurs on the street. Songwevu primarily represents the Mbhashe local Municipality under her stakeholder engagements as well as her company, EMBO Media, in partnership with Mayor Samkelo Janda from Mbhashe and LED Tourism Manager Khaya Majavu.
Part of Songwevu’s journey was in advertising and promoting the Mbashe Municipality’s Crafts and Artworks Association, which was exhibiting at the village green, and she wore one of their beautiful dresses as she facilitated one of the most historical moments for African arts, literature, heritage and cultural transformation.
The Head of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture Mr Mzolisi Matutu, in his address to the panel, spoke optimistically about the prospects in store for South Africa and its youth based on both the turnout as well as the interest in Wordfest, and the successes of Wordfest over the years.
“This country is fortunate to have such wise people address our youth,” Matutu said. “People are becoming increasingly aware of this platform opened for them. The turnout implies that our effort as a department is beginning to yield results.”
This year the Wordfest program has 92 participants from 8 districts, 53 males and 39 females.
