Date: 15/11/2003
Source: The Presidency
Title: Mbeki's tribute to actor Ken Gambu
PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI'S TRIBUTE TO KEN GAMBU PRESENTED BY GAUTENG MEC FOR SPORT, RECREATION, ARTS AND CULTURE, MR MONDLE GUNGUBELE, 15 November 2003
We are gathered here today to mourn, but more importantly to celebrate, the life of one of the gallant cultural workers that ever emerged from the African continent. We must indeed celebrate a life that was lived to the full.
We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of a pioneer, Ken Gambu, a finest son of the African continent. Many will remember Ken as arguably one of the first African actors to emerge from our shores who could not simply be counted as a mere actor but as one of the best.
As we celebrate this life, we are also painfully reminded of the struggles that Ken and his peers endured, struggles that mirrored the struggle that his people went through. Such were struggles that were faced by members of the oppressed majority who were expected to prove their capacity brilliantly to act and produce outstanding art under difficult circumstances.
We will all recall that Ken started his acting career back in the 1950s. His talent blossomed over the years and was noticed by the overseas market. It is indeed sad that, like many of our shining stars in the entertainment industry, he was denied opportunities to showcase his talent in his home soil.
Sad indeed that when he eventually came home, or spent more time at home to take part in some of the local productions, he was not rewarded in accordance with his skill. Like many African workers, whose stretched muscles and sweat-dripping foreheads oiled the apartheid production machinery, Ken Gambu was exploited and never lived fully to enjoy the fruits of his toil.
As we celebrate this wonderful life we are reminded of our bitter history as a people. We are reminded of where we come from, for Ken epitomised that bitter history, a history of hard labour and less reward.
As we celebrate this life, we are also reminded of the history of the arts in this country; a history of unequal development, of two separate arts communities in the country; one well cared for, well-remunerated and celebrated and the other neglected, exploited, marginalized and unrecognised. But, as seasons come to pass, we are proud to say we gather here today under a new environment.
In less than six months we will be celebrating ten years of freedom. This will also be ten years of a changed environment in the arts industry. Let us use this occasion of Ken's passing away to also reflect on the achievements of that freedom.
Today, as I speak, we have the National Arts Council (NAC) whose responsibility is to ensure that those who have learned the craft from people like Ken can enjoy the benefits of having the talent that they have. Through its funding system the NAC ensures that our artists in the broadest meaning of the term can be given the keys to open the doors that were previously closed to people like Ken. It is therefore important that as we celebrate Ken's life and contribution to the arts we are guided by his passion, vision and ideals in building a strong arts community that will not be marginalized like he was.
There are at least three challenges that we have to place before ourselves as we celebrate Ken's life. First, we have to start asking ourselves and the world uncomfortable questions about the state of our film industry. We have to, in line with our pursuit of the renaissance of the African continent, ask ourselves about the portrayal of the African continent through art as well as film. Let us use the occasion of Ken's passing on to move a step forward in redefining ourselves in ways that will reassert our dignity, our rich heritage and our resolve to deliver a better life for all.
The African film industry must reflect and portray the richness of the Savannah; the wisdom of Timbuktu; the skill and precision of the Giza pyramids. The African film industry should make the children of Mali, Tanzania, Mamelodi, Cairo and Lagos turn and look themselves in the mirror with pride, knowing very well that they have potential like others. Indeed, the African film industry must give the workers in Harare, Kinshasa, and Tripoli hope that a better Africa is emerging and that Africa's sun has dawned.
This must be an industry of hope. An industry that will educate the African girl child about the greatness of Queen Manthatise, Mbuyi Nehanda, and Queen Makeda. This industry must teach the African child about the struggle for freedom, a struggle paid for in blood.
The second challenge that we need to place before ourselves concerns the continuing imbalance in the production-consumer equation. We must, indeed, strive to move away from being mainly consumers of entertainment and ensure that we also become producers of entertainment. This we must do to make this world a real global village whose citizens share skills and talent equally as human beings.
The third challenge that we must place before ourselves is to end the continuing lack of appreciation of our local arts. The time has come for us to ensure that our people appreciate their local icons, heroes and heroines in the same manner, if not more, than their overseas counterparts. We have to make it clear that ours is a country full of talent; that ours is a continent full of talent. The African film industry must be propelled to reach the heights reached by the music industry. We must not only have many more Ken Gambus, but these must be celebrated, honoured and rewarded in the same scale as their counterparts elsewhere.
To the Gambu family we say: the nation is with you. Be strong in the knowledge that you shall forever live and walk in the shadow of a giant.
Thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
15 November 2003
Source: The Presidency
Title: Mbeki's tribute to actor Ken Gambu
PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI'S TRIBUTE TO KEN GAMBU PRESENTED BY GAUTENG MEC FOR SPORT, RECREATION, ARTS AND CULTURE, MR MONDLE GUNGUBELE, 15 November 2003
We are gathered here today to mourn, but more importantly to celebrate, the life of one of the gallant cultural workers that ever emerged from the African continent. We must indeed celebrate a life that was lived to the full.
We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of a pioneer, Ken Gambu, a finest son of the African continent. Many will remember Ken as arguably one of the first African actors to emerge from our shores who could not simply be counted as a mere actor but as one of the best.
As we celebrate this life, we are also painfully reminded of the struggles that Ken and his peers endured, struggles that mirrored the struggle that his people went through. Such were struggles that were faced by members of the oppressed majority who were expected to prove their capacity brilliantly to act and produce outstanding art under difficult circumstances.
We will all recall that Ken started his acting career back in the 1950s. His talent blossomed over the years and was noticed by the overseas market. It is indeed sad that, like many of our shining stars in the entertainment industry, he was denied opportunities to showcase his talent in his home soil.
Sad indeed that when he eventually came home, or spent more time at home to take part in some of the local productions, he was not rewarded in accordance with his skill. Like many African workers, whose stretched muscles and sweat-dripping foreheads oiled the apartheid production machinery, Ken Gambu was exploited and never lived fully to enjoy the fruits of his toil.
As we celebrate this wonderful life we are reminded of our bitter history as a people. We are reminded of where we come from, for Ken epitomised that bitter history, a history of hard labour and less reward.
As we celebrate this life, we are also reminded of the history of the arts in this country; a history of unequal development, of two separate arts communities in the country; one well cared for, well-remunerated and celebrated and the other neglected, exploited, marginalized and unrecognised. But, as seasons come to pass, we are proud to say we gather here today under a new environment.
In less than six months we will be celebrating ten years of freedom. This will also be ten years of a changed environment in the arts industry. Let us use this occasion of Ken's passing away to also reflect on the achievements of that freedom.
Today, as I speak, we have the National Arts Council (NAC) whose responsibility is to ensure that those who have learned the craft from people like Ken can enjoy the benefits of having the talent that they have. Through its funding system the NAC ensures that our artists in the broadest meaning of the term can be given the keys to open the doors that were previously closed to people like Ken. It is therefore important that as we celebrate Ken's life and contribution to the arts we are guided by his passion, vision and ideals in building a strong arts community that will not be marginalized like he was.
There are at least three challenges that we have to place before ourselves as we celebrate Ken's life. First, we have to start asking ourselves and the world uncomfortable questions about the state of our film industry. We have to, in line with our pursuit of the renaissance of the African continent, ask ourselves about the portrayal of the African continent through art as well as film. Let us use the occasion of Ken's passing on to move a step forward in redefining ourselves in ways that will reassert our dignity, our rich heritage and our resolve to deliver a better life for all.
The African film industry must reflect and portray the richness of the Savannah; the wisdom of Timbuktu; the skill and precision of the Giza pyramids. The African film industry should make the children of Mali, Tanzania, Mamelodi, Cairo and Lagos turn and look themselves in the mirror with pride, knowing very well that they have potential like others. Indeed, the African film industry must give the workers in Harare, Kinshasa, and Tripoli hope that a better Africa is emerging and that Africa's sun has dawned.
This must be an industry of hope. An industry that will educate the African girl child about the greatness of Queen Manthatise, Mbuyi Nehanda, and Queen Makeda. This industry must teach the African child about the struggle for freedom, a struggle paid for in blood.
The second challenge that we need to place before ourselves concerns the continuing imbalance in the production-consumer equation. We must, indeed, strive to move away from being mainly consumers of entertainment and ensure that we also become producers of entertainment. This we must do to make this world a real global village whose citizens share skills and talent equally as human beings.
The third challenge that we must place before ourselves is to end the continuing lack of appreciation of our local arts. The time has come for us to ensure that our people appreciate their local icons, heroes and heroines in the same manner, if not more, than their overseas counterparts. We have to make it clear that ours is a country full of talent; that ours is a continent full of talent. The African film industry must be propelled to reach the heights reached by the music industry. We must not only have many more Ken Gambus, but these must be celebrated, honoured and rewarded in the same scale as their counterparts elsewhere.
To the Gambu family we say: the nation is with you. Be strong in the knowledge that you shall forever live and walk in the shadow of a giant.
Thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
15 November 2003
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