Date: 24/11/2006
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Jacobs: Cultural Awards function
Speech by MEC for Cultural Affairs, Sport and Recreation in the Western Cape, Whitey Jacobs, at the Cultural Awards function held at V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
"The past week has seen us hosting a very well organised Xhosa festival in Langa. The objective of the festival was to demonstrate the role of language in the process of nation building. It was also an attempt to elevate the Xhosa language to that of all other official languages of our province.
It is important always to remember what role language, art, culture, heritage, libraries and archives play to send out important messages to our people. Tonight we will be celebrating that.
During the Xhosa festival, music was a central theme. This was showcased with the wonderful performances of people like Madosini, Dizu Plaatjie, Silvia Mdunyelwa, Zindala Zombili, Ntombethongo, Louis Moholo, Robbie Jansen and Zim Ngqawana and many others.
A key element of the festival was the showcasing of indigenous music and musical instruments. I want to encourage all of you to view the indigenous exhibition at the Iziko Museum that was opened during Heritage Month this year. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Iziko museum for the collection of these indigenous instruments.
"Our Music our Heritage": South Africa has a rich and diverse intangible heritage that includes her musical traditions, ritual, oral history, popular memory and performances such as dance and drama.
These different forms of expression transcend all population groups, cultural backgrounds and ages. Music in particular has a significant place in our intangible heritage. It is integral to all the rites from birth to death in every section of our population. It is for this reason that we celebrated "Our Music our Heritage" during Heritage Month this year.
Arts and culture through out history has not merely been used to entertain. It has been used to teach, to send a message and to conscientise people. Arts and Culture has served as a medium to mobilise and unite people against wars of oppression.
Arts and Culture has served as a medium to express emotion and love, even hate.
Arts and Culture has served as a medium to raise the consciousness of nations Arts and Culture has served to uplift and develop communities in both urban and rural areas.
Arts and Culture has served as an alternative to social problems.
The album "Vastrap" Island teaches us about the early colonialisation of and the events that took place on the shores of Table Bay. Vastrap was a dance performed by the Khoi people. Robbie Jansen with this album reminds us of the role music and jazz plays in teaching us about this history.
"Asiyi apho" teaches us about the resistance to force removals. "Yakhala Nkomo" teach us about the process of the dispossession of land and livestock as well as that of religion and traditions. Winston Mankunku Ngozi illustrates this in his rendition of these songs.
"Ingqumbo Yeminyanya" teaches us about the evolution of traditions in our society and the contradiction that emerged from it. It teaches us how Western and African cultures merged to form a uniquely South African tradition. This story is told in a popular writing by A C Jordan, the father of Minister Pallo Jordan. Mzwandile Mangxangana in the drama based on this book played a critical role as Dlelaphantsi to bring this story across.
In the poem "To shiver in the colour of human" from the collection "Colour does not come alone" Antjie Krog reminds us of the role poetry can and must play in nation building. This poem is a good example of what I am trying to put across tonight. The poem urges us to start anew as one people and I wish to quote from it:
It starts with "Hoe word jy heel. Hoe sny jy skoon."
She continues "Van hier af van die moment af gaan dit anders klink"
"Ons weet nou mekaar. Ons is stadig mekaar opnuut nuut en hier begin dit."
Issued by: Department of Cultural Affairs, Sport and Recreation, Western Cape Provincial Government
24 November 2006
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Jacobs: Cultural Awards function
Speech by MEC for Cultural Affairs, Sport and Recreation in the Western Cape, Whitey Jacobs, at the Cultural Awards function held at V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
"The past week has seen us hosting a very well organised Xhosa festival in Langa. The objective of the festival was to demonstrate the role of language in the process of nation building. It was also an attempt to elevate the Xhosa language to that of all other official languages of our province.
It is important always to remember what role language, art, culture, heritage, libraries and archives play to send out important messages to our people. Tonight we will be celebrating that.
During the Xhosa festival, music was a central theme. This was showcased with the wonderful performances of people like Madosini, Dizu Plaatjie, Silvia Mdunyelwa, Zindala Zombili, Ntombethongo, Louis Moholo, Robbie Jansen and Zim Ngqawana and many others.
A key element of the festival was the showcasing of indigenous music and musical instruments. I want to encourage all of you to view the indigenous exhibition at the Iziko Museum that was opened during Heritage Month this year. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Iziko museum for the collection of these indigenous instruments.
"Our Music our Heritage": South Africa has a rich and diverse intangible heritage that includes her musical traditions, ritual, oral history, popular memory and performances such as dance and drama.
These different forms of expression transcend all population groups, cultural backgrounds and ages. Music in particular has a significant place in our intangible heritage. It is integral to all the rites from birth to death in every section of our population. It is for this reason that we celebrated "Our Music our Heritage" during Heritage Month this year.
Arts and culture through out history has not merely been used to entertain. It has been used to teach, to send a message and to conscientise people. Arts and Culture has served as a medium to mobilise and unite people against wars of oppression.
Arts and Culture has served as a medium to express emotion and love, even hate.
Arts and Culture has served as a medium to raise the consciousness of nations Arts and Culture has served to uplift and develop communities in both urban and rural areas.
Arts and Culture has served as an alternative to social problems.
The album "Vastrap" Island teaches us about the early colonialisation of and the events that took place on the shores of Table Bay. Vastrap was a dance performed by the Khoi people. Robbie Jansen with this album reminds us of the role music and jazz plays in teaching us about this history.
"Asiyi apho" teaches us about the resistance to force removals. "Yakhala Nkomo" teach us about the process of the dispossession of land and livestock as well as that of religion and traditions. Winston Mankunku Ngozi illustrates this in his rendition of these songs.
"Ingqumbo Yeminyanya" teaches us about the evolution of traditions in our society and the contradiction that emerged from it. It teaches us how Western and African cultures merged to form a uniquely South African tradition. This story is told in a popular writing by A C Jordan, the father of Minister Pallo Jordan. Mzwandile Mangxangana in the drama based on this book played a critical role as Dlelaphantsi to bring this story across.
In the poem "To shiver in the colour of human" from the collection "Colour does not come alone" Antjie Krog reminds us of the role poetry can and must play in nation building. This poem is a good example of what I am trying to put across tonight. The poem urges us to start anew as one people and I wish to quote from it:
It starts with "Hoe word jy heel. Hoe sny jy skoon."
She continues "Van hier af van die moment af gaan dit anders klink"
"Ons weet nou mekaar. Ons is stadig mekaar opnuut nuut en hier begin dit."
Issued by: Department of Cultural Affairs, Sport and Recreation, Western Cape Provincial Government
24 November 2006
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