Sharing Cultures: ARROWSA youth production performed in global exchanges
Two groups of ARROWSA participants embarked on Indra (International Development of Reconciliation through the Arts) cultural exchanges to Derry, Northern Ireland and Lucknow, India during 2013 and 2014.
The Indra cultural exchanges reinforce ARROWSA’s goals for face-to-face intercultural contact for the promotion of knowledge and understanding towards breaking down negative stereotypes. The global meetings provide platforms for the use of arts, culture and heritage towards peace and reconciliation.
A socially-engaged theatre production titled ‘Imbewu Yesizwe – The Nation’s Seed,’ written, directed and performed by ARROWSA youth, has been showcased before audiences in Derry, Lucknow and Durban. Based on the merits of the play, the National Arts Council funded the airfare for the global exchanges.
‘Imbewu Yesizwe – The Nation’s Seed’ production at Bechet High School, Sydenham, Durban in October 2013. Photo courtesy Sanabelle Ebrahim
ARROWSA participants who attended the 2013 Indra Congress in Derry are Kholakela Zikhale (ARROWSA Bechet participant), Bhekithemba Dlamini (ARROWSA Bechet coordinator) and Mary Lange (ARROWSA chair and facilitator). Bhekithemba and Mary also attended the Indra symposium held at the University of Ulster.
Bhekithemba Dlamini (ARROWSA Bechet coordinator) and Kholakela Zikhale (ARROWSA Bechet participant) at Tower Hotel, the only hotel located within Derry’s historic city walls. They participated in the Indra Derry Congress in July 2013. Photo courtesy Mikhail Peppas
Alongside the performance of ‘Imbewu Yesizwe – The Nation’s Seed,’ Bhekithemba identified as his highlights of the Derry Congress: Drama workshops, the youth Peace Bridge parade, and specifically the Ulster symposium.
For Kholakela: “The dancing workshops and youth peace parade over the bridge were my highlights. It is the first time that I have worked with a professional dancer. She was very encouraging and I learnt a lot.”
Upon returning to Durban, Bhekithemba coordinated the local performances of ‘Imbewu Yesizwe – The Nation’s Seed’ and initiated the writing of a follow-up production. Kholakela participated as a lead in the week-long production held at Bechet High School, Sydenham, Durban in October 2013.
Inspired by the Derry Congress and success of Imbewu Yesizwe 1, a performance of Imbewu Yesizwe 11, directed and authored by Bhekithemba Dlamini, Darnell Fortune and the ARROWSA-Bechet group was held for enthusiastic audiences from Grade 8 to Grade 11 learners at Bechet High School on 13 and 14 May 2014. A performance for the general public will take place at a later date.
The ARROWSA group that visited India in March-April 2014 are: Joy Seidle (ARROWSA schools portfolio); Luthando Ngema (regional and international portfolio) and co-author of the play ‘Imbewu Yesizwe’; Nonkululeko Dube and Sindisiwe Mkhize (ARROWSA Bechet performers from 2008 –2013 and assistant facilitators in 2014).
Some of the highlights of the Lucknow trip included a visit to the Chota Imambara and Bara Imambara (historical landmarks of Lucknow), Botanical Gardens, CSIR-CIMAP (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants), Prerna School, and The Study Hall Educational Foundation. The Foundation was established in March 1994 with the objective of imparting quality education to children. One of the aims is to bring the benefits of education to all levels of society throughout India, by establishing primary, secondary and higher secondary schools, teacher training institutions, open school classes, vocational training programmes and adult literacy programmes.
Dr Urvashi Sahni is Founder and Chief Executive of the Study Hall Educational Foundation and facilitator of the Indra Lucknow group. The ARROWSA group participated in theatre and art workshops in Lucknow. Joy Seidle and Luthando Ngema delivered a PowerPoint presentation about ARROWSA and South Africa with particular focus on Durban. Sindisiwe, Nonkululeko and Luthando rendered a well-received adaptation of the production, ‘Imbewu Yesizwe – The Nation’s Seed’ at the Study Hall, which highlighted common themes around female empowerment.
ARROWSA participants engage in cultural exchange with Indra Lucknow group, March-April 2014.
The play adapted a short skit style, merging poetry, music and dance. Considering that the play was acted out by three females, the performance aimed to reflect core African feminine issues. The narrative was conveyed through three generations of women, comprising Gogo; her daughter Nomusa; and grandchild Lindiwe. Both Gogo and Nomusa were played by Sindisiwe, where differentiated costume aided in the two characters assuming their own identity and appearing in different scenes. Nonkululeko played Lindiwe who is the main character as she represents the ‘girl’ in society; a young woman overcome by societal pressures yet displaying courage and strength from the wisdom of the two women in her life (Gogo and Nomusa). Luthando narrated the play and performed the opening poetry act, wherein she recited a poem about the strength of a woman.
Storytelling was thus used as an engaging tool to represent African ideology and philosophy. Portraying three women as central characters emphasised the societal challenges that women encounter and how they overcome them. As such, the adaptation of ‘Imbewu Yesizwe – The Nation’s Seed’ attests to female orientated solutions, where female driven roles encourage female driven solutions.
The audience comprised both male and female students from Class 10 to Class 11 (equivalent to Grade 10 and Grade 11) at the Study Hall Foundation. The play had an open ending; where the lead character Lindiwe had to make a life changing decision. The audience shared their feedback by suggesting the ending to the cast.
Ultimately the ending was negotiated through dialogue, and the audiences were able to express their views and reflect on the performance. The interaction proved fascinating, as wider female audience participation was noted.
Nonkululeko and Sindisiwe have attended ARROWSA-Bechet sessions upon return from India and shared their experiences with the group.
ARROWSA will reciprocate by hosting a group from Indra Lucknow from 18 to 23 July 2014. David Oddie, director of Indra, will visit Durban in August 2014 and facilitate workshops on the use of the arts in anti-bullying campaigns at schools, The Centre for Communication, Media & Society (CCMS) – UKZN, and the Drama department, UKZN. He will open the annual ARROWSA collaborative DUT jewellery exhibition in the first week of August which will fundraise towards the ARROWSA attendance of the 2015 global congress in Bethlehem, Palestine where the group will be afforded an opportunity to improve their arts skills and share South Africa’s vibrant cultures through performance.
ARROWSA – Art, Culture & Heritage for Peace is a voluntary nonprofit organisation in South Africa. The programme seeks to join people as individuals, from organisations and institutions, and from all over the world in art projects and face-to-face meetings that break down barriers, and promote conflict resolution and reconciliation, and understanding.
“We hope to achieve this by sharing our stories, challenging prejudice and stereotypes, and developing the arts as a resource for reconciliation and the creative transformation of conflict,” says ARROWSA chairperson, Mary Lange.
Indra is a network of artists, educators, young people and others committed to developing the arts as a resource for peacebuilding. The mission of the Indra Congress is to build a global network of artists, educators, young people and others who share a commitment to the development of the arts as a crucial resource for peacebuilding and the non-violent transformation of conflict.
Indra’s vision is to use the language of the arts to challenge stereotypes, prejudices, inequalities and destructive myths, to build bridges, to promote empathy and to help build positive relationships across perceived boundaries and barriers.
The aims of the Congress will be achieved through the development of an ongoing programme of live Congress events, regional, national and international within a framework of ongoing, grassroots activities, training, research and communication.
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