A true thespian serving Mbekweni wears his love, efforts and concerns for his community close to his heart and on his sleeve.
Sindile Msebenzi is a 33-year-old artist, actor and puppeteer highly involved in the community in ways even related to fighting crime.
“I invested my involvement by joining the Mbekweni Community Policing Forum (CPF) in 2014,” he said. “I was elected treasurer of Mbekweni CPF and continue to hold this position.”
When asked what makes Mbekweni so special, Msebenzi paid tribute to its culture of parenting.
“I love the parenting ways, culture and values we cherish among one another, which is the reason I chose to stay. You see, as a child I was raised by the whole community. We really embody the old African adage that says ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. Ubuntu was the major principle I was raised to live by.”
He says the spirit of ubuntu (existing because of others) is a motivational source encouraging young people to prosper in whatever they do best, whether it be academics, sport or the arts.
“From a young age I’ve involved myself in as many community activities I hoped would teach me to become the best leader I could be. So today you will see me in nearly all community development projects in Mbekweni.
“I’m also embarking on a journey to groom leaders of tomorrow, using my art as an actor and puppeteering as a tool.”
Msebenzi expressed sheer determination for the place his heart has remained in, where he attended various local schools. This was followed by studies in marketing in Cape Town, where he spent three years as a young adult from 2013 to 2015 before returning.
In 2017, Msebenzi established Uprising Arts Project with a team to accomplish his dream of promoting an aspirational culture of leadership. That same year he realised he needed to give back to his community, and that’s when he started working with primary schools.
“Since then we built strong bonds with all the primary schools of Mbekweni, such as Mbekweni Primary School, Langabuya Primary and Imboniselo Primary by introducing important topics to kids through puppetry.
Msebenzi joined the community drama group Theatre Through Motivation (TTM) in 2010, and in 2012 two group members received a scholarship to train with the South African Association of Puppetry (UNIMA SA) through its Pro-Active Programme.
“Fortunately I was chosen to attend the course, which lasted a year, in which we learnt puppet contraction, manipulation, facilitation and performing. From there I worked for UNIMA as performer and facilitator, followed by ZANEWS, also known as Puppet Nation ZA. I am a Safta award-winning puppeteer and was fortunate to contribute to a production titled Waistbust, which was endorsed by the Moonlighting production company.
“I did a few plays with and performed at Cape Town theatres such as Artcape, The Baxter Theatre, Magnet Theatre, Makukhanye Theatre in Khayelitsha and at the Black Box Theatre in Delft, to name a few.
“This year I’m looking forward to writing a play for kids and constructing the puppets that will tell the story, myself. With it, I hope to create characters that consist of leaders and role models that will stand firm on what is right. I believe art is a strong medium to inspire future leaders.”
To this end, grooming young minds requires diversification of facilities, which is the only way to develop Mbekweni, although there is lack of political will to do so, Msebenzi feels.
“Yes, we have sport fields and we see the numbers grow in sport, but not all of us can play sport. Some of the kids have a passion for the arts, and if both the arts and sport can work together in creative ways they will stimulate development in children.”
He has been stressing the issue of commissioning an art centre in Mbekweni since being elected a ward committee member, but has seen no real effort so far to initiate it.
“Spaces where kids are allowed to express themselves would offer a positive passing of time that distracts from the pitfalls of alcohol and drug abuse. Kids have nowhere to go to develop their talents.
“I’m saying all of this out of heartbreak, thinking about how Mbekweni may look in 10 years time – a community with no future. My wish is to be able to look back in future and see the cries of our children, who had no hope for tomorrow, heard and their deepest needs and desires fulfilled.”
