AS part of Youth Month, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, independent arts organisations and emerging local artists, supported by the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), are putting together a three-day Youth Festival set to take place online from mid-June.
According to a statement released by the MBDA, culture is part of the Nelson Mandela Bay area’s “capital” and it is therefore fitting to name the programme: Kulture Kapital Youth Festival.
This platform will offer an opportunity to pilot collaborative work highlighting the arts, culture and various heritage forms of the people of the Bay.
MBDA project manager, Oyama Vanto, said that the programme was an opportunity for young people to showcase their talents and to further gain understanding of the cultural mapping of the city and arising opportunities as South Africa enters the fourth industrial revolution – with which the (cultural) creative industry is engaging.
“The festival promises amazing performances by many of our Bay talents, from the likes of South African Music Awards (SAMA) nominated, Dumza Maswana, PE Boys (formerly PE’s Finest) and notable DJs, Zeed and ZainSA, among many others,” Vanto added.
The acts fall within the precincts which the MBDA is currently working on to allow arts and culture back into the city by capturing the surrounding beauty.
Pre-recordings for the 12 productions began on Monday, June 8, and will be available to be viewed online from June 19 until June 21, through Watcha TV.
To maintain physical distancing, all artists will record their shows digitally at the Athenaeum Little Theatre, according to the statement.
“The Athenaeum has been disinfected and artists are provided with all the required PPE. The shows will be recorded with no audience and at different times to keep the number of artists in the venue at minimum,” it read.
To keep up with the details of the activities and what will be taking place where, readers can look out for #NMBKultureKapital on all social media platforms, or contact Oyama Vanto on 060 546 8777.
Vanto can also be reached via e-mail at oyama.vanto@mbda.co.za.
