EC Arts and Culture Awards

The Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSARC) MEC Fezeka Bayeni has congratulated artists for their creative excellency at the 6^th Eastern Cape Provincial Arts and Culture Awards on Friday, 21 February 2020.

The prestigious awards that were in East London International Convection Centre were held in recognition and celebration of individuals, groups, organisations or institutions who have played a role of enhancing and promoting professional excellence in the arts and culture sector of the Province.

MEC Bayeni in her address during the award ceremony, indicated that, “The amount of creative talent this province has produced remains unmatched, but I will be the first to admit that most of this talent leaves the province for greener pastures elsewhere. Our task as government working together with yourselves as stakeholders is to reverse the apartheid legacy of spatial inequality and migrant labour, that our creative talent must migrate to Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban to successful.”

“Our task therefore is to unlock this creative potential and position the Eastern Cape as the creative heart of the country. We are here tonight not to lament on our challenges but to take time to celebrate the progress we have made, to celebrate the great work that you do not withstand the challenges we.”

She further added that, “This beautiful awards ceremony is also a platform to encourage you in your work, we recognise your talent, it is said that prophets are never recognised in their homes, this is our way of saying we recognise your talents. We are working towards the development of a creative industry across the entire province. We are going to investing in the required facilities and infrastructure for creative industries.”

“We are also working on improving coordination amongst the different role players in the province to drive the development of the creative industries. Through our support to entities like the Eastern Cape Provincial Arts and Culture Council (ECPACC), the East London Guild Theatre, the Port Elizabeth Opera House and the Eastern Cape Audio Visual Centre, we are committed to ensuring that the Eastern Cape does not only produce talent but our creative talent receives the necessary support for it to succeed and thrive within the Province.”

“Through our support to platforms like the  National Arts Festival in Makhanda, Isingqi Sethu Festival in Port St Johns, Komani Jazz, Shukuma Dance and Iphulo Drama Festivals in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, OR Tambo Choral Music Festival and other privately organised festivals, we want to ensure that creatives from our province have platforms to showcase their  talent  and also earn a living through their craft”, said MEC Bayeni.

The Department received from the public more than 180 nominations for 23 different categories.Nominations were open to any person who has achieved in any of the different categories provincially, nationally or internationally.  A team of 7 adjudicators’ who are professionals in the Music, Indigenous Knowledge, Language, Visual and Performing Arts genres selected the awardees for each category.

Winners for the public nomination and special awards for Provincial Arts and Culture Awards 2019/2020 are; namely: 

• INDIVIDUAL LIFETIME CONTRIBUTION TO ARTS AND CULTURE
  KHANYISO DAKADA
   
• MUSIC GROUP
  CLASSICAL CHORAL SINGERS AND ACADEMY
   
• MUSIC -INDIVIDUAL
  SIPHO MICHAEL LISA
   
• DRAMA- DIRECTING
  AMANDA BOTHMA
   
• DRAMA – SET DESIGN
  JEANNE MOULD
   
• DANCE – CHOREOGRAPHY
  XOLISILE BONGWANA
   
• DANCE- PRODUCTION
  VIA PATERSON ARTS CLUB
   
• BEST VISUAL ARTIST IN 2-DIMENSIONAL ART
  SIPHIWO SOBOPHA
   
• BEST VISUAL ARTIST IN 3-DIMENSIONAL ART
  SIYATHEMBA SIYOBI
   
• CRAFT- BEST DESIGNER
  ARCHIBALD MONYEPAO
   
• CRAFT- BEST CRAFT PRODUCER
  NTOMBIZANELE NYOSI
   
• LITERATURE- ORAL LITERATURE ISIXHOSA
  NOMPUCUKO ZAKAZA
   
• WRITTEN LITERATURE- SESOTHO
  MOHLAULI LETHOLA
   
• WRITTEN LITERATURE- ENGLISH
  BEVAN BOGGENPOEL
   
• SIGN LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION – INDIVIDUAL
  OLIVIA NOMTINJANA MQAQA
   
• ARTS AND CULTURE MANAGEMENT-INDIVIDUAL
  ANTHONY DRAKE
   
• ARTS AND CULTURE JOURNALISM- INDIVIDUAL
  LULAMILE FENI
   
• FILM INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR
  LUZUKO DILIMA
   
• FILM INDIVIDUAL FOR A FILM
  NCEDISILE VICTOR HULUSHE
   
• INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS PROMOTION
  MPHUMZI XONXA
   
  SPECIAL AWARDEES:
   
• MAWAWA CREATIONS – CRAFT
• SONWABISO NGCAI – VISUAL ART 3- DIMENSIONAL
• ZIKHONA VOYI – CRAFT CURATION
• JAHMIL XT QUBEKA – FILM MAKING AND SCREEN WRITING
• SIBUSISIWE NODADA – FASHION DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
• SONWA SAKUBA – PERFORMING ARTS
• NOBESUTHU RAYI – ARTS MANAGEMENT
• MTHUTHUZELI SCOTT – PROMOTION OF ISIXHOSA IN SPORT
• MANDISA NGUZA – MUSIC DEVELOPMENT
• LINDA SITHOLE – FASHION DESIGN
• SIMPHIWE BOTILE – PERFORMING ARTS
• QALINTOMBI PRISCILLA MOSES – PERFORMING ARTS
• MANDILAKHE GWASHU – PERFORMING ARTS
• LOYISO NQEVU – INDIGENOUS KNOWLEGDE SYSTEMS
• LUYOLO YIBA – MUSIC
• MZUVUKILE SKIN SIPOKO – POSTHUMOUS – PERFORMING ARTS
• STOMPI MAVI – POSTHUMOUS- MUSIC
• MAGARET MCINGANA – POSTHUMOUS – MUSIC

Cultural diversity remains the Eastern Cape’s strength in attracting tourists and it should be protected by all means. Thus, the awarding of home-grown artistic excellence reinforces the Department’s commitment to protect the wealth of talent which may so easily be lost to other provinces. 

For media queries, contact:
Mr Andile Nduna
Cell: 071 411 4820
Email: Andile.Nduna@ecsrac.gov.za

Issued by:
DSRAC Communications Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture – DSRAC E.C