My Black Little Heart a Dark Offering Indeed

Set and shot in Durban, Claire Angelique’s debut feature film ‘My Black Little Heart’ explores streets and avenues the Tshwane Tourism Board leaves off its attractions list and its municipality outright denies exist. This gut wrenching “semi-biographical” piece sheds light on Durban’s dark and septic underbelly, a world plagued by self mutilators, addicts, prostitutes, street [...]

Wonder what bonus material the DVD will have.

Yesterday Michael Jackson’s funeral coverage was such a spectacle the only thing distinguishing it from last month’s Black Entertainment Television awards was the bigger turnout.
 
Cable news coverage began early yesterday morning with nonstop helicopter video footage from the “private” ceremony for Jackson’s family, while commentators made various guesses as to what was happening behind the [...]

Twittering About the Fest

Twittering About the Fest
By Colin Wardle 
At this point I am sure we are all well aware of, if not annoyed by Facebook.
Twitter is the internet’s latest social networking and micro-blogging offering.

We want more audio books!

by Ongezwa Ndlakuse
‘We Want More Audio Books’ read some of the placards of marchers at the National Arts Festvial in Grahamstown. 
 
This crowd had members of the SA Library for the Blind, writers and people interested in literacy and education. The aim of the march, which took place on Monday, was to educate [...]

It’s all about the words

by Chwayitisa Nandisa Futshane-FJP

I have just been sitting listening to some of the deepest Xhosa poetry I have heard in a long time. In classic African style, many of the performances were unprepared and uncensored but that was truly the magical part of it. The true beauty of poetry lies in its spontaneity.
This is a [...]

G-Twon’s pots boil over for Fest!

By Anele Ngwenya and Lwando Helesi
Politicians may falter and prices will always change but the 35th National Arts Festival has not neglected its obligation to good cuisine and artistic inspiration. The Long Table restaurant has certainly maintained its promise to feed the diverse crowds during festival.
  
 

Standard Bank Hands Out 99 Awards in 25 Years

By Colin Wardle and Onamandla Mathe
Since its inception way back in 1981, the Standard Bank Young Artists Award has been a platform for aspiring artists who have “demonstrated exceptional ability in their chosen fields but who have not yet achieved national exposure and acclaim.” The awards have always served to promote the careers of their recipients, [...]

Village Green moves show from town to RU campus

The National Arts Festival’s Transnet Village Green Market has moved from Fiddlers Green in the centre of Grahamstown to Rhodes University campus. The new digs are more spacious and promise a “family-friendly” environment and a bigger sales platform for South African crafts makers and vendors.

Festival goes to prison

By FJP reporters
“The Arts festival is really powerful, touches different people magically and changes attitudes,” said Tony Lankester, CEO of the National Arts Festival held in Grahamstown annually. Last year, Lankester and his people donated over R200.000 worth of tickets to groups and people from around Grahamstown and the Eastern Cape.

Is Fringe the new ‘Main’?

‘Fringe’ is the latest buzzword at the National Arts Festival, which has returned to Grahamstown for the 35th year this year.