Alex’s seemingly infinite creative artistry appears to be in good hands and passing on easily from generation to generation.
The township’s negative crime often hides the good arising from the township through local and internationally renowned artists in a variety of genres.
Some youths have taken up this challenge and are helping to nurture the talent of their proteges at school level while also polishing their own in readiness to replace their aging mentors and gurus before them.
Zamahlubi Nkosi (21) has taken on this challenge. With support from Olive Tree Theatre, Nkosi gives Grade 9 pupils at Pholosho Junior Secondary School and Zenzeleni Primary School drama classes and teaches the basics of acting.
The classes at Pholosho are in preparation for the theatre’s own contribution to preserving and promoting the township’s art through an annual secondary schools art festival hosted every September.
Zama said the group of girls attending the classes did so voluntarily. He said this reflected their interest and commitment to securing the future of the arts in the township.
“They are talented and need to be nurtured. The classes also help to reduce their idle time – which children often use negatively through anti-social things such as substance abuse and which, for some, result in teenage pregnancies and induction to serious crime,” Zama said.
Zama has committed to continue to work with the group after the festival as part of his contribution to help develop and promote the good aspects of the township.
Beneficiaries of the classes, Thabisile Phakathi and Sisipho Tukula, both aged 14, said the classes taught them the basics of acting which will enable them to become professional actors and ambassadors for the township.
“Both the classes and the play for the festival taught us how to sustain our passion in the trade and how and why not to do wrong things in order to get recognition,” the said.
The play called My Home, My House is about a family constantly in dispute and turmoil because of a lack of unity, passion, love and support for each other.
Details: Zamahlubi 061 663 5588.
