RHAC heritage day festival a celebration of arts and culture

The Rise High African Child arts group delivered a thrilling story with a string of resonant themes, sizzling choreography and exhilarating performance during the Vuka Duka Heritage Carnival at Rhoo Hlatshwayo Arts Centre (RHAC) on September 23.

The performance displayed the potent power of dance and music as an expression of protest and acceptance through a depiction of how accepting one’s calling could change the fortunes of an entire community.

The story is about a young girl refusing to accept her ancestral calling, delivered through strong story-telling and powers through the dancers’ exciting performances, which show the benefits of acceptance of who you are.

It starts with the girl sitting in the middle of the room, covered in traditional cloth and surrounded by her guides, carrying sticks and singing ‘bayeza, kusasa’ (they are coming tomorrow).

The girl then rises and says, “I have obtained a master’s degree in the divine world. I’m blessed with the power to chase all evil spirits. I’m a graduate of the underworld, a qualified healer.”

After this, one guide instructs the group to celebrate this achievement, which ends the play with a powerful performance of song and dance.

The musical director and choreographer, Dumisani Mhlanga, said the message was that refusing to accept who you are could have detrimental consequences.

“Things were not going well in the girl’s life until only after she accepted her gift. She realised her calling was helpful to her community. In the end, there was a big celebration as she had united the entire village,” said Mhlanga.

The choreographer said they derived this story from the experiences of young people who often run away from their destinies and end up with nothing in life.

“Your calling is your calling. You cannot run away from it. Accepting who you are, pursuing your dreams and equipping yourself with the tools to succeed could change your family’s fortunes, as we saw with the unity displayed by the village after the girl had accepted her calling,” he said.

According to RHAC’s centre manager, Mduduzi Mdlalose, this recital by Mhlanga’s group and the many artists that performed, was the climax of the event, which began with a parade and street dancing from Mabuya Secondary School to the arts centre.

“We celebrated our heritage, intending to revive arts and cultural activities through the parade while showing the community what the RHAC does. The aim was to observe and preserve our heritage through music, poetry and dance and dressing up in our various outfits,” Mdlalose said.

The event also saw performances by Batswana and AmaZulu groups and poetry sessions by Jozi Bush and Aphila Maqashu.

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