2024 RBI Arts Festival: Date announced
The RBI Arts Festival invites you to join us in celebrating the theme of ‘Art of Everyday Life’ during its 2024 showcase on 20 – 22 September 2024 at the Royal Bafokeng Nation’s Civic Centre Auditorium.
This multi-disciplinary festival, targeted at young artists, promises to be an exciting display of creativity and talent, unearthing the artistic potential of high school learners from local schools across the breadth of the Royal Bafokeng Nation.
Festival Highlights
The festival encompasses a wide range of artistic expressions, from performance arts to fine arts, all exploring the theme of ‘Art of everyday life’. These presentations are inspired by, and engage with, select Royal Bafokeng Nation histories in imaginative and artistic ways.
All fine art pieces were created by high school learners under the guidance of RBI’s appointed Art mentors. These young artists’ works will be exhibited alongside those of their mentors, including renowned Fine Arts practitioners Rre Tshepang Maelangwe, Rre Mofenyi Mbuqa, and Mme Collet Maise.
Featured Performances
The festival also includes an array of performance arts, with productions authored and directed by experience creative directors in the form of Art Mentors:
- ‘Lerato Ntoeng’ – Contemporary Dance Musical by Onkarabetse Motsepe
- ‘Gaabo Motho’ – Spoken Poetry / Musical by Ofentse Dinokana
- ‘Re tlhago ka bo rona’ – Drama by Edward Makgale
- ‘Brokeng harmony’ – Drama by Thathana Mogoebi
- ‘Leitlho la Sechaba’ – Drama by Andrew Rapoo
- ‘Four-sighted’ – Musical by Dineo Katane
- ‘Ke Mofokeng’ – Drama by Lizzy Ranta
- ‘Baeng ba Dikubu’ – Setswana Musical Drama by Victoria Makhuphula
- Two short films by Oratile Makgala
A Glance Back and Forward
Building on the success of the 2023 Creative Arts Festival, themed ‘Art of Inclusion,’ this year’s festival has expanded significantly. The 2023 festival featured only one musical and two short films, but the 2024 festival boasts a rich variety of performances and fine art pieces, all unified by the theme ‘Art of Everyday Life.’
Art and Everyday Life
The festival poster is an untitled visual art piece, created by now Grade 12 learner Kwanelo Ngwenya of (Name of school), captures the theme beautifully. The artwork depicts a person with vitiligo, symbolising the intersection of mortality and immortality and the beauty of everyday life. This theme is echoed throughout the festival’s performances and exhibitions.
‘Gaabo Motho’, for example, explores the tension between ancestral past, contemporary present, and postmodern future through spoken poetry and musical elements. Similarly, ‘Re tlhago ka bo rona’ delves into significant historical moments in the Royal Bafokeng Nation’s development, highlighting the transition to a monetary economy and the beginnings of migrant labour.
In contrast, ‘Baeng ba Dikubu’ is a futuristic and eco-friendly Setswana musical drama that celebrates the new relationship between the community and the hippopotamuses that have recently appeared in Kanana Dam. This piece is a vibrant example of how the festival’s theme is brought to life through various artistic expressions.
Ensuring the Future of Creative Arts
The RBI Arts Festival is more than just an exhibition of talent; it is a testament to the future of creative arts education in the Royal Bafokeng Nation and the North West Province. It aligns with the Department of Education’s vision of delivering innovative, streamed education, with a focus on creative arts.
Join us from 20 – 22 September 2024 at the Royal Bafokeng Nation Civic Centre Auditorium to experience the ‘Art of Everyday Life’ through the eyes of talented young artists. Let’s celebrate the creativity, passion, and artistry of the Royal Bafokeng Nation’s youth together.