The Sunday News
Sunday Life Reporter
The Nhimbe Trust, in partnership with the Youth Contact Centre and Bluez Café, joined the global community in commemorating June 16 — The Day of the African Child.
The arts organisation said the commemoration of the 42nd Anniversary of the Soweto uprising was an opportunity to celebrate the significance of education as an instrument of understanding, identifying, contesting and subverting systems of oppression.
“By re-imagining African humanism through the lens of their education system, young people in Soweto embarked on a journey of identity reclamation and challenged the core existence of an environment that did not mirror their values and dreams. Narratives of June 16 are incomplete without reference to Sarafina – an outstanding artistic expression that ignited a nostalgic global celebration of youth voices. By preserving and celebrating the memory of those who fought against the shackles of oppression, Sarafina injected a new vision of hope and ignited an explosive celebration of diversity in all its facets,” said Nhimbe in a statement.
It added that the renewed vitality to youth voices brought by education and artistic expressions in the 1970s, is a legacy Nhimbe Trust and Youth Contact Centre have remained committed to preserving.
“The programmes we have designed through the Global Affairs Observatory, Women in Theatre and Television; Children in Theatre and Television, and Bluez Café, are all emblematic of this commitment and have placed a demand on young people to translate the diversity of their cultural expressions through their newly acquired skills and knowledge, into dissent discourse that pushes boundaries.
“By investing in children and young people’s creativity and expressions, we reinforce the sentiments shared by our celebrated African icon, Nelson Mandela, who encouraged us all to regard our children as “the greatest treasure” because “those who abuse them tear at the fabric our society and weaken our nation.”
The organisation said it we regarded June 16 as a significant commemorative day on the calendar of all its interns, fellows and high school students who are part of their Children in Theatre and Television (CiTT) programme, both past and present, who have channelled their passions towards creating a world where children and young people – particularly girls because of their unique vulnerabilities – have the boldness to embrace their creativity against a backdrop of marginalisation and various resource constraints. The organisation is led by arts practitioner and activist Josh Nyapimbi and is based in Bulawayo.
