Taking multiple arts to the people

Published Apr 17, 2007

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You can definitely feel a vibe when you arrive at the Ekhaya Multi Arts Centre in KwaMashu B Section.

It's not just the animatedly painted exterior that stands out from the humdrum of a Monday afternoon, but it's the nature of the people there. There's dancing, singing, studying, smiling.

The first person I meet is public relations officer, Xolani Majozi, who welcomes me with a hug.

"It's always busy here," he says.

Majozi is a former radio DJ whose life took a new direction when he interviewed Edmund Mholongo on a youth programme one day and was offered a chance to do publicity for a K-CAP production.

Now he is the PR officer for the Ekhaya Multi Arts Centre which K-CAP launched in 2004 with funding from the Department of Arts and Culture. The aim of the centre is to develop artistic talent for sustainable employment as well as provide quality entertainment for the KwaMashu community.

"Before we were working in schools and community halls for rehearsals," explains Majozi as he leads me down the bustling corridors into a computer laboratory.

This Imagination Laboratory offers an accredited course in graphic design, marketing, branding, business skills. "Students get allowances for living and transport," Majozi says. "We want to make it as easy for them to study as possible."

The next stop is a dance studio, disguised with people working at desks and tables.

"It's a multipurpose space," he says. "During the day there's a performing arts learnership and then there are also dancing classes for kids later on.

Across the corridor is the 350-seater Ekhaya Theatre, where the word "multipurpose" crops up again. "This place is for the community as well, so we can't just do theatre," he explains. "We do concerts as well, everything relating to art."

It is here where youth drama trainees can stage shows, four of whom have gone on to international success with the Lion King production. The stage has also seen the Just Don't production, which is a touring musical drama by nine ex-offenders about their time in jail and why crime does not pay.

Next is a well-equipped recording studio where the sounds of everything from gospel to maskande to scathamiya have been captured. "The artists are mostly from KwaMashu," says Majozi. "But we're starting to get artists from outside the province."

Artists who've recorded here include Imisane and Gospel Divas, who are both set to release new albums.

The centre has also lined up a broadcasting licence to open a radio station called Vibe FM in June.

"It will help a lot to market our music and keep people informed about what's happening in the township," he says.

After a quick look at the visual arts workshop area, we reach the editing suite. "This is where we make documentaries," he says.

"Our latest one is a documentary about KwaMashu and the people who have come from here." This documentary will be flighted for the first time at the centre's annual KwaMashu Film Festival in December.

As we leave the centre I have the chance to squeeze in a parting question to the chatty Majozi - does he enjoy working here?

"Oh yes, there's so much going on here," he says smiling broadly.

"It's happening!"

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