Steyn du Toit
THE eighth Women’s Humanity Arts Festival runs at Artscape until tomorrow and promises a programme packed with celebrations, workshops, exhibitions, theatre, music and frank discussions around pertinent topics.
With this year’s theme being “Humanity”, those attending the four-day event will feel its implications resonate through all components of the line-up.
“Humanity is about healing,” says Marlene le Roux, Artscape’s director of audience development and education, adding that their aim is to highlight the lack of “humanity” experienced in today’s society.
“From frighteningly high rape statistics to service delivery shortcomings that negatively impact people’s quality of life, there is a lot of healing to be done. Humanity concerns itself with how we deal with each other as human beings. It should form the backbone of transformation as well as the driving force behind the rolling out of our wonderful constitution.”
A strong focus is placed on the humanity of women with disabilities. Launched by businesswoman, entrepreneur and mother with a disability, Karen Smit, the Women’s Achievement Network for Disability (Wand) website will aim to address issues within this marginalised group.
“At this stage, most of the special-needs schools only go to Grade 9. What happens to these young people after that? The intention of Wand is to serve as a platform to highlight the challenges faced, as well as to celebrate the achievements by women with disabilities,” Le Roux said.
“The website will also place a strong focus on the creation of opportunities for these women by linking them to accessible resources and mentorship programmes.”
Along with exhibitions by Dawn de Grass and Clive Gray, several books themed around humanity are set to be launched at the festival. They include Sydda Essop’s Karoo Kitchen, Arch-bishop Desmond Tutu and Reverend Mpho Tutu’s Forgiveness(Saturday, 11am) as well as writer/political activist James Matthews’s Age is a Beautiful Phase.
“The archbishop and his daughter, Mpho, make some powerful statements about the importance of forgiveness. Their book explains the four-step process of forgiveness, namely telling the story, naming the hurt, granting forgiveness and renew-ing or releasing the relationship.”
Thespians and lovers of music will have more than enough options to choose from this year (see full schedule and times below).
Featuring award-winning dancer and choreo-grapher Mamela Nyamza, be sure not to miss Hatched, a piece she’s performed to great acclaim for the past few years, as well as I Stand Corrected, in which she teams up with Mojisola Adebayo to deliver “a passionate artistic response to an epidemic of hate, rape and murder in South Africa and the virulent anti-gay marriage lobby in Britain”.
Workshops will be conducted by SA Women in Construction Western Cape (tomorrow, 9.45am-11am) and the Southern Suburbs Legal Advice (SSLAC) centres respectively.
Referred to as Know Your Rights Law Workshops, the SSLAC’s Saturday line-up includes Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences (10am-10.35am), Labour Law in respect of Disabled persons (10.50am-11.25am), Children and the Age (11.40am-12.15pm) and Consumer Rights/Protection (12.30-1pm).
“As usual, a strong focus this year will be placed on matters relating to women’s health. We’ll be hosting the TB/HIV Care Association to provide health screenings for blood glucose and blood pressure, as well as Cansa, who’ll be conducting breast screenings.
“An HIV dialogue, titled The Good News and led by the deputy director and chief operations officer for the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, Professor Linda-Gail Bekker, is also planned for Saturday. It will deal with, among others, the stigma surrounding HIV and how people living with HIV contribute actively to humanity and how they live normal lives.”
Humanity can even be found in exercise. Taking place tomorrow, the Women’s Humanity Walk – starting at St George’s Cathedral and ending at Artscape – will be led by various interfaith women leaders. It will be co-ordinated by Woman Zone (www.womanzonect.com), Artscape and the SA Faith and Family Institute, and Le Roux hopes that it will be a walk of unity, solidarity and celebration.
“This event will connect communities and we invite people from all walks of life to join. From Constantia to Manenberg, we want to see everyone there. We ask that, should you undertake the walk with us, you do so next to someone you don’t know. That way you can share your mutual concerns and hopes for our society along the way.”
Apart from having fun and getting involved in one of the various activities, Le Roux says she believes the festival will be a place where people can empower themselves and affirm their trust that there is hope for humanity.
“Hope starts with yourself. Step one is to recognise and acknowledge that there are challenges. The next is to know your rights and familiarise yourself with the access you have to various services. Remember, you have a right to be treated with love and with dignity,” she said.
l To book, call Computicket at 0861 915 8000.