The legacy of the late Mam’Nomhle Nkonyeni will soon be revived in Nelson Mandela Bay through a new performing arts business support programme that will see outstanding artists funded to produce a work of excellence to develop their skills and talents.
This was announced by NMBM Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Portfolio Head, Cllr Helga van Staaden on Tuesday, 24 August 2021 at the Mendi Arts Centre in New Brighton during the Nomhle Nkonyeni Legacy Festival.
During the event that saw scores of artists showcasing their talent in celebration of the life and times of the late Sis Hlehle, Cllr van Staaden said: “We can announce that in November this year, the Nelson Mandela Bay Theatre Complex, in partnership with us as a City, the Provincial and National Departments of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture will launch the performing arts business support programme that will be known as Isakhono Awards. The awards shall select and award eight artistic business projects annually. One of the eight business projects shall be the one that recognises the contribution made by an excellent woman in any facet of arts, not only the performing arts.”
“This award shall be named after Mam’ Nomhle Nkonyeni and the recipient shall be known as the Isakhono Award Nomhle Nkonyeni Fellow,” said Cllr van Staaden to applause, adding that the City was committed to paying more attention and investing in the arts sector as it does in the sports sector.
General Manager at the Nelson Mandela Bay Theatre Complex, Monde Ngonyama said the Isakhono Awards meant that artists would be appointed in different categories including the disability sector and be given time and resources to produce work of excellence.
“That work is what will define and grow the artists. If we pick one artist and we want them to reach the national and international level of excellence in terms of their marketability, we must know that before we even pay for anything, we have about R150 000 to market that artist. That is what we mean when we talk about building brands. The artists who showcase their talents in NMB are saying if there was time and resources, they would be flying without anything holding them back,” Ngonyama said.
The new initiative has been welcomed by the Nkonyeni family and the Nomhle Nkonyeni Legacy Foundation.
Teboho Nkonyeni, who is the son of the heroine who was also the holder of the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver as bestowed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2019 said: “As a family we are ecstatic by these developments. This has always been one of Nomhle’s dreams to come back to Gqeberha and share her wealth of experience with the new generation but unfortunately, she passed on before that could happen. We really hope this programme will be successful and touch and change as many young lives as possible. We want to thank the Municipality and the foundation that even the festival is still taking place even though Nomhle is no longer with us.”
Phumelele Zolela from the Nomhle Nkonyeni Legacy Foundation said: “We are celebrating the second Nomhle Nkonyeni Legacy Festival supported by the NMBM. The festival seeks to support the development of artists and creatives in various fields. The intention is to do this festival on an annual basis in April, the month that Sis Hlehle was born. We want to celebrate her legacy and to create an opportunity for the development of young and upcoming artists.”
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