The National Arts Festival last night announced six young South Africans as winners of the prestigious Standard Bank Young Artist Award. This marks the start of a new decade building on Standard Bank’s 30 years of sponsoring the Awards which was celebrated in Grahamstown this year. The number of winners who have received this accolade since 1984 now tallies up to 137.
The Award is made annually to young South African artists who are either on the threshold of national acclaim, or whose artistic excellence has enabled them to make international breakthroughs.
“The announcement of each year’s Standard Bank Young Artist Awards offers a window into the dynamic vibrancy with which South African artists continue to use their talents and skills to resolutely raise the bar on artistic excellence in South Africa” says Ismail Mahomed Artistic Director of the National Arts Festival.
The winners of the 2015 Standard Bank Young Artist Awards are:
- Luyanda Sidiya for Dance
- Nduduzo Makhathini for Jazz
- Kemang Wa Lehulere for Visual Art
- Musa Ngqungwana for Music *
- Athi-Patra Ruga for Performance Art
- Christiaan Olwagen for Theatre
Standard Bank continues to pioneer and support initiatives that ensure platforms for the talented voices of our country’s young established artists. Over the past 31 years, this award has proven to be a flagship of its kind in the arts in South Africa. We look forward to see what the 2015 group of winners will add to our national arts treasury, both as ambassadors of and inspiration for a new generation,” said Hazel Chimhandamba, Head Group Sponsorship at Standard Bank.
Apart from a cash incentive, each of the winners will be featured on the Main programme of the 2015 National Arts Festival in Grahamstown (2 – 12 July 2015), where they will be given the opportunity to develop and première new works.
Previous Winners of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award:
1981 – Richard E Grant, John Theodore, Jules van de Vijver
1982 – Janice Honeyman, Neil Rodger, Lindy Raizenberg
1983 – Paul Slabolepszy, Malcolm Payne, David Kosviner
1984 – Peter Schütz, Ken Leach Standard Bank – 1820 Foundation 10th Anniversary Special Award: Lamar Crowson,
1985 – Marion Arnold, Maishe Maponya, Sidwill Hartman
1986 – Andrew Buckland, Gavin Younge
1987 – William Kentridge, Hans Roosenschoon
1988 – Margaret Vorster, Mbongeni Ngema
1989 – Johnny Clegg, Marthinus Basson, Helen Sebidi, Gary Gordon 1820 Foundation Special Award Pieter-Dirk Uys
1990 – Robyn Orlin, Fée Halsted-Berning, Bonnie Ntshalintshali
1991 – Peter Ngwenya, Andries Botha, Darrell Roodt
1992 – Deon Opperman, Tommy Motswai, Raphael Vilakazi, Kevin Harris
1993 – Christopher Kindo, Sibongile Khumalo, Pippa Skotnes
1994 – Jerry Mofokeng, Sam Nhlengethwa, Michael Williams
1995 – Jane Alexander, Boyzie Cekwana, John Ledwaba, Abel Motsoadi
1996 – Lara Foot Newton, Trevor Makhoba, Vincent Mantsoe, Victor Masondo
1997 – Lien Botha, Geoffrey Hyland, Sibongile Mngoma Standard Bank Special Award for vision, commitment and contribution, Alfred Hinkel
1998 – David Mudanalo Matamela, Debbie Rakusin, Bongani Ndodana, Nhlanhla Xaba, Aubrey Sekhabi
1999 – No awards made.
2000 – Zenzi Mbuli, Gloria Bosman, Alan Alborough
2001 – Tracey Human, Brett Bailey, Fikile Mvinjelwa, Walter Oltmann
2002 – Gregory Vuyani Moqoma, Sello Maake Ka Ncube, Prince Kupi, Brett Murray
2003 – Moya Michael, Yael Faber, Dumisani Phakathi, Angela Gilbert, Berni Searle
2004 – Kathryn Smith, Mncedisi Shabangu, Portia Lebohang Mashigo, Tutu Puoane, Moses Taiwa Molelekwa (posthumously)
2005 – Wim Botha, P J Sabbagha, Andile Yenana, Mpumelelo Grootboom
2006 – Concord Nkabinde, Churchill Madikida, Hlengiwe Lushaba, Sylvaine Strike
2007 – Acty Tang, Bronwen Forbay, Shannon Mowday, Pieter Hugo, Akin Omotoso
2008 – Dada Masilo, Nontsikelelo ‘Lolo’ Veleko, Jaco Bouwer, Mark Fransman, Zanne Stapelberg
2009 – Thabo Rapoo, Kesivan Naidoo, Nicholas Hlobo, Jacques Imbrailo, Ntshieng Mokgoro
2010 – Mlu Zondi, Melanie Scholtz, Michael MacGarry, Samson Diamond, Janni Younge, Claire Angelique
2011 – Neil Coppen, Ben Schoeman, Nandipha Mntambo, Mamela Nyamza, Bokani Dyer
2012 – Kelebogile (Pearl) Boikanyo, Mikhael Subotzky, Princess Zinzi Mhlongo, Bailey Snyman, Afrika Mkhize
2013 – Fana Tshabalala, Runette Botha, Mary Sibande, Prince Lamla, Shane Cooper, Anthea Moys
2014 – Jahmil XT Qubeka, Nicola Elliott, Kyle Shepherd, Hasan & Husain Essop, Njabulo Madlala, Donna Kukama, Greg Homann.
The Young Artist Awards were started in 1981 by the National Arts Festival to acknowledge emerging, relatively young South African artists who have displayed an outstanding talent in their artistic endeavours. These prestigious awards are presented annually to deserving artists in different disciplines, affording them national exposure and acclaim. Standard Bank took over the sponsorship of the awards in 1984 and has presented Young Artist Awards in all the major arts disciplines over their 31-year sponsorship, as well as posthumous and special recognition awards. The winners feature on the main programme of the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown and receive financial support for their Festival participation, as well as a cash prize.
* Musa Ngqungwana grew up in the township Zwide in Port Elizabeth with a passion for performance at a young age, taking part in small theatre productions in the township. Being brought up by his mother and grandmother, Ngqungwana had a rich and interesting childhood taking part in a variety of activities widely ranging from rugby to reading. From primary school he sang in choirs, which pre-empted his career as a singer. More about Musa HERE.
Author: Gilly Hemphill
Website: http://www.thefamousidea.co.za
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