Young artists say no support from local government

“There are many talented young people in the townships, but their talents are fading away due to lack of motivation and resources,” says Anitha Ntlantla, a poet in Khayelitsha.

“People like our music, and they support it. But we need venues to record and good equipment. The money from our sales is not yet enough to support us”, says singer Ludwa Khoza.

Yolanda Sixa, a poet known as Black-Motion, says she does not understand why when they want to book venues in Khayelitsha for poetry and hip-hop sessions, they always get rejected by local government.

“We have to go book venues in town and those venues cost more,” says Sixa.

“I do not know if we have to sing kwaito and do house music in order for us to be acknowledged as artists … It is believed our creativity is associated with being a coconut and its not a township style to be a poet,” she said.

The money from our sales is not yet enough to support us”

“We understand that many young people are talented and we need to fund them in order for them to expand their talents,” says Loyiso Phinda from the National Youth Development Agency. “But the issue is they do not provide us with business plans where they state how they are going to sustain their talents in terms of starting recordings companies or art centers.”

Nathi Williem, a painter, turned his room in his home in Khayelitsha into a studio.

He said that he tried applying for a venue at local centers in Khayelitsha, such as the one in Harare meant to support young artists. He was told that there were no space for him as the rooms were booked for other activities.

Williem sells his painting at the V&A Waterfront and other tourist sites to make a living.

“I do not understand why local people do not support art. It would be nice if I could open my own show room in my house and not worry about lack of support and robbery,” he says.