What should we do with the art of monstrous men?

Listen to a highly condensed version of the discussion on 23rd October at the Masambe Theatre. Recorded and edited by Nigel Vermaas and aired on Bush Radio’s Sakhisizwe arts edition.

On 23 October the South African Cultural Policy Network held a Public Forum at the Masambe Theatre, Baxter. What should we do with the art of monstrous men? There has been much international debate about the “monstrous men” in art, movies, television, and music in the age of #MeToo movement.

The South African arts industry has its own ‘monstrous men’.

Artist Zwelethu Mthethwa is serving eighteen years in jail for murdering sex worker, Nokupila Kumalo; Mbongeni Ngema faces a number of allegations of sexual harassment. And Welcome Msomi has recently been found guilty of having stolen R8m from the Living Legends fund.

Should we separate the art from the artist?

Should Sarafina and other works by Ngema – and Ngema himself –be banned from our theatres? And what about our Rolling Stones albums, Woody Allen DVDS? Etc etc.

A panel consisting of poet & cultural activist Malika Ndlovu, Stellenbosch university transformation officer Babalwa Gusha and gender activist & academic Amanda Gouws grappled with this complex topic. The forum was facilitated by another Stellenbosch University academic Ncebakazi Mnukwana. Tina Schouw also features in the audio.

Music, all of which is made by so-called monstrous men has been added, including Miles Davis, one of the greatest musicians of the 20th Century and also an abuser of women.

The actual forum lasted about 90 minutes so obviously there was a lot of important stuff that is not included.

Thanks to Mike van Graan and the SA Cultural Policy Network for keeping these conversations going.

The above text is taken from Nigel’s introduction of the recording.

Catch Nigel Vermaas every week with Connected to Jazz (Tuesdays 8pm) and during Sakhisizwe’s arts edition (Fridays from 12pm) via 89.5FM or www.bushradio.co.za