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

Win with 89.5fm and My Cape Town (Week 2/3)

Bush Radio's Aphelele Radebe enjoying the view of Cape Town during our broadcast from the top of Table Mountain this week

Congratulations to Thumeka Mfaxa from Gugulethu who won our first fantastic MyCapeTown pack

Now there only two more weeks left for this great competition on 89.5FM. Every week until the 7th October we will be giving lucky listeners the chance to win vouchers to Cape Towns top attractions

This week you could win a MyCapeTown pack which includes:

2x Kirstenbosch Gardens Tickets

A Family Pack (2 kids and 2 adults) for a City Sight Seeing Bus

2x Table Mountain Cable Car Tickets

2x Spur Vouchers

This pack is valued at R 720.

To stand a chance of winning, sms the keyword MYCAPETOWN to 32158 by no later than midnight this Thursday – the winners name will be announced in Sakhisizwe each Friday just after the arts update at 1pm

Sms cost R 1 and free minutes do not apply.

Win with 89.5fm and My Cape Town (Week 1/3)

Over the next three weeks Bush Radio is giving you the opportunity to win with MyCapeTown.

Every week until the 7th October we will be giving lucky listeners the chance to win vouchers to Cape Town’s top attractions

This week you could win a My Cape Town pack which includes:

2x Robben Island Tickets

2x Two Oceans Aquarium Passes

2x Wheel of Excellence Tickets

This pack is valued at R 730.

To stand a chance of winning, sms the keyword MYCAPETOWN to 32158 by no later than midnight this Thursday.

The winners name will be announced in Sakhisizwe every Friday just after the arts update at 1pm. So tune to 89.5FM or on your computer or cellphone via www.bushradio.co.za

 Sms cost R 1 and free minutes do not apply.