“WHERE AFRICA MEETS”.
SUMMARY OVER VIEW OF THE MPUMALANGA CREATIVE ARTS SUMMIT .
"Where Africa meets the Creative Arts"
Since time immemorial, the arts has been the most effective tool in not only preserving our cultures, but in telling our stories, cementing and changing our history and driving social dialogue. The unifying power of the arts is a story that has resonated over centuries, across borders, passed on from generation to generation and all over the world and has been the single, common medium for driving social narratives. In spite of this, the arts still battles to be recognized as the most powerful tool of communication on issues that resonate to people of all backgrounds. Art is still very often undervalued, under-resourced yet simultaneously overused and yet every so often, perhaps only once or twice in a generation, and artist with conviction, whose voice will not only resonate with all peoples, but more importantly, will, unknowingly trigger a movement that, if you are lucky enough to witness, will change the entire course of our collective history.
This has not been truer than, within the history of the South African province of Mpumalanga. Birthplace to Ester Mahlangu, Hugh Masekela, Ray Phiri and Sam Nzima. The Mpumalanga Creative Arts Summit 2025 will honour the legends who have in many ways helped impact the history of South Africa, and whose voices remain the most powerful and memorable not only within South Africa, but all over the world. The summit also aims to reinforce the notable voices of these legendary artists and challenge young artistic minds to follow the footsteps of Mpumalanga’s Legends, in using their own art to speak up on matters that could change their world.
THE PURPOSE OF THE MPUMALANGA CREATIVE ARTS SUMMIT
Evoke dialogue, raise funds to tackle and raise awareness on the nation’s most pressing social needs, ranging from creative issues, sexual health, arts in education and more. The mandate encourages active participation from everybody taking part in the festival, to “bring their fire” towards impacting our societies through the festival and beyond.
PROBLEM BACKGROUND
Over the years we spotted a huge disconnect between youth of this outlined area, yet so reach with vast skills in the art life, as well as a gap between the opportunities embedded behind. We learned that life without the collective resources of our libraries, museums, theatres and galleries, or without the personal expression of literature, dance, music, films, fashion and art, would be static and sterile – no creative arguments about the past, no diverse and stimulating present and no dreams of the future. With research, time and passion we have discovered that Art influences society by changing opinions, instilling values and translating experiences across space and time. The art industry affects the fundamental sense of self from Painting, sculpture, music, literature and the other arts, which is often considered to be the repository of a society's collective memory.
THE SUMMIT WILL TAKE AN INDEPTH FOCUS ON