PAST EVENTS
Nozincwadi Storytelling Festival 2020
Date: 22 - 24 October 2020
Venue: Various in Pietermaritzburg and Durban
Attendees: Between 50 - 150 per event
The Nozincwadi Festival transformed into a hybrid event due to the Covid 19 restrictions and allowed us to reach audiences in Durban but also all over the country and world! With some live storytelling events under The Storytelling Tree on the Bluff, Durban Art Gallery and the Pietermaritzburg City Hall, we were overjoyed to celebrate in person once more. Recorded stories by several amazing international storytellers were shared to our YouTube pages and screened at the Durban Art Gallery as well as an online seminar on the Power of Story in Times of Crisis, allowing many people to tune in remotely. These are still available for viewing on our YouTube page.
Spirit of Light Celebration 2020
Date: 8 March 2020
Venue: Durban ICC, Fig Tree Courtyard
Attendees: 150
Speakers included Barbara Strydom, Major Mandisa Mfeka, Lieutenant Commander Zanele Madiba and Buzani Khumalo. We had stunning musical and dance performances by Be the Light PMB Choir, Durban Music School band, Wentworth Arts & Culture Organisation and Nozuko Teto, world renowned opera singer. Our guests of Honour included Dr Lindiwe Mabuza, Dr Albertina Luthuli.
KwaMyeza Primary School Library Makeover
Date: 2017 - 2019
Venue: KwaMyeza Primary School, Hammarsdale
Over the years we have visited KwaMyeza Primary School to donate books, provide creative writing workshops and renovate their library room. With the assistance of partners and sponsors such as Dancing Pencils, Buckman and Kingdom Slots, we have been able to add them to our Nozincwadi reading nation.
National Storytelling Day 2019
Date: 24 October 2019
Venue: Storytelling Tree, Bluff Showgrounds
In October 2019 we hosted the inaugural National Storytelling Day on Dr Mhlophe's 61st Birthday. We were honoured to have artists such as Bongiswa Kota, Kyoko Kimura, Mpumi Ndlovu, Lungile Myeza, Zawadi Yamungu, Victor Sithole and Thandi Swartbooi, in addition to school performances by KwaVulindlebe School for the Deaf and Umlazi Senior Primary School.
Storytelling Tree Heritage Day Celebration 2019
Date: September 2019
Venue: Storytelling Tree, Bluff Showgrounds
Heritage day was celebrated in true Gcinamasiko style with icons speaking such as Ela Gandhi and the late Mrs Tenza, a colleague of Margaret Mncadi. Artists and people from different countries recited poetry, song and stories in different languages. We were graciously provided with Happy Meals by McDonald's and pocket story books for children in attendance.
Kusakwabasha Primary School Visit 2019
Date: June 2019
Venue: Kusakwabasha Primary School, Valley of 1000 Hills
With a team of volunteers we set off the beautifully taken care of school, to bring creative arts workshops involving storytelling and origami (paper folding). An exchange of student's book inspired art prepared specifically for our visit took place, and we were honoured to witness their talent and love for reading.
Arts in Education Seminar 2019
Date: July 2019
Venue: Playhouse Company Durban
This event took the form of a story and song workshop with Dr Gcina Mhlophe to kick start the event, followed by a movement workshop with Thandi Swartbooi of Women Unite. The seminar included Mandla Kanozulu, Prof Ndlovu from UniZulu, Nanda Sooben from Dbn School of animation, Themba Mchunu from Department of Living Cultures and Noel Kok from NEWF. To close off the event we had poets and singers such as our very own board member, Pinkie Mtshali to leave us with some inspiration to continue educating through art.
KwaVulindlebe School for the Deaf Visit 2019
Date: September 2019
Venue: KwaVulindlebe School for the Deaf, Chatsworth
We have built a strong relationship with this innovative school since bringing them their first Nozincwadi box of books. With teachers who truly care for their students and motivate them to learn skills such as baking, carpentry, sewing, amongst other things, we truly enjoy visiting them. A team of volunteers travels to bring them origami and story creation workshops while learning bits of sign language as we go.