By By Palesa Mlambo
The talents that take place in ghettos are often hidden, happening behind the corners of the streets. There is an insufficient exhibition to showcase the hidden talents in shady ghettos. In Kagiso, it is hard to find local artists’ talents getting exposure, but the birth of Art On Sundays (AOS) has revealed different kinds of talents on many unthinkable communities.
The AOS get a number of local artists to perform on a Sunday afternoon, have a good time and spend time together as locals. Artists such as Tebogo Serake and Sizwe Mashinini had once performed on AOS.
We can all agree that our communities are full of undiscovered talent and overwhelming artistry. Artists such as Nhlanhla from the singing group Mafikizolo, comedians such as Skhumba and Tall Ass Mo are evidence of this hidden talent. If we do not expose ourselves then we would be wasting away our God given talents.
One way to expose or unearth these gifts and talents is through initiatives such as the Arts On Sundays. Besides exposing talents, it also serves as an opportunity to know one another as members of the same community, an opportunity to encourage and inspire one another. It is an opportunity to unwind and enjoy good entertainment after a long week of hustling.
The AOS is a baby project from Brokenstool that started in February 2015. The idea was to get a community of creatives together and share their craft in the prospects to be discovered. AOS invites various industry names to share their time and talents every first Sunday of the month. AOS is a live and unplugged event, everything is nondigital. It creates an ambiance that is mellow and beautiful which allows people to be their true artistry with very little limitations.
“It is always so beautiful to see the numbers growing each month, people showcasing their work, and we bring the community together every once in a while,” said Lunga Duma one of the founders of Brokenstool events management.
The ultimate goal for the AOS is to infuse a little digital in order to grow the audience but also to keep the momentum going. The aim is to move into corporate and other sectors and put Kagiso on the entertainment map.
A local AOS supporter, Lindiwe Dhlomo said, “I find that the Art On Sundays is gradually growing each month and this is no surprise because our community needs events of this sort. People I’ve known for years go on stage and give great performances and I didn’t even know they could sing, that is what AOS is about, bringing everyone together.”
Youth Chronicle 