The annual We Can Arts Festival is back and is set to take place on October 22 at the Durban Playhouse.
This project is aimed at fostering the inclusion, integration and promotion of artists with disabilities into the mainstream creative arts economy.
The theme for this year is “No impediments to shine” and will feature an array of South African artists, such as the legendary blind Mbhaqanga musician Babsy Mlangeni; a multi-award-winning gospel sensation with albinism, Sgwili; an up-and-coming blind maskandi guitarist Chaos Machafuko; an Afropop singer who uses a wheelchair, Pinky 1st Lady; and Afrosoul guitarist and vocalist Khazozo.
They will also be supported by other artists without disabilities, including Big Zulu, Ernie Smith, Phuzekhemisi, Nqubeko Mbatha and Thee Legacy.
The show will be hosted by Nontobeko Mbuyazi, an international model with albinism who was discovered through the We Can Arts Festival and has since graced the world’s fashion runways and is among the most sought-after photographic models in South Africa.
Speaking about the project, Xolani Majozi, the organiser, shared the essence of the festival. “This project was initiated in 2015 after realising that there were no platforms where artists with disabilities can express themselves,” said Majozi.
This platform offers tangible solutions by providing verifiable and sustainable artistic jobs and a national commercial artistic platform for artists with disabilities.
“Over the years, the project has successfully maximised on providing professional set-up performance platforms in raising awareness around the inclusion of artist with disabilities to the mainstream arts,” said Majozi.
“This is done through practically removing limitations within the sector which makes it difficult for artists with disabilities to showcase their talents before national and commercial markets by placing them in a system that does not promote their artistic talents,” he said.
They wish to sustain the festival as a national fully inclusive arts festival for artists with disabilities where people with disabilities can freely showcase their talents before markets not normally enjoyed, which will provide them with access to the commercial art market.
The biggest milestone for the project to date was the production of a three-part TV series that premiered on DStv Mzansi Magic Music in 2021.
This was the first TV production dedicated to artists with disabilities ever on South African TV screens, if not Africa as a whole.
This year they have once again partnered with DStv’s BET Channel to produce an hour-long TV series for the We Can Arts Festival.
We Can Arts Festival is produced by Outrage Concepts and is a flagship project supported by the National Department Sport, Arts and Culture through the Mzansi Golden Economy Fund and is presented in association with the Playhouse Company.