NW Federation of Community Arts Centre launched the Ramatlabama and Bakwena Community Arts Centres in Ikopeleng and Tse Tse villages’ respectively last month. The purpose for the event was to announce the opening of a new Community Arts Centre for the four villages comprising Ramatlabama. The villages are Six Hundred, Magokgwane, Miga and Ikopeleng. The centre will be based at the now-defunct Reeme Middle School in Ikopeleng. The launching event was backed by the North West Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation. The community of Ramatlabama came in their masses, including the tribal Chief Mogosetsi Shole and members of the Community Council.
The Programme Director for the day was Kagiso Mmitsi, the opening prayer was conducted by Thoriso Mogapi and the crowd was entertained by Ikopeleng drum majorettes, Six hundred drum majorettes, Magokgwane traditional dancers as well as Ikopeleng traditional dancers. NWFCAC chairperson Rapoo Mabe said “NWFCAC is a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve and enhance youth talent throughout the North West province communities.
The organizations found it difficult for the exposure of artists as an individual, but NWFCAC intercepts where exposure and nurturing of talent is needed.” Mabe additionally stated that “we are an independent Federation that monitors, governs and supports Community Arts Centres within the North West province.
The organization seeks to identify and develop new arts centres as the province has only been doing so through Mmabana Centres, therefore our federation seeks to open as many centres as possible. Raising funds for community-based art structures and also acquiring and distributing of arts equipment towards registered Arts Centres.” The Ramatlabama community received administration equipment that included laptops, a camera and a cellphone for their office administration duties.
They also received a full set of musical instruments from the DACSR. The local Chief was on hand to receive all these on behalf of the community. He emphasized that it was the responsibility of the villages’ community to protect and preserve the equipment for the future of their children.
The following weekend the federation then launched the Bakwena Community Arts Centre in Tse Tse village. It was at this launching that raw, hidden performing arts talent was discovered to be in abundance, it just needed to be nurtured and guided into the right direction. Traditional music dancers, theatrical performances, poetry as well as singing were the entertainment items lined-up on the day. The event was graced by among others, Oupa Malabela. He is better known as Sergeant Babeile in the popular SABC 1 soapie titled Skeem Saam. He concurred that there was “talent indeed in Tse Tse, it is just that these kids need training. The authorities in the entertainment industry must avoid the hiccups we encountered in order for these children to be nurtured accordingly” stated Malabela.
The launching of Bakwena Community Arts Centre was the ninth of the envisaged twenty-five to be launched throughout the North-West Province. It was also graced by the local Chief Malefo, who was celebrating his birthday, and he weathered the stormy and rainy weather to come and witness what his community. They also received a full set of musical instruments from the DACSR.
