Dear Ishmael Mohammed National Arts Festival Producer At some point, this country has to thank you for everything you have done to promote the arts, culture and heritage of this nation, to redefine its identity and restore its battered and mangled soul. I have vivid memories of your days as a grassroots based anti-apartheid cultural activist. The 40th Anniversary of the National Arts Festival was a milestone achievement. We do not have to deny its colonial history but see it for how courageous artists of your caliber have turned it, especially in the last 20 years, into an artistic platform for freedom of expression to continue the fight for economic justice and social equality. The issue of artistic freedom of expression is one of the burning and vexed issues that the newly appointed Minister of Arts & Culture, Nathi Mthethwa touched on in his media address. He asserted the right of ALL artists - including Zapiro, Brett Murray Mike van Graan et al - to say and write and act what they like as enshrined in the constitution. He also appealed for sensitivity, respect, responsibility and treating everyone with dignity when it comes to the exercise of this right. Now for the life of me, this is NOT censorship unless there are some over privileged and self-indulgent artists, journalists, cartoonists, commentators who truly believe that Africans, including the President, do not deserve to be treated with respect and dignity because Africans are perceived to be sub-human. Note that is an anti-constitutional stance for we are all equal and dignity is an inherent right irrespective of your position or rank. There are no ways to control or determine what someone like Mary Kugel, for instance, will write about what the Minister said. If journalism was an objective science that would be possible. But in EMzansi arts journalism especially has been reduced to unsubstantiated subjective views and personal whims that are presented as facts. Everything that the Minister had to say about the sacredness of artistic freedom has since been deliberately distorted to make him look like a censorship devil. This is what happens in democrazy where people think freedom means insulting anyone as you like or twisting things to cause sensation and thus embarrass. Consider the media-driven controversy around the National Anthem that is NOT a propaganda tool but an instrumental to bring us together to heal ourselves. Given that what seems to be a clandestine agenda to project and portray the Minister as a censor emanates from the NAF media briefing, I thought I should share some thoughts with you. But we will always allow the artists to be guided by their own conscience that is wired differently to promoting nation building social cohesion in this country. The Minister is a public servant and does NOT have the power to speak or act like a dictator. From what I have gathered, he has no such intention. But it looks some journalists and commentators are more than sangomas or seers. Probably the biggest mistake according to Mary Kugel and her like was for the Minister to call for balance and responsibility in the exercise of free self expression. Africans have fought hard for the right to be respected and treated with dignity and respect by whites, especially, in this country. It is not a sin to say so! Incidentally, the Minister has also been distorted when he calls for the promotion of New Pan African perspectives, insights and self identity in how we look at and define ourselves. Are we not Africans living in Africa? It is not the Ministers problem that so-called minorities feel excluded when such an assertion is made, especially by an indigenous person. It is either you choose to be an African or not. The New Africanism that the Minister has in mind is modern, inclusive, nonracial and is loyal to the constitution and all the interests of this country. It is mischievous for anyone to suggest that he is discriminatory and prejudicial to so-called Whites. In the New South Africa he fought for there should be no white or black but equal citizens. Anyway, I did not mean to get carried away. I just wanted to thank you and Tony Lancaster for everything you did for this country, especially this year as we celebrate 20 years of Democracy and Freedom. The NAF has grown to be an international platform. Yes, it has largely shed its colonial baggage although there is still some work to be done to refine it. Of course, artists must continue to use it and other cultural platforms to freely express themselves. But we must not take for granted the patience understanding and tolerance of Indigenous people who continue not to have a voice to express themselves except at the polls. But all that will change with time. Africans have every right to use any civil society organization, including the ANC, to demand respect and protect their hard earned gains. It would be a good nation building gesture if Mary Kugel and Mike van Gee, among others, were to recommend you for the National Orders. You guys deserve it, methinks but who the hell am I? I am a mere government funk. In conclusion, if we must debate, let us do so freely according to conscience. But let us not be condescending or disrespectful to each other. This country belongs to all who live in it. And every one, especially Africans, have an inherent right to dignity and respect, too. Treating everyone with respect is what Africans teach as part of Ubuntu philosophy. Look, I did not mean to catch you off guard. I know you still recovering from the hard slog at the festival. But if the debate must begin, there is no better time than now. It is the legislative mandate of the Minister not only to uphold and promote artistic freedom of expression but to contribute to national discourse. He has set the ball rolling. I remain your brother colleague and comrade in nation building :-)
Posted on: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 17:24:17 +0000
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