Whose story is being told? By who and in whose interests? Those writers, musicians, painters, poets, soccer players as they tell these stories-our stories, which value system drives them? Do they contribute in the emancipation of our people or perpetuate the state of servitude?
PAC Pimville/Klipspruit branch will be hosting a political workshop on the 16th February 2013 at Pimville Community Centre as from 11h30 am as part of Sobukwe Month Activity. The topic for the political workshop is: The Role of Revolutionary Art in new South Africa, for details contact MOafrika Ntsie Mohloai at 073 236 4780 or Moafrika Lehlohonolo Shale at 076 814 8085. The political workshop will locate and debate what constitutes revolutionary art and also the role of revolutionary artists ranging from writers, musicians, painters, sculptors, poets, etc. Expected to form part of the political workshops is Bra Don Mattera, Kgafela wa Mogogodi, Letta Mbuli and many other young artists including writers. Administrators of arts institutions will form part of the political workshop to share their contributions and experiences. People’s Art constitute a critical component in the raising and heightening political consciousness of the masses, particularly the African workers, peasants, youth and students. I read the following which I share with you "Historically, it is possible to argue that films based on the questions of ‘nation-building’ dominated the first phase of African cinema. The filmmakers organized themselves into a movement called the Fédération Panafricaine des Cinéastes (FEPACI) – the Panafrican Federation of Filmmakers – and decided to adopt, for the language of their films, Frantz Fanon’s thesis – “There is no culture but national culture” – meaning that, to recover the African image from the stereotypes of Hollywood and properly establish a modern African culture and identity, the new African films must thematize and chronicle the liberation struggles of different nations, and denounce neocolonialism and corruption" As we ponder about the economic development in the context of emancipation of Africans from Cape to Cairo- Morocco to Madagascar, we question the role of artist and the media such as SABC- ETV- Al Jazeera etc in shaping and influencing the lives – behaviours including the mental attitudes of many of our people hence we ask, who have we become? Or should it be we have become who? Graffiti, murals and other forms of art such as poetry, music and soccer have transformed public spaces and mobilised public opinion during the epoch of struggles waged against settler colonial system of capitalism. The African revolution is not and cannot be afraid of art. Andre Breton wrote “It realises that the role of the artist in a decadent capitalist society is determined by the conflict between the individual and various social forms which are hostile to him. This fact alone, in so far as he is conscious of it, makes the artist the natural ally of revolution. The process of sublimation, which here comes into play and which psychoanalysis has analysed, tries to restore the broken equilibrium between the integral ‘ego’ and the outside elements it rejects. This restoration works to the advantage of the ‘ideal of self’, which marshals against the unbearable present reality all those powers of the interior world, of the ‘id’, which are common to all men and which are constantly flowering and developing. The need for emancipation felt by the individual spirit has only to follow its natural course to be led to mingle its stream with this primeval necessity –the need for the emancipation of man” Using the words of Andre Breton it is worth to state that , this our African revolution must do and bear, were it only to deliver intellectual creation from the chains which bind it, and to allow all mankind to raise itself to those heights which only isolated geniuses have achieved in the past. We recognize that only the social revolution can sweep clean the path for a new culture. If, however, we reject all solidarity with the ruling bureaucracy and the entire neo colonial system which constitute a form of capitalism now in full control of Africa and responsible of under-development, exploitation and social degradation of African workers, unemployed youth and women, it is precisely because, in our eyes the ruling elite in Africa represents not emancipation, not freedom and not democracy but the most treacherous and dangerous enemy of the people particularly the African workers and peasants. -- -- Sending your posting to [email protected] Unsubscribe by sending an email to [email protected] You can also visit http://groups.google.com/group/payco Visit our website at www.mayihlome.wordpress.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Pan Africanist Youth Congress" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
