Good People of Africa, let us free ourselves
20 May 2008 Every person we have spoken to in the last few days about South Africa, is feeling strong emotions. Emotions that they want to put down and share. Emotions that have been building up for a long time. We would like to use this forum to invite you to have your say on the situation in our country, for many of us have kept quiet for too long. No hate speech will be tolerated – this is a place for people to express themselves freely but ALL comments will be monitored… This is not a space for you to criticise others’ thoughts, language or syntax or to try and be the ‘cleverer one’. This is a space to understand everyone’s point of view. Freedom of speech is of huge importance now, so South Africans and citizens of the world, share your thoughts, intelligently. You can go anonymously, but we invite you to tell us who you are, your age and where you are from. (click here to read full article and comment) Editorista will begin: My name is Sarah, I am 33 years old, I was born and bred in Johannesburg, Swaziland, Mpumalanga and Kwazulu-Natal , but I have been in Europe for 4 months. I have been privileged to live a rich, interesting life in South Africa and Swaziland. I am a young South African, not a politician and these are my thoughts: Good people of Africa, how can we free ourselves from these chains? So many of us are tarred with fear and hatred of each other, fueled by the evil teachings of our past that brainwashed us into categorising each other. How can we rid ourselves of these stains, these superficial concepts that claw so deeply within us? Once, Africa was a borderless place, and now, we withdraw into the labelling and naming that was imposed on us and today divides us. Excited by freedom and driven by a desire for new beginnings, so many citizens in our country have thrown themselves into the ‘growing business economy’ since ’94, striving for a piece of success, hungry for financial gain, often getting ourselves more and more into debt as we aim for bigger, better and more. In this money-hungry process, so many of us have forgotten about the poor (but not all of us, there are many people who do as much good as they can), with the rich getting richer and the middle class booming beyond belief (which has been a blessing for many people for which we are deeply grateful). But in our ambitious desires to achieve our economic, consumerist dreams(or nightmares), we...
Filmmaking Youth Take Action
The University of Jozi in conjunction with the Gauteng Film Commission will be hosting an international film festival to coincide with Youth Day this year. It’s a Mexico/SA collaboration and they’ll be flying about 7 of Mexico’s most inspiring filmmakers to SA and teaming them up with SA filmmakers. The awesome FYTA film festival is taking place at UJ on the 13 – 16 June, offering free workshops, showcase opportunities and a South Africa-Mexico exploratory and expressive film platform, young film makers, get amongst! FYTA FILMS: Through imagery and sensation language and ethnicity become blurred, making film an awe-inspiring transformer of society. Read more below.The first ever FYTA Film Festival (Filmmaking Youth Taking Action) launches in June 2008. Inspired by the need to fight against young minds being numbed by stereotypes, conventions and trashy entertainment, this festival aims to reignite the passion in young filmmakers. It aims to encourage them to speak their minds and join the movement realizing that while escapism is great, when it outweighs and white-washes all reason it becomes dangerous. FYTA Films also enables young filmmakers to tell their own stories. There are voices outside of Hollywood and FYTA is there to help uncover them amongst the true free spirits of society- the youth! This year we join forces with Mexican filmmakers to explore the common ground between our countries- in film, in history and in daily life. The Festival: Entrance to all screenings and workshops is free. FYTA Films in 2008 is presented by the University of Johannesburg in association with the Gauteng Film Commission, Embassy of Mexico in SA and Nedbank. It will be held from 13 – 16 June at the University of Johannesburg’s FADA Building on Bunting Rd Auckland Park. The Festival consists of three main categories: 1. Mexican-South African Film Showcase: FYTA Films will screen several African premières. In addition, filmmakers from both countries will be in attendance at screenings for discussions and workshops. Guests: Some of the well-known Mexican guests include Elena Fortes Acosta, director of the Ambulante documentary festival run by Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna, Flavio Florencio, creator of the Africala festival which highlights the ancient connection between Africa and Latin America and the African roots present in South America. Other guests include Alejandro Ripstein; son of veteran filmmaker Arturo Ripstein, Francisco Vargas whose magnificent film El Violin has won over 30 awards at film festivals around the world, Elisa Miller, winner of a Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival last year and animator Ricardo Arnaiz winner of a Mexican Academy award for The Legend of Nahuala. Workshops and colloquia With so many interesting visitors...
Durbanites write for us @ Fashion Week
We’re always going on about how much of our great artistic talent comes from Durban, the hot spot of creativity. Well prepare yourselves for the 4th MTN Durban Fashion Week that’s set to shine all over the east coast. Represent is looking for hip and happening Fashion fundi’s to cover this years Fashion Week for us. Please email editor@represent.co.za and tell me why it should be you. You’ll need to be able to write in fluent English although we always like a touch of spice, and have your own ditigal camera or a friend that’s a good photographer. Young, energetic and funky MTN Durban Fashion Week, now in its fourth year, is once again set against the backdrop of Durban’s vibrant ambiance, magnificent Indian Ocean coastline and mixture of African, Eastern and Western cultural influences. MTN Durban Fashion Week 2008 is set to be a visual feast, presented by award-winning South African and international designers. Positioned as the cradle of South Africa’s young and emerging talent, MTN Durban Fashion Week 2008 will marry creativity with business, youth with experience and fashion with a cause, to present a truly spectacular and memorable event. Developing and supporting young and emerging talent has always ranked high on the list of priorities for convener and co-owner of MTN Durban Fashion Week, Vanashree Singh. Concurrent with their annual young designer search at top design schools, MTN Durban Fashion Week has embarked on a ground breaking initiative, partnering with the KZN Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism (DACT) to launch an exploratory programme across KZN, whose main aim is to seek, cultivate and nurture would-be designers who have the talent but lack the means to achieve success in the fashion industry. “MTN Durban Fashion Week has always taken the fashion business seriously and intrinsic to the success of any business is investment at a grassroots level. KZN has a wealth of exceptional design talent and our event presents exciting opportunities to showcase to a wide audience. The South African fashion industry is under continuous threat from foreign imports. We believe by investing in young South African talent, we are promoting Proudly South African brands and thereby making a positive impact on South Africa’s emerging fashion talent. Young talent – their creativity and hard work – is the very essence of what makes MTN Durban Fashion Week a success and we are proud of their achievements.” said Vanashree, This was reiterated by Evan Schiff, spokesperson for, African Fashion International (AFI) who are joint owners of MTN Durban Fashion Week, “MTN Durban Fashion Week fulfils a vital role on the local fashion calendar which falls in line...
South Africans, Let’s find our way. Today.
We spend a lot of time thinking about how to make the world a better place. A good starting point is always with ourselves and the question today must be, South Africans, “have we lost our way”? It seems like these days we’re more self-serving, selfish and self-centered than ever, chasing the buck, looking after number one and forgetting all about those around us, never mind those in need. These thoughts may seem negative, particularly from a website that promotes positivity, but we have to be realistic about where we are at, in order to move forward we must stop tip-toeing around issues, face facts , expose and communicate our truth. (For various reasons it is necessary to spell out that our call to action is based largely on the world which we know, which is the pulsing, moving, exciting, edgy, hectic, crazy big African city of Johannesburg, South Africa. Most Represent readers will know that already. Ed) Since when did we stop being AWARE and responsible? When did we stop caring about our human and political rights, about our neighbours, about our future? When did we stop being optimistic, when did we decide that it wasn’t our issue, that we’re prepared to give away our power, give away our rights, give up on our potential, our promise and a bright future for everyone? Why are we so de-politicized, leaving it all up to someone else, choosing to rather be placid, uninvolved and disinterested, then complaining, blaming and pointing fingers at every chance? Why do we accept to live a mediocre life and allow the MAJORITY of our people to continue to live in a horrific trap of poverty, violence and hopelessness? How did we let that happen? We have EVERYTHING we need to make our country the place we want it to be, talent, passion, people, inventiveness, resources, natural beauty, diversity, potential and a great sense of humour – everything we need is here. But we have lost our way. When I look around me at so-called ‘intelligent, educated citizens’ and listen to some of the things that come out of their mouths, I feel like shouting “WAKE UP”! But freedom of expression is a basic tenet of democracy and so I either swallow my frustration or on the odd occasion, when I have the energy, waste some of it challenging them. For I do believe that most people are good, many have had no guidance or lost their way, some have no backbone, no integrity and little vision, but most people are good. The saddest thing for me is to see just how successful the brain-washing tactics...
Whingeing English show their true colours online
Ag Shame. Not only were the English poor losers that brushed off our president Thabo Mbeki in front of the whole world when he tried to shake their hands (you should be ashamed of yourselves) but they also took some ugly digs at us online in the run up to the final match. Now while we all love the English wit and enjoy The Office for it’s cringe-worthy humour, we don’t believe that bad taste slurs disguised as “cocky British humour” but clearly aimed below-the-belt at South Africa and it’s people, are the way to stir the pot. We are not perfect, but we certainly try to avoid getting overly personal or dredging up our heinous past to motivate us. Sadly, some of the English press have shown their old colonial colours and illustrated just how out of touch they are with SA today…. although some South African’s living in London are probably to blame for setting a bad example. I have heard the most unpatriotic, shocking statements from Saffers in London who do nothing to promote our land. Come on you lot, cheer up luv! We received this email from James: http://www.skysports.com/rugbyunion/World_Cup/Story/0,21043,13089_2808433,00.html Im actually astounded by this “article”. It is precisely that kind of english attitude in the press that earns the English team so much hate throughout the world. If it werent for these types of nationalistic xenophobes England as a rugby team might be better respected. Point 2 in this guys “article” is unashamed, out-right, virtually gleeful racism. Its embarrasing. You can see that he’s so pleased with himself and that he thinks he’s writing something ingeniously witty and clever. On top of it he represents Skysports. Does anyone know how to pass this along to Francois Pienaar? see if Tony “BNP” Curtis has the nerve to tell Francois to his face what he thinks of the “Afrikaner” accent. In this day and age you are perfectly entitled to these opinions but spewing them out onto the webpage of a major news network is outrageous. Tony Curtis of skysports news obviously thought he was blogging on his private little network of “Britain for the British”. Would this empire-phile prefer his bar tenders to be proper english people “oo li’ taw’ propa li'”? That charming bunch of Brits that mill around social housing compunds mugging people or impregnating teenagers. Perhaps he would he prefer his bar tenders to be more of the ever so posh, stuttering, Hugh Grant clone? “er…wha…wha can can I get you? Stella o…o..ok..right you are”. Theres no picture of Tony on the skysports webpage but from the tabloid tone of his “article” I bet he...
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