South Africa: Crafting the Economic Renaissance of the Rainbow Nation
odd: label: Introduction
content: In 1994, when the South African liberation movement emerged victorious from the struggle for a new Rainbow Nation, the South African Ministry of Culture's Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology and the Smithsonian initiated discussions and planning for a long-term collaboration on a broad range of cultural heritage projects, including a Festival program. Beginning in 1996, in the framework of the South Africa-Smithsonian Culture and Community-Building Reciprocal Learning Program, Smithsonian and South African colleagues participated in educational and capacity-building activities designed to enhance professional development through collegial exchange.

The 1999 Festival program featured nearly a hundred South African grassroots community artisans and cultural officials. Their presence on the National Mall of the U.S. capital was linked in direct ways to the country's recent past. South Africa's monumental achievement came through often bloody battles and life-defining sacrifices, especially among rural and urban grassroots communities, who used their cultural traditions to resist oppression and to affirm their identities. This fact was not lost on the country's future leaders, many of whom participated themselves in cultural acts of resistance and affirmation. However, the significance of their presence at the Festival was also bound up with the newly democratized nation's use of its cultural heritage to craft its immediate future. The South Africa Festival program addressed the role of handicraft and statecraft in the formulation of a new South African national identity, economy, and political democracy.

As South African communities discover and rediscover the value of their heritage, they proclaim their numerous, varied, and distinctive cultural traditions: languages, religions, healing practices, modes of democratic representation and participation, musical styles, recreational games, regional cuisines, and uses of available natural resources. The artisans, cultural communities, and public servants who came together at the Festival to present, discuss, and debate concepts of cultural identity, cultural enterprise, and cultural democracy were indeed consciously engaged in fashioning a collective national story.

The Festival program intended to serve as a window into the past and future of South Africa's traditional crafters and their crafts and to provide a forum for tradition bearers themselves to communicate their aesthetic and humanistic traditions, their religious perspectives, and their social values to a wider public through song, dance, cooking, architecture, games, and stories as well as through their visual art. The focus was on the people and their way of life - communities crafting a new South African identity through participation in national economic life and democratic development. Communities were the focal point for understanding how skills are passed on from one generation to the next, how geography and natural resources influence craft development, and how people can work together to achieve a common purpose.

Ruphus Matibe and James Early were Curators, and Corney Wright and Ivy Young were Program Coordinators. A Curatorial Committee included: Anthea Martin, African Art Center; Philemon Ngomane, Skukuza Alliance; Cloe Rolves, Buy Afrika; and Evelyn Senna.

The program was produced with the collaboration and support of the South African Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology and the National Arts Council. Other contributors included the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Sport and Recreation, Buy-Afrika, African Art Centre, and Skukuza Alliance. Special appreciation went to Metro Travel and corporate sponsors, KWV and the Royal Hotel, Durban.
label: Presenters
content: Calita Fourie, Victor Julius, Gladys Vuvelvu Mahlangu, Tosca Makhambeni, Joseph Mathe, Ruphus Matibe, Nomsa Mdlalose, Martha Metlae, Alicia Monis, Sandile Mtshiki, Zakhe Ngqobe, Doreen Nteta, Soobramoney Satchidhandan Pillay, Emmerentia Potgieter, Edwin Rihlamvu, Corney Wright
label: Participants
content: Craft Traditions

Fai-Qah Abrahams, textiles, Western Cape, South Africa

Nofanelekile Batayi, bead worker, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Eunice Cele, beadworker, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Joao Wenner Dikuanga, ostrich egg engraver, Northern Cape, South Africa

Susanna du Preez, copper and wire worker, Free State, South Africa

Nosipho Fengwena, textiles, Western Cape, South Africa

Themba Gule, sculptor, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Nontsikelelo Caroline Javu, textiles, Western Cape, South Africa

S.W. Khamokha, tapestry, Free State, South Africa

Zibuyale Sylvina Langa, bead worker, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Leepile James Lekaba, quilter, North West, South Africa

Albertina Thembekile Majola, bead worker, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Eslina Zodwa Maphumulo, weaver, KwaZuluş Natal, South Africa

Leticia Phumza Maqulo, textiles, Western Cape, South Africa

Dumisile Phumulile Mathe, toy maker, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Rebecca Mathibe, ceramics, Northern Province, South Africa

Zandile Patience Mayekiso, textiles, Western Cape, South Africa

Absalom Mazibuko, sculptor, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Martha Mologadi Metlae, embroiderer, North West, South Africa

Eric Mfeketho, leatherworker, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Andre Stavu Misheshe, tin worker, Northern Cape, South Africa

Fatty Alfred Mnguni, tapestry, Free State, South Africa

Conie Sydney Mokwena, quilter, North West, South Africa

Raseetsi Alice Molaba, grass weaver, Free State, South Africa

Mpatuoa Violet Moloi, grass weaver, Free State, South Africa

Henry Gqetha Mshololo, sculptor, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Dikuwa Erna Mushinga, tin worker, Northern Cape, South Africa

Nobongile F. Mzaku, bead worker, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Nester Landeleni Nala, ceramics, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Dorcas Kidibone Ngobeni, embroiderer, North West, South Africa

Emma Nguni, bead worker, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Celani Hlabisa Nojiyeza, bead worker, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Anna Ntuli, bead worker, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Beauty Bothembile Nxgongo, weaver, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Enos Phalanndwa, woodcarver, Northern Province, South Africa

Moses Seleko, toy maker, wire worker, Gauteng, South Africa

Thomas Shuma, gold jeweler, Gauteng, South Africa

Philemon Songweni, sculptor, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Music and Dance Traditions

PHAMBILI MARIMBA, AFRICAN MARIMBA

Mandla Brian Huna, tenor marimba player, Western Cape, South Africa

Themba William Huna, African drummer, Western Cape, South Africa

Jongisizwe Christopher Monatsi, bass marimba player, Western Cape, South Africa

Luzuko Dennis Nqikashe, percussionist, Western Cape, South Africa

Bongani Sydwell Sotshononda, soprano marimba player, Western Cape, South Africa

SHIVULANI, TSONGA TRADITIONAL DANCE GROUP

Evans Chauke, drummer, vocals, Northern Province, South Africa

Shadrack Sikheto Mabasa, drummer, vocals, Northern Province, South Africa

Cathrine Mahlawule, drummer, dancer, vocals, Northern Province, South Africa

Hlupheka Steven Mahlawule, drummer, Northern Province, South Africa

Phineas Mahlawule, bass drummer, dancer, vocals, Northern Province, South Africa

Sayina Mahlawule, drummer, dancer, vocals, Northern Province, South Africa

Solias Mahlawule, dancer, vocals, Northern Province, South Africa

Hamilton Mayimele, drummer, dancer, vocals, Northern Province, South Africa

Florah Miyambo, drummer, dancer, vocals, Northern Province, South Africa

SURIALANGA DANCE COMPANY, ZULU-INDIAN FUSION

Subbalakshmi Deenadeyalan Govender, dancer, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Mthokozisi Stembiso Hlela, drummer, dancer, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Ntando Eugene Mhlongo, drummer, dancer, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Siyabonga Pascal Mkhombe, drummer, dancer, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Shalini Moodley, dancer, KwaZulu-Natal , South Africa

Adhika Naidoo, dancer, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Sibusiso Innocent Ndebele, drummer, dancer, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Ruendhrie Pather, dancer, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

TEEMAYO TRADITIONAL DANCE GROUP, TSWANA TRADITIONS

Magaoropelwe Angelina Chweu, dancer, vocals, Northern Cape, South Africa

Alcyma Kgotso Maile, dancer, vocals, Northern Cape, South Africa

Patrick Kgosietsile Mogoiwa, dancer, vocals, Northern Cape, South Africa

Dennis James Mogorosi, dancer, vocals, Northern Cape, South Africa

Dipuo Sylvia Mosimanyana, dancer, vocals, Northern Cape, South Africa

Lerato Moira Mothelesi, dancer, vocals, Northern Cape, South Africa

Thabiso Eugene Mothelesi, dancer, vocals, Northern Cape, South Africa

Horatius Vusumze Phantshwa, drummer, dancer, vocals, Northern Cape, South Africa

Mirriam Barbara Pietersen, dancer, vocals, Northern Cape, South Africa

Gilbert Bothata Pisane, drummer, dancer, vocals, Northern Cape, South Africa

Elizabeth Setumisho, dancer, vocals, Northern Cape, South Africa

Elliot Mzimkhulu Xesi, dancer, vocals, Northern Cape, South Africa

Oral, Play Traditions

Nomsa Mdlalose, storyteller, Gauteng, South Africa

Sandile Mtshiki, traditional games, Gauteng, South Africa

Foodways Traditions (Grandma's Kitchen)

Anna Catharina Fourie, Gauteng, South Africa

Masindi Mudau, Northern Province, South Africa

Joyce Phoqela, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Faldela Williams, Western Cape, South Africa

Monica Zwane, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Architecture, Painting Traditions

Andry Kashivi, muralist, Northern Cape, South Africa

Pule Edward Khunou, mixed medium, North West, South Africa

Mavis Makhubu, muralist, Free State, South Africa

Joseph Mkhanyiselwa Manana, muralist, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Steven Maqashela, muralist, Gauteng, South Africa

Bernardo Rumao, muralist, Northern Cape, South Africa

Moseketsi Emily Tlhapi, muralist, Free State, South Africa

Monica Zwane, traditional architecture, Mpumalanga, South Africa
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
setName: label: See more items in
content: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1999 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
identifier: label: Identifier
content: CFCH.SFF.1999, Series 4
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials