“People forget what they should remember and remember what they should forget”
The Siyabakhumbula Awards founded by the nation’s voice of reason and the people’s poet, Mzwakhe Mbuli, took place on Saturday (16 Nov, 24) at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. SA Positive News’ Sinentlahla Mbokwe was in attendance.
The awards are an esteemed annual event dedicated to honouring and celebrating individuals that have made outstanding contributions to upholding and promoting South Africa’s diverse cultural heritage. It was initially to honour the “dearly departed” prominent South Africans, however, there has been an inclusion of the unsung legends who are still alive.
With 14 years since initiation, the awards aim to recognise and celebrate the remarkable efforts of cultural leaders, artists, community activists, and organisations committed to the preservation of South Africa’s cultural identity.
The event plays a role in the commemoration of the value of our history, traditional customs, and the arts in shaping the identity of the nation.
“People forget what they should remember and remember what they should forget” was the theme of the show.
An emotional opening as the Late Zahara’s “Lizalis’idinga” played, ushered attendees into the ceremony. As if singing the national anthem was not enough, nostalgia kicked in as the first act was the Sarafina dancers led by music icon and actress Khanyo Maphumulo who managed to bring out the inner child to the dance floor. This performance was a good reminder of how far we have come as country, 30 years of democracy is a long run.
The honourees began with the living icons such as Marah Louw who is a multi-disciplinary artist, and PJ Powers a musician. Highlighting that the awards do not only honour artists; another living legend honoured was football referee, Victor Hlongwane.
While we are a nation that embraces culture, South Africa is a country that moves to sound, a rhythmic country. The response of the crowd to the entertainment is one that was impeccable, the actual performers was the audiences. Whether it was “Abanqobi” taking us to church, we were fully in it, or if Maskandi, we were well within our “umqhele” era.
The Atmosphere shifted as we got to the honourees who are late: Bethuel Ngubane, Lucky Nxumalo, Mzukisi Sikali, Tirani Maswanganyi, Sonnyboy Rakgokong, Dawn Lindberg, Richard Mitchell, Abdul Bhamjee, Petrus Molemela, Killer Kau, Mpura, Khanya the Voice, TD and Thando Tot.
It was bittersweet moments for each family receiving awards for their loved ones, a reminder that vessels of good works are recognised even in their passing but also a reminder that they are not alive anymore and hence “Siyabakhumbula”.
The venue became cold, flooding with sad emotions as Sir Jet Novuka highlighted how life has been robbed of value. How sad it is that people are waiting for their loved ones to come home but they never do because bloodsuckers have taken their lives. He encouraged that we do a reflection as a country and ask: “why is it so easy to commit murder?”. He ended it with touching words: “Human life is far cheaper than a loaf of bread”.
A performance by the resident band took us out of that sadness, it featured the People’s poet Mr Mzwakhe Mbuli himself, one moment we were lost in his dance moves and the next we were touched by his poems; indeed this was a celebration of lives lived. Performances by Soweto String Quartet, Umoja and Candice the poet really embodied the diverse communities in SA, incorporating different languages in song and poetry, the spirit of togetherness was sparked.
The evolution of these awards testifies of the power of culture in encouraging unity, pride, and more understanding of the history and experiences that make South Africa what it is.
By Sinentlahla Mbokwe
Images: Milani Mtshotshisa
