South African Artists Demand Support from New Minister
Legendary musician Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse has labelled the past 30 years a "disaster" for South African artists. In an interview with Daily Maverick, Mabuse expressed his frustration with the lack of support for the entertainment industry and called for a meeting with the newly appointed Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie.
Mabuse, 72, believes that the performing arts do not need handouts from the government, but rather strong support in the form of adequate budgets to build sustainable infrastructure. He argues that this would enable members of the entertainment industry to thrive and build successful careers.
The musician’s group, Sipho Hotstix Mabuse Friends (SHMF), is preparing to ask McKenzie what he plans to do to alleviate the "suffering of black artists" who lack proper facilities to ply their trade. Mabuse suggests that building musical centres, theatres, and academies across the country would be a step in the right direction, as well as revamping dilapidated community centres like Uncle Tom’s Hall in Orlando West, Soweto.
Mabuse is demanding an urgent meeting with McKenzie to present proposals for empowering black performing artists. He believes that the government has a crucial role to play in supporting the arts and culture sector, which has been neglected for far too long.
As the new minister takes office, Mabuse’s call for support and infrastructure development is a timely reminder of the importance of investing in the arts and culture sector. With the right support, South Africa’s talented artists could thrive and contribute to the country’s cultural and economic growth.
