| When Life Happens focuses on Aids |
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| Written by Lesego Madumo | |
| Wednesday, 19 November 2008 | |
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Arts and culture will be used to draw attention to the HIV and Aids pandemic, with a focus on education and raising awareness. 
The City will be hosting the 'When Life Happens' festival to promote Aids awareness
THE sixth annual When Life Happens arts and culture festival takes place in Newtown from 3 to 14 December, hosted by the City and the Newtown Management District. When Life Happens is designed to coincide with other activities held around World AIDS Day, which is on Monday, 1 December. The festival is tailored to raise awareness of the HIV/Aids pandemic, through activities like contemporary dance, literature, music, visual arts and performance poetry. "Gear up for a stimulating and informative few days as the When Life Happens festival returns to Newtown to heighten awareness around HIV/Aids by getting people thinking and talking about it," reads the Newton Management District website. The programme will kick off on Wednesday, 3 December with an art exhibition at Museum Africa, featuring the works of budding artists. Phumzile Buthelezi, Happy Dlame, Michel Mhlungu, Yvonne Harvey, Vusi Mfupi, Themba Mofekeng, and Mandla Manana are among the artists taking part in the festival. They will use their particular talents to speak about the HIV/Aids challenges in South Africa.
Unite and heal Pupils from grades seven to 12 have been invited to submit self-designed and handmade HIV and Aids awareness posters for the When Life Happens Festival Poster Competition. The posters need to communicate effectively a positive message to the country's youth. To enquire about entering the schools' poster competition, telephone 011 363 3680 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . The competition closes on Monday, 24 November and winners will be announced during the festival's official opening, at Museum Africa on 3 December at 6.30pm. The posters will be on display from 10am to 5pm daily, until 14 December. A festival highlight will be a performance poetry and music concert on 4 December at the Bassline. It will start at 7.30pm, when musicians, deejays, and poets will pledge their support for the HIV/Aids cause. "Expect provocative and insightful fare, from the likes of DJ Khenzero, Fifi, Poker, Nomsa featuring Ntsiki Mazwai, and MC Kabomo," the website reads.
Dance Ntsoana Dance Theatre will perform Sello Pessa's Moving Rituals and Tracey Human's Soft, created and performed by two of South Africa's most renowned dancer-choreographers, Gregory Maqoma and PJ Sabbagha. Dada Masilo, last year's Standard Bank Young Artist for Dance will perform a dance called Dying, Dying, Dead, in collaboration with Bafikile Sedibe and Songozezo Mcillizeli'. It was originally a solo act, created by Masilo while studying in Brussels. On the same dates, "prepare to be intrigued by a provocative outdoor performance intervention and mass installation artwork", by Bronwyn Lace and her team of performing artists from the Bag Factory. This will be staged at Mary Fitzgerald Square. A reading and discussion forum will be launched at Xarra Books at 2.30pm on 6 December with renowned surgeon Dr Gareth Edwards reading from the autobiography of the late actor and Aids activist Blaise Koch. "The reading will be followed by an open forum, enabling artists, members of the public and activists to speak their minds." Entry to all events is free. However, booking at the various venues is advised. For more details and information about the festival, visit the Newtown website. World AIDS Day is on 1 December; it is observed internationally each year to draw attention to HIV/Aids and its effect on the world. This year is the 20th World Aids Day. For more information about the day and what is planned in your area, call 011 355 3392/3254. Related stories: |
