Folklore Festival 2024 FRINGE PTA: WOMEN'S DAY EDITION - BOOK CIRCLE CAPITAL feat LORRAINE SITHOLE, KATZTHESINGR, SPARTZ, PILANI BUBU

ABOUT

Folklore Festival returns in 2024 for its third edition with a rich lineup of storytellers as the community comes together again to share in our culture and heritage.

Join us in celebration of all women; everything they embody and stand for, on our creative platform #WeTheFolk for 30 days of Contemplating 30 years of Freedom in 3 Cities on 9 August 2024 at St Lorient Gallery | Pretoria for two concurrent Art Exhibitions: 'Unleashed - Feminine Rage’ & 'Bound to Boundless’ by  CARMEN CLEWS

A Book Fair Curated by BOOK CIRCLE CAPITAL facilitated by the Literary Enthusiast, LORRAINE SITHOLE presenting  BUSISEKILE KHUMALO & SHAFINAAZ themed: ‘Writing Women in the Now’

And lastly, a treat of live musical performances by the Captivating KATZTHESINGER, the Deeply Soulful  SPARTZ and 'Indelible Storyteller’ - PILANI BUBU.

‘Unleashed - Feminine Rage’

This exhibition explores the nuanced and frequently repressed feeling of feminine rage. It is a compelling and thought-provoking exhibition. Through artistic expression, this show seeks to question established conventions, spark thought-provoking discussions,

and honour the fortitude and resiliency of women. For women’s month artists can explore the best way to express their experience of feminine rage. It can be in the form

of paintings, drawing, sculpture or digital art. This is a highlight of individual tales of empowerment, adversity, resiliency, and metamorphosis via artwork that communicates personal experiences of feminine fury. This exhibition is not limited to women only. All genders are welcome to participate.

‘Bound to Boundless’ is a compelling display of Clews’ multimedia art and sculptures, exploring themes of vulnerability, communication, trust and deep surrender. The exhibition is designed to challenge and inspire viewers through its intricate and profound interpretations of Shibari. Carmen Clews elaborated on the inspiration behind her work, stating: “The emphasis is around Shibari being a meditative and healing practice that offers a path to release old stories and fears that no longer serve us.” The artist was keen to add, “The art of Shibari is a much-misunderstood practice, sometimes thought of as the shadow side of BDSM - as opposed to an exquisite art of letting go.”

CARMEN CLEWS is a Cape Town based sculptor and visual artist whose artwork is endlessly inspired by her passion for understanding that there is more to life than meets the eye. Clews explores the mystery and miracles of life within her work and uses holistic and physical practices to enrich her immersive studio practice and to grow her capacity for more surrender and vulnerability, leading to a deeper embrace of joy. Carmen’s sculptures can be found throughout South Africa, London, Dubai and France including the esteemed art collection of film producer Arnon Milchan who ranks in the top three of Hollywood contemporary art collectors. Her various works have been exhibited at Grande Provence and Art in the Yard Galleries in Franschhoek, MOK Gallery in Stellenbosch and Knysna Fine Art Gallery.

LORRAINE SITHOLE is a reading activist advocating for reading for lifelong enjoyment across all generations, is the Vice-Chairperson of the International Board on Books for Young People South Africa and sits on the board of the African Book Trust responsible for the Johannesburg Literature District. a founder of BookWorms Book Club, a publisher, and writer, Lorraine was longlisted for the 2017 Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award and has contributed to these collections – Black Tax: Burden or Ubuntu edited by Niq Mhlongo and When Secrets Become Stories edited by Sue Nyathi. Lorraine was the programme manager for the South African Book Fair for three years, responsible for curating the literary programme and the Schools’ Programme. She is also the Founder and Festival Director of the Gauteng International Book Festival.

SHAFINAAZ HASSIM is an independent sociologist and author based in Johannesburg. Her works have been commended in various local and international awards, including the SALA K Sello Duiker Award, the UJ Prize for Creative Writing in English and the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature. In 2014 she was listed by UNESCO and the London Book Fair as one of the Top 39 authors in Africa under the age of 40. She presents a popular online book review show called BookBytes.

BUSISEKILE KHUMALO is a South African bestselling author. She has written eight books including the popular The Harvard Wife series and Nomaswazi. She has chosen to pursue her love for books over her learned profession in law. Sunshine and Shadows is first book in her latest series. 

Katlego Makgotlwe, known as KATZTHESINGR, is a talented singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Vosloorus, with deep musical roots that began in church as a child. Teaching herself guitar, she joined a band in Pretoria in 2015 and gained wider recognition on The Voice SA Season 3 in 2019. Her exceptional songwriting was showcased in her 2020 collaboration with Prince Kaybee on the Project Hope album, featuring the single "Ha ke sa kgone." KatzTheSingR has performed extensively at local venues and events, highlighted by her 2022 performances at Botaki Ba Afrika with her 6-piece band and once again in 2024 which proved to be a success. Her participation in the Phenomenal Women project at the Nirox Foundation further demonstrated her prowess. Writing primarily in Setswana and occasionally rapping, she creates a unique blend of afrosoul, alternative, and RnB, contributing fresh and authentic sounds to the music scene.

SPARTZ Motlhamme is a young, black South African soul musician; rising from the streets of Alexandra Township with a dream to offer her African sound globally. She released her first EP on SoundCloud called 18|25. She then released her first album called 21 & Black in 2020. The body of work has two genres, Neo-Soul and Indigenous African sounds. She is telling the story of a young, black child. All that we go through in our early 20s, intimacy, love, praying that our dreams come true and spiritual growth. In the year 2022, she released her new body of work called AWAKE. Her sound has evolved. She represents herself and her guides in the messages of her songs. Through her music and the journey, her sound and song writing has developed and thus, birthed AWAKE. She has worked with Themba Ngubane, Bonginkosi Maggz, Marcus Harvey, 013 Choppa, Kabza De Small and Thando Zide. She received her first nomination with Metro FM for the Best Jazz Album for the album AWAKE in 2023. She has been part of a theatre production that showcased at South African State Theatre called Sikhahlel’uOR, A tribute to Oliver.

‘Indelible Storyteller’- PILANI BUBU, is a singer-songwriter, TV presenter, and creative entrepreneur extraordinaire. For the past decade, Pilani has graced the global stage, captivating audiences with her enchanting melodies, astonishing vibrato and meaningful lyrics. Her musical prowess knows no bounds as she effortlessly weaves together jazz, folk, soul, RnB & electronic sounds often interwoven with poetry, spoken word and sometimes rap, showcasing her versatile artistry. With a pure & unique voice, a great sense of clarity that heals & resonates with deep intentionality. Pilani has independently produced and released five albums, whose storytelling narratives are in a league of their own. And now, with her latest offering, "Folklore Chapter 2:Ekuseni," she delves even deeper into ancient wisdom, sharing a personal story of her ancestors, their rituals, her rites, their gifts, her inheritances, and the relationship there between. Conjuring melodies that transport listeners to the ethereal realms of African spirituality.

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