The Reclaiming Space performances will occur over four days at various Kimberley monuments from Wednesday (4/12) to Saturday, but on the first night, residents called police after witnessing artists performing at the Cecil John Rhodes statue.

On social media, community members claimed the performance amounted to “vandalism” and “disrespected” the city’s history. The organisers, however, maintain Sol Plaatje Municipality and monument managers granted them permission.

The Awakening Social Sessions Arts Festival wants to provide a platform for some of the best artists in the country, and more importantly, the Northern Cape said organiser Tshepo Tlhalogang.

So many events centre around alcohol, he said, while few are suitable for the whole family, and more importantly, very few provide opportunities to engage with artists and their work.

He said their intentions weren’t destructive and encouraged community members to try and understand the meaning of the performances.

“The entire festival is designed for artists to network with each other to a point of collaboration. The artists who do the public performances were artists coming together, so we want to show the idea in its living sense.” 

The first night’s performance had sparked uncomfortable conversations amongst residents about the city’s history and the monuments, not about the idea behind the performance, he believed.

“I think this is a performative art piece. Kimberley is a bit behind when it comes to more progressive types of art.

“There doesn’t seem to be any vandalism going on or destruction of property at all,” said Facebook user Andralise Jooste.

On Thursday, a visual art exhibition will showcase works of Kimberley artists with a dance performance by the Wokuri cultural dance group from Platfontein.

Day two’s event at the Duggan-Cronin gallery will also be celebrating Rocky Mafafo, an ode to Richard Madela who was a photographer, and assistant to Duggan-Cronin who the gallery is named after. 

OFM News/Casey-Lee Anthony mvh