The Minister of Arts Culture, Ms Lulu Xingwana will host a special breakfast to launch the African Artists for Haiti Initiative at the Sandton Hilton on Thursday, 22 April 2010 between 06h00 and 08h00.
The event will be televised live on SABC2 Morning Live programme. Its significance lies in the observation of the 100th day to mark the Tragedy of Haiti which was devastated by an earthquake in January this year.
Xingwana has invited artistic figurers, cultural visionaries and other important players from the arts and culture sector to pledge their solidarity with the people of Haiti.
Also, the aim of the breakfast is to create awareness about the continued plight of Haiti and to re-ignite African interest in their plight of people in the Diaspora who need all the support they can get from the world.
Xingwana will engage in critical discourse on how arts and culture can be used as an instrument to mobilize support but an economic tool that can rebuild a devastated society and improve the material conditions of the people.
The breakfast itself marks an important partnership with the South African Broadcasting Corporation which is an important vehicle for the dissemination of information and knowledge about artistic and cultural issues.
It is hoped that launch of Artists For Haiti Initiative will not only forge closer links between the Department of Arts and Culture and relevant stakeholders but will encourage business and political leaders to keep the plight of the people of Haiti at top of mind consciousness.
“We have to commemorate the 100th day of this tragedy and keep it at top of mind consciousness.
“Also, we want our artists to come forward to pledge support and use their talent and skills to mobilise support for the people of Haiti. The significance of the country lies in the fact that not only was it pivotal to unleashing African’s desire for self-determination and independence, but it was also the first country to witness slaves stand up to oppression and defeat their oppressors.
“We challenge all sectors of our society and throughout the African continent to be involved in efforts to reconstruct this country and help it reclaim its iconic status,” says Xingwana.
The breakfast precedes the visit to Haiti by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation to Haiti where she will pledge the South African government’s support to the people of Haiti.
In March this year the Cabinet of South Africa approved a government wide strategy to involve the country and the rest of the continent in efforts to ameliorate conditions for the people of this devastated country.
It is in this spirit that top artists have been invited to the breakfast meeting to pledge support and be agents of the Hope for Haiti campaign. The meeting will be attended by top government officials, corporate leaders, artistic figures and influential personalities from the Creative Union of South Africa, Music Industry Federation of South Africa, South African Music Promoters Association and a host of others.
Enquiries:
Lisa Combrinck
Cell: 082 821 4886
Mack Lewele
Cell: 082 450 5076
For accreditation please send your names and ID numbers to:
Patience Mogomotsi
Tel: 012 441 3083
E-mail: patience.mogomotsi@dac.gov.za
Mthuthuzeli Nqumba
Tel: 012 441 3044
E-mail: mthuthuzeli.nqumba@dac.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture
21 April 2010
Source: Department of Arts and Culture (http://www.dac.gov.za/)
