Department of Arts and Culture
7 September 2007
The Minister of Arts and Culture Dr Z Pallo Jordan has announced that
Thembinkosi Philemon Wakashe has been appointed the new Director-General of the
Department of Arts and Culture, following a cabinet decision on Wednesday.
Mr Wakashe is the second Director-General since the department became
independent and autonomous in 2004. He succeeds Professor Itumeleng Mosala who
served in the position for four years until March 2007.
Wakashe was born on 29 November 1960. As a boy, he showed a passionate
interest in the arts that won him a scholarship that saw him pursue a BA
(Drama) at Wits University which he completed in 1984.
Soon after that he went to New York University to read for a master's degree
in performance studies. He later enrolled at Columbia University where he also
completed a graduate programme in arts administration.
It was while he was studying in the United States that he was appointed
manager for self-exiled piano maestro Abdullah Ibrahim in 1986. Soon after that
he was employed as research assistant and associate in various American
institutions, including Arts International, African Arts Fund and the Harlem
School of the Arts.
Having completed his studies, Wakashe returned to the country to function as
national Co-ordinator for Arts and Culture South Africa, an umbrella body for
formulating policies for the new society. He also worked as a lecturer in the
School of Dramatic Arts at Witwatersrand University.
Significantly, he was appointed Chief Director for Arts, Culture and
Heritage in the department where he was responsible for relations with bodies
like United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco),
South African Development Community (SADC), European Union (EU) and former
Organisation of African Unity (OAU).
Prior to that, Wakashe was part of the team that developed the Arts, Culture
and Heritage White Paper which was the framework for the democratisation of the
arts sector. Also, he was credited with driving the development for the film
industry.
It was in recognition of his arts focus; discipline and hard work that he
was appointed Deputy Director-General in 2001, a job that saw him champion
policy development, strategic planning, and oversight of statutory bodies.
It was during his tenure as Deputy Director-General in 2005 that the Unesco
World Heritage Committee appointed him Chairperson for the year to lead the
body in its 29th Session which took place in Durban. Under his Chairpersonship
the Africa Heritage Fund was set up to assist countries on the continent to
maintain World Heritage Sites.
Throughout his life and career, Wakashe has made arts and culture central to
his passions. His conviction that arts and culture is an instrumental of
national unity and economic self-reliance is what makes him a natural choice to
the position of Director-General.
"Wakashe is an arts veteran and administrator who have built a reputation as
one of the few people who played a significant role in the efforts to formulate
policies that would ultimately create better opportunities for South African
artists to take their rightful place in the world.
"Over the last two decades his stature as an arts leader and visionary has
grown as he has elevated the debate and formulation of policies behind the
scenes to hew heights." It is only fitting that we appoint him the leader of
this department at a time when it has come into its own and plays a central
role in nation building efforts and to use arts and culture as an instrument
for creating jobs and economic self-reliance among our artists.
"We look forward to working with him," said Minister Jordan.
Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture
7 September 2007
Source: Department of Arts and Culture (http://www.dac.gov.za)
