By Phindile Maduna
Artists continue to entertain audiences
The influx and proliferation of the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa since last month resulted in President Cyril Ramaphosa declaring a national state of disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act. A week later, the president had to make a decision to declare a 21-day national lockdown which started at midnight on March 26.
The decision meant that everyone within South Africa’s borders had to stay at home unless they were going out to access essential services.
The lockdown has had repercussions for many sectors including the creative industries.
Creatives in music, film, book publishing and writing and theatre – to name but a few – have done what they can to overcome the effects of the global pandemic.
One of the key recommendations made to the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture by representatives in the industry is to intensify the use of digital platforms such as online streaming of recorded and real-time footage.
This is an effort to secure the income of creatives and ensure that consumers continue to experience their content.
Some who have made the decision to go digital include:
- The Nal’ibali reading campaign for children which offers a multilingual virtual reading club that started broadcasting on Facebook Live three times a week from March 27;
- South African film Moffie started screening online last month;
- Afrikaans Gaan Global concert series has been live-streamed to domestic and international audiences. The first concert took place on March 28 and yesterday. A third concert is scheduled for April 11;
- The annual Obrigado Music Festival, which took place yesterday, was live-streamed to domestic and international music enthusiasts;
- The annual National Arts Festival for performing arts which is taking place in Grahamstown on June 25 to July 5 will be live-streamed; and
- The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture playhouses will give artists a platform to perform live-streaming activities.
Although this is a very challenging time for South Africa and the rest of the world, it has made it necessary for the industry to “think outside the box” and make use of the many digital opportunities at their disposal.
After all, the show must go on.
The Afrikaans Gaan Global series of concerts has been live-streamed to audiences across the world. The next concert is scheduled to take place on Saturday.
South African film ‘Moffie’ started screening online last month. The movie is one of many that have gone digital as Covid-19 keeps people at home.
