In the short span of memory times we\u2019re living in, photography plays a huge role as a visual time capsule to help us not forget about history\u2019s watershed moments.<\/p>\n
Aptly titled \u2018Isikhumbuzo\u2019, which means a remembrance or memorial, a photo group exhibition brings South African history into sharp, unforgettable focus in celebration of Youth Day.<\/p>\n
\u201cIsikhumbuzo basically is a group exhibition where we collected work from different provinces, because June 16 [protests] didn\u2019t just happen in Soweto. But it has affected the whole South Africa,\u201d exhibition organiser and founder of Mandebele Photo Gallery, Gopolang Ledwaba tells The Citizen<\/em>.<\/p>\n The exhibition will be hosted at Mandebele Photo Gallery in Soweto. <\/p>\n At the core of this exhibition are iconic works by Mike Mzileni, Len Khumalo, Peter Magune and Alf Khumalo.<\/p>\n The lensmen are some of the most respected photographers who documented apartheid and South Africa\u2019s liberation journey.<\/p>\n The exhibition will feature works by other young artists from across the country and will open on Youth Day, running for the entire month of June.<\/p>\n ALSO READ: Photographers capture Election Day and reflect on the country\u2019s democratic journey<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The uprising of youth in Soweto in 1976 was a protest against the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in black schools.<\/p>\n In addition to that, the remonstration was also against apartheid\u2019s chokehold on young black people\u2019s dreams.<\/p>\n Some young people had dreams of making art and sharing it with their communities. Mandebele Photo Gallery is one of the few galleries in the township, as many are in the city or suburbs.<\/p>\n The gallery\u2019s mission is to foster sustainable interest and active engagement with the arts within our local communities and across Africa.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are dedicated to elevating consciousness through education and storytelling, sharing our narratives in ways that reflect our lived experiences and cultural understanding.\u201d<\/p>\n Ledwaba says it pains him that public schools, particularly those in the township, don\u2019t pay much attention to art.<\/p>\n \u201cIt pains my heart that art is not taken seriously in public schools. But in multiracial schools, the kids who go to school there will tell you that art is so important. A 16-year-old child from a multiracial school and one who attends school in the township are different in how they view art.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA child in a multiracial school will learn about the likes of [Vincent] van Gogh and Santu Mofokeng, whereas a child schooling in the township doesn\u2019t know anything about those artists, some of whom are from the township.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMandebele Photo Gallery is sort of a bridge between the gap of things that are missing in the township\u2026bringing art closer to the community.\u201d<\/p>\n The exhibition on Youth Day will feature music performances by Musa Mashian, who reached the Top 5 of season 10 of Idols SA<\/em> in 2014, Manjik Mak, and Lunga Mkila.<\/p>\n NOW READ: The complex nature of female photography<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nMaking art accessible<\/h2>\n