Sibikwa Storytelling Festival off to an enchanting start
Audiences, both young and old, were enthralled by the songs and tales from world-renowned storytellers, Gcina Mhlophe and Amina Blackwood-Meeks, at the opening of this year's Sibikwa Storytelling Festival, on Wednesday.
Mhlophe kept pupils and teachers from Emaromeni Primary School entertained with her tale, titled “Fudukazi’s Magic”, about how Fudukazi (the tortoise) helped all the animals get their colourful coats, and how the hyena received the ugly one he now wears.
The children danced, laughed and joined in as they were taken into the magical forest where all the animals could talk, sing and dance.
Mhlophe also hosted a storytelling workshop for teachers.
“It’s important to teach our children these stories and their indigenous languages, and to preserve this culture for them,” Mhlophe said.
Blackwood-Meeks, founder of Jamaica’s storytelling foundation Ntukuma, took the learners on a short trip to Jamaica.
Here, the little ones learned about why folktales are all called “Anansi Stories”.
The children then had their turn to take to the stage when Ntsiki Mazwa, a well-known poet, musician and activist, hosted an open mic session for the children to share their poems and songs with their schoolmates and teachers.
The four-day festival, which will continue until Saturday, March 21, is a celebration of the culture of oral tradition and indigenous languages, and will end aptly on Human Rights Day (the day after World Storytelling Day).
