Dalton Hostel dancers pay tribute to Marikana’s fallen
Patrons at the Remember Marikana benefit concert were treated to a performance by the Dalton Hostel Youth Dancers on Saturday.
THE Dalton Hostel Youth Dancers – Amaqhawe Esizwe – performed at the Remember Marikana solidarity benefit concert on Saturday night, 16 August at Live the Venue in Morningside.
Amaqhawe Esizwe ('Hope for the Nation') forms part of Dalton Hostel's social upliftment and skills development initiative aimed at addressing longstanding social, racial and economic injustices. The Durban hostel dwellers, who to this day still comprise mostly 'migrant' labour, stand in solidarity with the Marikana miners and all other migrant communities whose bitter living conditions remain little changed since the days of apartheid.
Mthembiseni Thusi, chairperson of Dalton Hostel, said the group was started at the beginning of 2013 to show transformation at the hostel and to give the dancers a more constructive part time.
“Dalton was only a men's hostel for men coming to the city for work, but now with the new democracy the hostel is trying to transform, and women and children are part of the new generation at the hostel. The idea to start this dance group was so that youngsters living in this 'criminal zone' could avoid being part of drugs and crime that affect the youth of today,” he said.
He said the Dalton Hostel area was a hot zone of drugs and where young women are exposed to prostitution. The project's aim was to help young people to avoid this by having a better pasttime, and a better future.
“Most of the dancers are unemployed and have no parents. We hope to create an income for them through this. We encourage businesses to support the dancers by providing them with a sponsorship of costumes and places to perform,” he said.
Group leader, Njabulo Emanuel Zondo, said he enjoyed being part of the group and that they had had a good response from people they had performed for.
The group have performed three times at the Centre for Civil Society at UKZN and for a group from America six weeks ago.
“We work hard and practise a lot. I hope to see this group perform in another country,” he said.
Amaqhawe Esizwe performed a number specially written in commemoration of the Marikana massacre, the words of which highlighted the fact that police brutality, human rights, socioeconomic and other injustices continue to be perpetrated against the majority of black South Africans.
The event was a moving tribute to the families and all who were killed on 16 August 2012.
