After Listening to SAGA at AFDA Johannesburg — The Sector Has No Excuse to Stay Silent By Thami aka Mbongo Manzana On the 17 February 2026 at AFDA Johannesburg, I did not hear a radical demand. I heard a sober, well-argued, legally grounded call for clarity. After listening carefully to the presentation by the South African Guild of Actors (SAGA) , I left convinced of one thing: this is not an actors-only issue. It is a sector-wide turning point. And if we fail to engage now — if we fail to submit inputs, attend meetings, and support structured reform — we will once again allow decisions about our industry to be shaped without us.                       Image  Source: SAGA The Problem We Have Normalised For years, creative workers have operated in contradiction. We are called “independent contractors,” yet: We are directed. We are controlled by production schedules. We are bound by contracts we often have no power to negotiate....

Bridging Harmony and the Digital Age In an era where digital platforms determine who is seen, heard, and paid, South Africa’s traditional artists cannot afford to stand on the sidelines. Isicathamiya — a genre rooted in history, harmony, and resistance — now stands at the intersection of heritage and technology. In this compelling conversation, Saziso Dlamini shares his vision for preserving and modernising Isicathamiya in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. He speaks about the power of collaboration, the urgency of digital inclusion, and why traditional musicians must embrace streaming platforms not as a threat, but as an extension of their legacy. Read the full interview to understand why this initiative marks a turning point for Isicathamiya artists — and why the time to act is now.                Image  Source: Saziso Dlamini  For readers of The Creative Passport Online Media Publication who may not be familiar with your journey, c...

La Biennale di Venezia / The Lions for Biennale Danza 2026 Bangarra Dance Theatre Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement Mamela Nyamza Silver Lion The Bangarra Dance Theatre, Australia’s leading First Nations performing arts company, is the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement of Biennale Danza 2026, becoming the first company and First Nations performers to receive the award.  Mamela Nyamza , the South African dancer, choreographer, director and activist is the recipient of the Silver Lion. With Bangarra Dance Theatre and Mamela Nyamza, Biennale Danza acknowledges artists who have transformed, evolved and brought new urgency to the language of dance, infusing it with the vital force of the respective cultures of their origins, deeply connected to the rhythms, landscapes and symbols of ancestral traditions. “Since the start of my directorship – writes the artistic director Sir Wayne McGregor – I have aimed to profile and advocate for the outstanding artists and companies whose influe...

  The State of Art in South Africa: Navigating the Divide of Wealth, Race, and Access By Paul Noko Why does this matter to us as the Creative Passport When the President of the Republic, Cyril Ramaphosa, delivered the recent State of the Nation Address, many sectors listened carefully for signals of priority, policy direction, and national commitment.  Yet, once again, the Cultural and Creative Industries were absent from the centre of the national conversation. This silence matters. While infrastructure, energy, crime, and economic reform dominate headlines, the “state of the arts” quietly reflects the deeper fractures of our society — wealth inequality, racial divides, geographic exclusion, and unequal access to opportunity.  The arts are not separate from the economy; they mirror it. They expose who has access, who controls space, who receives funding, and who must migrate in search of survival. In this context, Paul Noko’s reflection is not merely about theatres or...

Why the DistroKid–Spotify South Africa Initiative Is a Turning Point for South African Artists South Africa’s music industry stands at a decisive crossroads. For decades, access to opportunity was determined by geography, radio airplay, record label connections, and physical distribution networks.  Today, the power structure has shifted. Algorithms, digital distribution platforms, metadata accuracy, and streaming analytics determine visibility and income. In this context, the partnership between DistroKid and Spotify South Africa to host a national series of workshops is more than an industry event.  It is a structural intervention aimed at empowering traditional artists, independent emerging musicians, managers, producers, and established artists across genres. Workshops will take place in eThekwini, Johannesburg, Rustenburg/Mafikeng, and Thohoyandou , with one online session for those unable to attend physically.  Delivered in local languages and supported by key ind...