Cliche topics fail us: drugs and alcohol

By Busisiwe Busenga

Just recently an article was written announcing that the singing sensation and hit maker of the
song "rehab" Amy Winehouse has died. It was no secret that the deceased was addicted to drugs, the interesting thing is that most celebrities get involved with drugs and alcohol and yet they treat it as something that is as normal as taking a bath. Sadly, most teenagers are following the same path, drugs and alcohol are the order of the day for most teenagers, regardless of the health effects it has on humans.

But excatly what measures must be taken, before the perspective of the youth can change. There already has been a number of strategies such as campaigns, adverts and even in the arts, they have all tried to get the message across, that drugs and alcohol should not be tempered with. However in the end it is an individuals personal resoning that can change their attitudes, change their thinking to be more positive.

Maybe it is time that people did an introspection, soul searching and maybe just maybe they will realise how important their lives are and that it is everyone's responisbility to look after their own personal health. But for the sake of the loved one's, because everything they do affects those they love, it would be of great magnitude if they spared them the pain. In this life we only given one chance to live, so live your life in the best possible way and start by loving yourself, then love the person next to you. Topics concerning drugs and alcohol are really starting to get boring, it would be a good change to focus on the good stuff, lets channel our energies to the positive things that really matter. Love is all we need!

Digital divide

By Busisiwe Busenga
I cannot believe that this is my first week back to school (University of Johannesburg) and yet i am already realising the importance and value of the Future Journalists Programme. This semester we are going to be busy with internet journalism and hence the digital divide will be one the topics covered. This reminded me of the interesting discussion we had on the didgital divide as the FJP's at the National Grahamston Arts festival . I have to say the discussion has enlightened me and broaden my horizons, i am very greatful for all the knowldge and skills we have aquired from the programme. I intend on using these mskills to the best of my ability, actually with everything i do i will definetly do my best, and i have a feeling i am going to ace this semester and it is all thanks to FJP, so "really" thank you for everything.

Youth voices in South Africa

The youth are becoming extremely important participants in the politics, social structures and systems, etc. in South Africa. They are the future leaders of tomorrow hence they should be able to voice out on the issues and this is what the talk from Gerald Boyce was suppose to be about, in his attempt to do this he has committed a few faults. Therefore the amount of participation was a lot less limited to what it could have been.

The talk covered topics such as the young people’s interest in voting or the lack of it rather. The youth has lost interest in voting, most of them see it as being an insignificant thing, that it does not make a difference if they participate or not. This is very misleading and it will affect the youth in the near future, we all know that in order to make a change one has to get involved and take the initiative and let their voices be heard and if they do not exercise this freedom of voting, then they are inhibiting other possibilities.

Mr Boyce presented his talk on the youth voices in a rather unconventional way. He used data that was systematically presented, therefore discouraged any involvement from the audience, more so from the youth, seeing that the talk was about the youth and its issues as South African citizens.

In his presentation he paid so much attention on race and I think was totally exaggerated, fine we have not passed that stage yet, were all people are free from racial discrimination but this did not make his arguments and findings anymore valid. I think that the speaker should have been more open to engagement from the audience. He could have presented his talk in a more qualitative method and focused on the current issues affecting the youth.

By Busisiwe Busenga

Digital/ Class Divides

Digital/Class divides

The world has certainly become so advanced and digitalised, so much that existing without basic knowledge of technology and digital devices has become a yoke. Noting the importance of a digitalised world, one should take into cognisance the divide that digitalisation has brought between the different levels and realms that exist in society. We now live in a world where modern activities are distinctly contrasted to the rather more ancient ways of communication. FJP’s came together to discuss this issue, and everybody had an opinion to contribute. The ‘natives’, being those born in the digital age, had contrasting ideas to the ‘immigrants’, these being people who are new to this age of technology

WENDY NGCOBO: Poverty should be at the forefront of this topic, children or parents from rural areas cannot worry about internet or a cell phone when they don’t have food.

MEGAN STACY DEANE: It will take more that just schools getting computers and kids getting internet access to bridge the gap between the class divide, it will take time and great innovation.

NOKUTHULA WATHI: I think the focus should be on bridging the literacy gap than the digital. Being able to read and write is essential. Then they can worry about learning the technology later on.

SESETHU MALGAS: The lower class lack exposure and cannot afford these expensive digital equipments but as they get older, educated and become a working class they can get access to these technologies.

AKHONA VALASHIYA: I think before there's even introduction of digital literacy in schools. Schools need to have proper classes and digital literate teachers to bridge that gap between digital and class literature.

NOKWAZI KHUMALO: Access to the internet and technology is still a huge issue in African countries and has dramatic consequences. Non-commercial intervention is my suggestion in bridging the gap.

DUSCHANKA HITZEROTH: The PUKU project bases concern on the education crisis and to bridge the gap of literacy. However, 90% of African children are without internet access thus making it virtually impossible to mend the issue.

BUSISIWE BUSENGA: The digital age is widening the gap between the rich and poor. There is a gradual increase in the ethnic barriers, political regimes and without access rises underdeveloped economies.

THABISO SIHLALI: Worrying about moving with the new media instead of being concerned on the basics of our ailing school system won’t benefit the pleasure of new media to those who need it most.

BHEKIMPILO DUNGENI: Digitalisation has created a bigger rift between people at large, and countries stand so much apart, now that some countries have resource and others, especially African countries, do not.

The gap between the rich and the poor has increased so much that it has become difficult to close. Societies are now part of a table or a chart that has been dissected into small parts that hold dichotomous values and quality. I believe one of the solutions, which is providing education and access at to it at an early age, will certainly make a difference for everyone in the world.

heroes of our lives

Heroes of our lives

Ever had one of those days when you want to jump for joy, when your excitement was so much you could hardly contain it? Then there are those days when you feel like the world is on your shoulders, when you find it hard to even breathe. But we are human and these emotions are inevitable. However there amazing people who are able to inspire, motivate and bring back the spirit of living and happiness in the lives of others. Maya Angelou is no exception; she is one of the many heroes who make life worthwhile.

Maya Angelou is an African American, born in 4 April 1928. She has dedicated her life to helping others and motivating people. She is a well known poet, civil rights activist and author amongst other things. Her best known contributions to literature are her series of six auto biographies. She also served as a Northern Coordinator for Dr Martin Luther King, she also taught at the Wake Forest University since 1991.

Her services are of immense importance to the whole of American nation and she does all this with a lot of tenacity, love and passion for people and the arts.
Maya Angelou is an inspiration to many because she does her work with passion and has received numerous awards for her incredible work including being named women of the year in communications, nomination for best supporting actress and she also has a tony award under her belt.

I want to apply her qualities into my everyday life. Aspiring to be journalist I think it is important for me to do my journalism work with outmost passion, tenacity as she does. Adapt her style by producing the kind of journalism that does not only inform but also touch people’s lives. Be able to make an impact that will make the world a better place as she has done.

My favourite quote from Maya Angelou “My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry, to get work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return”

By Busisiwe Busenga

It's a colour affair

Art is beautiful and my hands on experience have made me a firm believer in it. This love of art lives within me, the very veins of my being and its eagerness to be seen, be heard and be recognised are strongly embedded as each brush goes back and forth, right and left in anticipation for the next masterpiece.

The brightness of each colour encourages every ounce of vividness to come through with simplicity, green as its focal point. Lines are singly expressive in a delicately bold manner. The land’s dire need for water speaks an unknown language to these heavy feet, for the cows travel miles and miles whilst enduring excessive amounts of exhaustion. Immediate physical contact connects with the texture which is undoubtedly rough and uneven, giving it a distinct feature.

A beautiful contrast is identified in the intertwined relationship between Mother Nature and the living things surrounding it. The feeling of breathing and living owes its being to the eternal plants, for they bring life into every soul, hope for every savage and lost identity. An awful feeling of doubt shadows its belief to be the greater that he is. Increasing its dynamics form colour to colour, in an unregretful tone the painting fulfils a certain good Sunday feeling.

By Busisiwe Busenga

Are we missing something here?

The Grahamstown National Arts Festival may perhaps be one of the most anticipated events in South Africa and yet the attendance has nothing to show for it, it is completely unjustified. This festival has been running for a number of years, it is an event that takes place annually. However this year’s event is by far the worst in terms of the attendance, hype and entertainment.

But what has caused this dilemma? What exactly went wrong and can it be rectified before it comes to an end, if possible at all? “The problem is that the festival was initially held in Village Green and now in Rhodes University, it is because of this that people are gradually losing interest in the Festival”, said one of the sub-wardens at Rhodes University. The lack of interest shown in this year’s festival is also affecting the number of people that go out and actually watch some of the stage productions.

We also have attended a few shows and have had to witness to the poor attendance. Some of these productions do not even fill half the venue. This should be a worrying factor amongst performers. I mean the main reason why they are here is to showcase their production, but it does not take a brain surgeon to realise that that the stage production cannot possibly succeed without the audience. With that being said, the numerous PR people attending good shows, may actually spread the word and for those who are performing again may at least stand a fighting chance at improving the audience’s attendance.

But sure enough, the show must go on. But this will not bring any comfort to the street vendors expecting to make decent sales during this festival. The decreased number of people around the festival in comparison with previous festivals will affect the vendors, in negative way, because chances of making adequate profit are very slim.

By Busisiwe Busenga and Sesethu Malgas

festival and the arts

Art fever All around the Grahamstown Festival

Word is already out and people are buzzinng with excitement and much anticipation for the Grahamstown National Arts Festival. People from all works of life have come in numbers to experience this incredible event. Regardless of the winter chills, the event has not only attracted audiences but also a lot of artists who are keen on showcasing their artwork in order to impress and put their names out there... A lot of talented individuals have been able to step it up and execute their best work. This artwok of a wired statue, of which at first glance stunned me because i thought was a real person but in actual fact is a typical example of the talent that can be found in and around the festival. This wired person is representing the jazz festival which is taking place at this year's Grahamstown Art Festival.

By Busisiwe Busenga

Dancing all the way to the top

The Grahamstown National Arts Festival encourages engagement from artists which vary from dancers, to musicians as well as magicians etc. This group is no exception, they are called “Tyhini Kwedini “which expresses the amazement from a boy’s actions. This of course is not a far fetched concept seeing that their group only consists of 14 members, all boys varying from age 15 to 26 years old. All the members are from the townships located in Grahamstown.

They are an epitome of humble beginnings, living in the townships were they found it hard to get employment. However, they decided to do something about it, they resorted to arts. When they started in the year 2001, there were only four members in the group; it was only after a year when the number increased to 14. Since then, the group has grown from strength to strength, “We have been through tough times, mainly because of financial constraints but we kept on going for years,” said the oldest member of the group. It is this kind of fighting spirit that has kept the group intact and it also encouraged them to part take in this in year’s Grahamstown’s National Arts Festival.

“Tyhini Kwedini” will perform six times during the festival and they hope to impress a lot people. One of the members expressed that, “the festival is a stepping stone and we want exposure from the big shots”. Their future plans include an expansion of their group, recruiting other members and to also start their own production company.