JL Zwane Rainbow School celebrates Africa Day with vibrant arts and culture exhibition

GUGULETHU - The JL Zwane Rainbow School came alive on Friday, May 30, as it hosted the 5th Africa Day arts and culture exhibition.

The exhibition was a collaborative effort with Africa Unite, an organisation advocating for human rights and dignity, that attracted over 100 attendees. The event was aimed at commemorating Africa Day and to unite cultures and backgrounds through the universal language of art.

Samkelo Plaatjie, the exhibition coordinator said: “This day is about Africa. When we had a dialogue about this event, we felt compelled to change the narrative. We wanted to stress that we are not separated from Africa.”

He said art is part of African culture.

"We are delighted to be celebrating our fifth year."

Mlungisi Mazana, a member of the school board said: “Africans should unite and celebrate their own work rather than that of others.”

He said African literature should be valued as much as Western classics, especially during the month set aside to celebrate the continent.

Teacher Nokubonga Mepeni said the event provided an essential opportunity to bring art into the public realm.

“This exhibition serves to educate and inspire communities about the power of art. We are proud that JL Zwane consistently fosters and develops talent,” she said.

Aza Ntantiso from Africa Unite was equally impressed by the children’s artwork. She encouraged continued collaboration between her organisation and the school to promote children's rights, urging ongoing dialogues to empower youths to achieve their goals in life.