MBOKODO AWARDS TO HONOUR WOMEN FOSTERING GROWTH THROUGH ARTS

The Mbokodo Awards, an event to recognise women who have shown leadership, fostered growth and made efforts to strengthen the arts, will be held on Thursday December 8th at the Inanda Polo Club. 

“The arts are an essential part of our ever evolving nation. While the collective achievements of this year's award recipients are impressive, what's truly inspiring is their commitment to making a difference in communities through the arts," said Carol Bouwer, the founder and organizer of the awards.

“This year’s awards are a celebration of the triumph of humanity and the understanding of women's rights as human rights. The awards are indeed a unique platform that consolidates the incredible work done by South African women through honouring their immense contribution in the fields of arts and culture. This year, we will also recognise the role that women play as custodians of the family but also the inspirational role of the girl child,” said Bouwer CEO of Carol Bouwer Productions. 

“This year we are celebrating four milestones: The 5th anniversary of the Mbokodo Awards; the 20th anniversary of a constitution which is progressive towards women’s rights; the yearlong 60thAnniversary of the 1956 Women’s March to the Union Buildings to protest against the extension of pass laws to women and the 70th anniversary of UNICEF defending the rights of children,” said Bouwer. The awards are endorsed and supported by the Department of Arts and Culture, Siyabonga Ceramics, the Ministry of Women. 

“We are honored that the Department of Arts and Culture endorses efforts aimed at encouraging women to continue being at the forefront of nation building through the arts,” said Bouwer. Said Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr. Nathi Mthethwa: “ In a year in which we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Women’s March to the Union Buildings and during a month in which we mark the 20th anniversary of the South African Constitution, it is fitting that we support the Mbokodo Awards that celebrates the freedom of creativity of women in the arts, honours living artistic legends and all those women who have made an extraordinary contribution against all odds to the cultural life of our country." 

Recipients of the awards are nominated using detailed guidelines, and selected by a committee led by Professor Pitika Ntuli. This year, women will be recognised for their excellence in 14 categories, Women in Media Traditional and Indigenous Arts, Literature, Jazz, Visual Arts, Poetry, Fashion and Design, Shining Light, Music, Dance, Theatre, Opera, Girl Child of Promise, Lifetime Achievement and Film. The award is non-monetary. During the past years the Mbokodo Awards have honoured women across multiple cultural disciplines from Opera to Sculpting, Architecture to Ballet. 

Amongst the illustrious list of past winners were the late author Nadine Gordimer who was delighted to accept the award a few weeks before she sadly passed, South African signature voice Sibongile Khumalo, Letta Mbulu, Mary Sibande, Gcina Mhlophe, Antjie Krog and many others. Herve Ludovic de Lys, UNICEF South Africa’s Representative, said: “UNICEF is grateful for the invitation to the Mbokodo Awards. As UNICEF is celebrating its 70th anniversary to commemorate our work for children over the last 70 years, we count on the leadership of women and the care of mothers to ensure that the world becomes a better place for children everywhere – and for every child We need YOUR support to tackle growing inequalities and deepening cycles of poverty around the world, and in South Africa”.

UNICEF’s 70th anniversary is an opportunity to remind public audiences of children’s urgent needs and the impact of the organisation’s work -- working relentlessly in some of the world’s toughest places to save lives and give hope to children in need and at risk.

ENDS