By MAEDER OSLER
Nowadays, it intrigues me to wonder what the coastal village of Kleinmond in the Western Cape could have in common with the dusty settlement of Colesberg in the Northern Cape.
In these times of Big Mouths, it’s also intriguing to compare Kleinmond’s name to, say, a more expansive one like that of Donald Trump, who has also — rather crazily – come to feature on our pages in recent times.
Incidentally, one of our local researchers tells us the word TRUMP can have many meanings, as per the following notes:
In November, Phakamisa Mayaba, our stablemate in the Kuyasa residential suburb of Colesberg, wrote as follows: ‘As this old toppie [i.e., my good self] rides into the sunset, choosing to retire in the Western Cape, he still touches base with his charges in the Karoo, and is always on the lookout for new recruits …’
This is all to say that I am pleasantly reminded by the accuracy of his statement, and encouraged to explore our new environment.
So this is how I — as a visiting inkommer — have come to take a special look at Kleinmond, a coastal settlement near our new abode in Somerset-West. As it happens, this is where my elder sister, Marguerite, lives with her partner, the accountant-turned-artist Charles van der Merwe.
I am further reminded of the learning I absorbed when, a few years ago, I accompanied my now Canadian friend Ivor Shapiro when he assisted an intern and later notable writer) of the intrepid South African investigative journalism venture amaBhungane.
Digging dung -fertilising democracy! (amaBhungane = isizulu for ‘Dung Beetles’)
In a cramped AirBnB in Johannesburg, Ivor encouraged the then intern not to shy away from using personalisation as a means of leading readers into major social issues and stories.
In the preface to his recent book The Disputed Freedoms of a Disrupted Press (Routledge 2024), Ivor writes: ‘I learned to pay speech its due – when talking, to respect its power, when listening, to shut up and ready myself to be moved by the combined force of facts and perspectives … ‘justified by a distinct social responsibility to gather and provide accurate information about current affairs …’
Bolstered by all of this, my visitor’s look at Kleinmond centres on a voluntary community initiative called a Hub for Arts and Culture, which is off to a vibrant start. Hopefully, its story will inspire other rural enclaves, including Toverview’s birthplace in faraway Colesberg, to follow suit.
We do so by way of a report by the inkommer poet Frank Meintjies about a recent Kleinmond Arts and Culture Hub event held in the Proteadorp Community Hall. ‘Hope you can use it on Toverview,’ said Frank. We sure can — it speaks refreshingly of ‘facts and perspectives’.
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The Kleinmond Culture Arts Hub kicked off with a bang. It is February 2025, and already the second community event has taken place in the local community hall. The hub was recently launched by Frazer Barry and his partner, Deniel, as the realisation of a long-held dream to establish an organization that acknowledges and promotes culture in the local community. Frazer and Daniel are supported by a dedicated committee, including Steven Williams, a councilor; Marcelin Barry, a youth ward council member; youth developer Faith Marinus; and local entrepreneur Helena Marinus.
The hub has three main objectives: first, to celebrate the work of local creatives; second, to share this creativity with the public; and third, to rally public support in encouraging talented individuals to continue creating.
Frazer Barry and a young rapper, Marcus.
The first event, held on 27 January, showcased a vibrant mix of artistic expressions, including musical performances, a short story reading, and an impressive performance by what must be one of the youngest rappers in the country.
The second event, on 23 February, featured a diverse lineup of gifted participants. Poet Helma performed alongside Jean (percussion) and Hermien de Vos (dramatized poetry). The Decee Three delighted the audience with their close-harmony music, while Jaydee Meagan and Fantacia Sass wowed attendees with their dance moves.
This event also highlighted visual arts. Michelle Helgenberg presented her paintings, while Luciano Botto impressed the audience with his intricate pencil drawings.
The MC, Marcelin Barry.
Looking ahead, the Kleinmond Arts and Culture Hub is gearing up for even bigger things. According to Frazer Barry, the hub plans to host a monthly event to showcase local talent. In addition, it will facilitate activities aimed at nurturing youth creativity.
As part of this initiative, Helena Marinus announced that young people were invited to a dance class starting on 1 March. The classes would focus on contemporary, hip-hop, and Afro-fusion dance styles, catering to two age groups: 8–12 and 13–19. These free sessions would run from 9:00 to 11:30 am.
With such momentum, the Kleinmond Arts and Culture Hub is well on its way to becoming a cornerstone of artistic expression in the community.
FEATURED IMAGE: Audience at the Kleinmond Arts and Culture Hub. All images by Frank Meintjies.