1. The Cultural Voice of Resistance, 1982 / 1983

Index

A cultural conference held in Amsterdam, December 1982: an encounter between Dutch and exiled South  African artists. Organized by the Dutch Anti Apartheid Movement with the Populier.

 

All material shot by and the 5 edited productions made by the AABN video team: Loek Vreeswijk, Maarten Rens, Penny Curling, Toon Schampers with Zeph Makotla (of the ANC video-unit from Lusaka/Zambia).

 

In the framework of the cultural conference a sixth documentary "Education against apartheid" was made with the co-operation of various South African participants.

 

The five edited cultural productions in English, B/W, stereo give an account of the whole conference and performances in:

 

(Edited): "The doors of culture shall be opened", 40 minutes.

This collage of images evokes a clear impression of the intense discussions, artistic achievements and workshop contributions to the cultural conference.

Cosmo Pieterse, Willy Kgotsisile, Hugh Masekela with the band the Anti Apartheid Riot Squad, Barbara Masekela, Lindiwe Mabuza, Tony Seedat, Patrick Fitzgerald, Bachana Mokwene, Thami Mnyele (killed in Gabarone during Sadf-raid in 1985), Dutch ar­tists and others appear.

 

(Edited): "Shades of Change", 70 minutes.

A play named after a poem by Wally Serote and staged by the Medu Art Ensemble based in Botswana. The play portrays the mental anguish and struggle of two captured freedom fighters under their brutal torturers.

Actors: Bachana Mokwene (deceased) and Emmanuel Maretsi, direc­ted by

Pa­trick Fitzgerald.

 

(Edited): "Dear Sir", 65 minutes.

This theatrical work, produced and performed by the student drama group of SOMAFCO (Solomon Mahla­ngu Free­dom College in Mazimbu,Tanzania) was inspired by a letter written from Robben Island by Nelson Mandela. It deals with the prison conditions under the apartheid system and the huma­nistic ideals of the liberation struggle. The actors are: Gandhi Maseko, Lucky, Kush Mudau and Sam.

 

(Edited): "E Rile", 43 minutes.

To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the ANC seven Dutch choirs rehearsed one year under the conduction of the well-known singer James M. Phillips. The songs depict the history of the struggle of the South African people. Their spectacular performance at the final manifesta­tion climaxed the week’s events. Including a short interview with Phillips.

 

(Edited): "Bombs and bullets explode only once- a poem explodes over and over again, 55 minutes.

South African, Surinamese and Dutch poets reading their work: Cosmo Pieterse, Barbara Masekela, Willy Kgotsisile, Lindi­we Mabuza, Johnny Matshekiza, Verny February and others.

 

(Edited): Onderwijs tegen Apartheid, Onderwijs voor Bevrijding, 23 minutes.

Students of the Solomon Mahlangu (ANC) school in Tanzania in the Netherlands.   The students are followed in December 1982 perfor­ming the play Dear Sir, taking part in Heroes day choir and a picketline at Leidseplein and in front of mural. Interviews by Lucia Raad­schelders.

                                          

Made by AABN video collective: Penny Curling, Zeph Makotla, Maarten Rens, Toon Schampers and Loek Vreeswijk.

B/W, mono, English.

 

00:00:00-00:22:19   [SECTION 1]

Barbara Masekela in Amazone, a cultural women’s centre.

. Opening Performance.

. 6’ Dutch / Surinamese poetress Astrid Roemer reads.

. 17’ Masekela speaks.

 

00:22:25-00:39:44   [SECTION 2]

Amazone: two songs by a female singer and shots of the audience.

 

00:39:44-00:41:39   [SECTION 3]

. Fragment of the Opening Conference by Conny Braam, chairlady AABN.

             

00:41:39-00:58:25   [SECTION 4] 

Discussion meetings in Chilean Cultural Centre.

. Thami Mnyele meets and speaks with Dutch colleagues.

(from 6-11 min. sound interrupted and images mixed with Patrick Fitzgerald).

. 16.25" Dutch writer Bert Schierbeek speaks; chair Willy Kgotsesile.

 

00:58:25-00:01:06   [SECTION  5]            Close Camera

The Anti Apartheid Riot Squad, a rare combi­nation of famous musicians with a historical performance in de Balie. During the first ten minutes the band members are introduced: Jonas Gwangwa, Johnny Dyani, Sean Bergin, Dees Africa, Dudu Pukwana, Lucky Ranku, Rashimin, Hugh Masekela, Sipho, John Selelowane, female singers Pinise Saul and Harriet Matiwane.

[CONTINUED ON TAPE 8, SECTION  1]  

 

00:02:07-00:13:14   [SECTION  1]   [CONTINUED FROM TAPE 7, SECTION  5]

 

00:13:14-00:34:36   [SECTION 2]              Close Camera

Shades of Change, play after a poem by Wally Serote.

In prison: after monologue introduction different scenes: inter­ro­gation, communication between prisoners. Mk-fighters prepa­ring for next interrogation and doing exer­cises.

Play staged by MEDU Art Ensemble based in Botswana.

Director: Patrick Fitzgerald.

Actors: Nr. 4. Bachana Mokwene;  Nr. 5. Emmanuel Maretsi.

 

00:34:36-00:54:22   [SECTION 3]              Total Camera

Middle fragment of Shades of Changes play.

 

00:54:22-01:03:11   [SECTION 4]              Close Camera.

Part 2 of the play Shades of Change, continuation of tape 7, section 1.

[CONTINUED ON TAPE 9, SECTION 1]

 

00:02:00-00:12:58   [SECTION 1]   [CONTINUED FROM TAPE 8, SECTION 4]

 

00:12:58-00:35:44   [SECTION 2]

Final (3rd) part Shades of Change, follows tape 8.  Close Camera

Discussion on cultural boycott.

. 12’ Fons Geerlings (AABN secretary-general) on academic boycott and the role of the Dutch universi­ties.

. 17’ Big Ear & two mothers, reply of Tony Seedat (ANC represen­tative in FRG) and of Cosmo Pieterse on necessity to take up arms.

. 20’ Thami Mnyele pictured in the audience.

. 20.12" Barbara Masekela about culture and training;

on 21’ about black filmmakers; Lindiwe Mabuza pictured.

 

00:35:44-00:56:50    [SECTION 3]

. Photographer Pieter Boersma on Eli Weinberg laboratory.

Debate on cultural boycott, definition, pro & contra:

. 2’ Barbara Masekela and Lindiwe Mabuza.

. 4.35" Julius Vischjager contra boycott; replies from a.o. Bachana Mokwene, Mabuza and Rob Duyker (AABN).

. 14.40" Masekela: ‘boycott is not a static thing’. 

. 16.50" Patrick Fitzgerald and various shots of audience.

. 19.20" Designer Victor Levi (AABN) on support from Dutch Beeldende Kunstenaars tegen Apartheid (Dutch fine artists against Apartheid), Februari Collectief-Moira White; training for exiles at Dutch art schools.

 

00:56:50-01:03:18   [SECTION 4]

Theatre Workshop:

. Shots of Dutch and South African participants followed by three improvisations:

. The exiles improvise arrest and interrogation in a police station of a kaffer (Patrick Fitzgerald) further with Bachana Mokwene, Cosmo Pieterse; Johnny Matshikiza.

. Dutch (ethnic minorities) actors improvise.

. Idem, new group of actors.

[CONTINUED ON TAPE 10, SECTION 1]

 

00:02:00-00:16:31   [SECTION 1]   [CONTINUED FROM TAPE 9, SECTION 4]

 

00:16:31-00:38:39   [SECTION 2]

The four cast members (students from SOMAFCO) of Dear Sir inter­vie­wed by Lucia Raadschelders (AABN) in front of a mural at Waterloo­plein in Amsterdam about the play, their own life and experiences in Holland. Part One

. Lucky.

. 5.38" Second guy, name unknown.

. 10’  Kush Mudau.

. 16’  Sam.

 

00:38:39-01:00:38   [SECTION 3]

Dear Sir cast interviewed contd.   Part Two

. Gandhi Maseko.

. 7’ Exterior shots, being cold at the Square plus mural.

. 8.45" Gandhi Maseko and Lucky jointly interviewed inside.   

 

01:00:39-01:04:18   [SECTION 4]                Close Camera 

. End of Dear Sir performance: remunerating the dead (also see edited versi­on)

. 4.30" Rehearsal for Heroes Day, citing the historical dates with a.o. ms. Mbatha.

. 12.11" Rehearsal of songs for Heroes Day by a large group with Mbatha, Barbara Masekela, Lindiwe Mabuza, Jonas Gwangwa, Barry Gilder, Bachana Mokwene and others.

[CONTINUED ON TAPE 11, SECTION 1]

 

00:01:04-00:20:01   [SECTION 1]   [CONTINUED FROM TAPE 10, SECTION 4]

 

00:20:01-00:39:42   [SECTION 2]                Total Camera

Heroes Day Performances:

. Citing historical dates ms. Mbatha plus 8 men.

. 7’ Song by Barry Gilder.

. 12’ Songs: Mandela, Zenzenina, Aya etc. by a.o. Mbatha, Barbara Masekela, Mabuza, Gwangwa, Bachana Mokwene.

 

00:39:42-01:02:53   [SECTION 3]

Workshop Culture and Cooperation on a.o. terminating the Dutch South African Cultural Agreement:

. introduction by Cosmo Pieterse, also reading two poems of Rebecca Matlou and Willy Kgositsile.

. 12.15" Hans Boswinkel, chairman of FNV Dutch Artist Union.

[CONTINUED ON TAPE 12, SECTION 1]

 

00:01:06-00:02:18   [SECTION 1]   [CONTINUED FROM TAPE 11, SECTION 3]

 

00:02:18-00:22:31   [SECTION 2]

Workshop Culture and Co-operation contd.

Three members of Parlia­ment on cultural links etc.:

. Jacques Wallage (Labour Party).

. Gijs Schreuders (Communist Party).

. J.N.Scholten.

 

00:22:31-00:42:47   [SECTION 3]

Various statements / interviews in Amsterdam City hall:

. Tineke van den Klinkenberg, Alderwoman Amsterdam City Coun­cil: why the municipality supports the conference.

. 5.45" Willy Kgositsile interviewed by Zeph Makgetla of the ANC video unit on aim of conference.

. 14.50" Fons Geerlings (AABN) on aim and relevance of the Cultural Conference.

 

00:42:47-01:05:15   [SECTION 4]     Part One

Poetry Night presented by Cosmo Pieterse:

. Poem "Touch Me" read by Pieterse.

. 1.34" Dutch poets Rutger Kopland and Bernlef read.

Cosmo Pieterse reads 3 poems:

. 11.18"  "When negro teeth speak" (Mali); Excellent and funny.

. 13.51" Poem written by Adam Small (in Afrikaans).

. 16.30"  "Triomflicht" written in Afrikaans by Pieterse.

. 19.45" Johnny Matshikiza reads two poems with Khulu Mbatha on drums.

[CONTINUED ON TAPE 13, SECTION 1]

 

00:01:01-00:01:37   [SECTION 1]   [CONTINUED FROM TAPE 12, SECTION 4]

 

00:01:50-00:24:01   [SECTION 2]     Part Two

Poetry Night contd.:

. Dutch poet Edgar Cairo.

. 7.29" Barbara Masekela reads 3 poems: "There was a girl".

. 8.09"  "There is a pig" written by Makepa.

. 9.36"  "The Slave Trod" written by Victor Matlou.

. 14’ Reading by Lindiwe Mabuza.

. 21.24" Dutch poet reads from his "Kronieken en Berich­ten".

 

00:00:00-00:20:50   [SECTION 3]

Closing Session of the Conference.    Part One

. Cosmo Pieterse summarizes the conference and workshops.

. 8’ Victor Levi: report from the Fine Arts Workshop.

. 12.47" Bachana Mokwene: report from the Theatre Workshop.

 

00:20:50-00:40:56   [SECTION 4]                   Part Two

Closing Session contd.:

. Reading concept Final Declaration, partly by Conny Braam.

. 6.33" Session Chairman reads Final Declaration in presence of Dutch Minister of Culture.

. 11.15" Minister Brinkman speaks on Dutch goverment policy.

. 18.10" Final words of Barbara Masekela.

[CONTINUED ON TAPE 14, SECTION 1]

 

00:01:00-00:01:23   [SECTION 1]   [CONTINUED FROM TAPE 13, SECTION 4]

 

00:01:23-00:23:44   [SECTION 2]

. James Madlope Phillips rehearsing with seven Choirs and shortly interviewed by Zeph Makgetla (ANC video-unit).

. 10.40" Picketline Leidseplein to save the Moroka-3 and three others (David Moisi) from being hanged. South Africans par­ticipate and sing (Dear Sir cast, Rose Motsepe 20.50", Gerald Kraak etc.) with Dutch demonstrators e.g. Fons Geerlings. Pim Juffermans of AABN speaks on Maseru attack and the execution.

 

00:23:44-00:50:14   [SECTION 3]                   Total Camera

Closing Night in Paradiso.   Part One  

. Performance of James Madlope Phillips and 7 Choirs, all the songs (including a solo of Phillips) announced.

. 19.15" A big band.

 

00:50:14-01:01:05   [SECTION 4]                  Total Camera 

Closing Night.               Part Two  

. James Phillips and his 7 Choirs contd.

. Reggae band.

[CONTINUED ON TAPE 15, SECTION 1]

 

00:01:01-00:02:34   [SECTION 1]    [CONTINUED FROM TAPE 14, SECTION 4]

. Reggae band continued.

 

00:02:35-00:25.00   [SECTION 2]                   Close Camera

Closing Night.               Part Three 

. James Phillips with 7 Choirs.

 

00:25.00-00:47:13   [SECTION 3]                   Close Camera

Closing Night.               Part Four

. Phillips and 7 Choirs contd.

. 7’ Reggae band.

. 14.47" Hugh Masekela and the Anti Apartheid Riot Squad with Jonas Gwangwa, Johnny Dyani, Sean Bergin, Dees Africa, Dudu Pukwana, Lucky Ranku, Rashimin .., Sipho .., John Selelowane, female singer Penise Saul.