Browsing by Author "Chatikobo, Munyaradzi"

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Examining sustainability of drama and theatre initiatives in southern Africa: a case study of Southern Africa Theatre Initiative (SATI)
(2010-06-24T11:55:16Z) Chatikobo, Munyaradzi
ABSTRACT This is a study of the sustainability of drama and theatre initiative in Southern Africa. It is an attempt to establish the underlying causes for the collapse of drama and theatre initiatives which are supported by Northern Non Governmental Organisations, with the view of suggesting alternative partnership and organizational models which are appropriate for Southern Africa. However, this is in no way an attempt to provide rigid all-purpose organisational models, but offer possible explanations for the failure of drama and theatre initiatives based on research, experience of the researcher and a collation of related works on the subject by renowned academics and theatre practitioners. To focus the research, a case study of Southern Africa Theatre initiative –SATI under the financial support of Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency- SIDA was used to provide specific concrete examples of successes and failures of drama and theatre projects. General examples were drawn from initiatives in specific countries in Southern Africa to buttress arguments put forward. It is believed that through this study, practitioners, academics, theatre managers and development officers from International NGOs will be able to reflect and critique their own work and come up with even better and more appropriate solutions to practical challenges faced by drama and theatre initiatives in the region. The works of Ngugi wa Thiongo, Frantz Fanon, Paulo Freire, Walter Rodney, Chinua Achebe and Andre Gunder Frank provide the study with theoretical models against which its assumptions and arguments are based and developed. The works of the four authors are related in many ways as they describe the macro political economy in the post colonial Africa which globally explains the challenging situations of drama and theatre initiatives in the so-called third world countries. For a long time the problems faced by theatre initiatives involved in development work have been examined at a micro level resulting in prescription of remedies at the macro level, however this has not yielded far reaching solutions. It is the conviction of this study that the problems which are experienced at micro level are a manifestation of bigger problems presented and explained by post-colonial, ‘development’, globalisation and dependency theorists. The findings of this study divulge both lucid and controversial assertions which derive from a multiplicity of factors such as unclear objectives set by theatre practitioners, lack of management skills of theatre practitioners, lack of government support, inadequate policies of the NGOs in the south, stringent organisational policies of NGOs in the north, lack of mutual trust between the north and the south and the prescriptive agendas and demands of the project funding bodies, institutions and agencies. This study therefore suggests serious compromise and tolerance on the part of both Northern NGOs which provide financial support and the Southern NGOs which initiate and implement drama and theatre initiatives. The proposed models for sustainable theatre initiatives are; ‘Civic Innovation’, ‘Social Entrepreneurship’, government and infrastructural support, synergies for capital investment and partnership between business and the theatre through sponsorship. The suggestions made are not prescriptive but rather conceptual frameworks which are open to modifications and further development as the search for sustainability of drama and theatre initiatives continues. The study mainly utilised qualitative research methods which involved unstructured interviews and analysis of narrative reports and policy documents. Quantitative data was also used but in very few instances. Ethnographic reflection and retrospection was also deployed as the experience of the researcher as an academic, practitioner and theatre manager was very influential in shaping arguments in this study.
Explicit and Implicit Cultural Policies: A Critical Analysis of the Role and Impact of Cultural Policies that Govern the Television Sector in Botswana
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Selolwane, Marang; Chatikobo, Munyaradzi
3 Abstract The cultural policy landscape in Botswana is characterized by considerable ambiguity, with far-reaching implications for both the television sector and the broader media environment. Deploying the lenses of implicit and explicit cultural policies, stakeholder management, and intergovernmental relations, the study critically examines the role of policy in propelling Botswana's television sector forward. This paper establishes that the television industry in Botswana faces obstacles due to a convoluted regulatory framework and insufficient cooperation among stakeholders, leading to governance issues and impeding industry advancement. It highlights deficiencies in policy implementation and calls for enhanced collaboration between government departments and broadcasting entities to tackle governance challenges and foster sectoral expansion. The research addressed both theoretical and practical gaps in television regulation in Botswana, advocating for the establishment of a more cohesive and coordinated policy framework to facilitate sustainable growth within the sector. The central argument made in the paper is that the television sector in Botswana is shaped more by implicit cultural policies than explicit cultural policies, and therefore effective coordination and management of stakeholders driving both implicit and explicit cultural policies need to be located in both the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport, and Culture and the Ministry for State President to strike an equilibrium of interests and influence.
(Il)legitimacy of Freelance Artists: Exploring Current Government Legislation and Policies that Influence Economic Exclusion and Inclusion of South African Freelance Artists
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024-03) Mmeti, Lehlohonolo Tebalelo Rudy Matome; Chatikobo, Munyaradzi
The prevailing descriptors—such as "illegitimate," "non-compliant," "unprofessional," and "informal"—resonate globally, attributing a lack of structure to freelance artistry. This characterization places these artists in precarious legal and economic positions, hindering access to fundamental employment benefits, credit, loans, and housing. Therefore, it is imperative to answer the central questions, Which legislative measures and policies currently influence the economic integration, compliance and legitimacy of freelance profession within Cultural Creative Industry and Economy in South Africa? The scarcity of literature on the subject prompts an exploration into the legislative landscape, framed by the notion that policy acts as a guiding roadmap. The central argument is that existing policies failure to adequately address the unique challenges faced by South African freelance artists, leaving a critical void in understanding their economic participation. Focused on a qualitative methodology, the research examines documents and policies to unravel the impact on freelance artists' economic standing, employing lenses that navigate the intersections of formality and informality within the Cultural Creative Industries. The research underscores the imperative to bridge this knowledge gap, arguing for targeted interventions to rectify the economic disparities and (il)legitimacy associated with freelance artists in South Africa. It is through the aims and objectives of this research that I was be able to come with a concrete understating of the landscape so appropriate intervention measures can be suggested.
The Cultural Economy of China and Africa: International Summer School Proceedings
(Cultural Policy and Management The Wits School of Arts Private Bag 3 WITS 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa, 2023) Joffe, Avril; Chatikobo, Munyaradzi ; Mavhungu, Johanna; Pyper, Brett