Welcome to AFRICAN SINAKHO ARTS
The name of the organisation was derived from the wording of the slogan of African Sinakho Arts “ Against All Feasible Restraint I Can…Sinakho (We can)”.
Founded in 2006 by Ndileka Santi and Bukelwa Cakata, African Sinakho Arts (ASA) is an established integrated non-profit organisation for artists with different kinds of disabilities and able bodied artists based in KZN, Durban with a footprint in all provinces of South Africa. This organisation’s main objective is creation of work opportunities to empower women, youth and, people with disabilities from impoverished and rural backgrounds through our Performing Arts and Craft Program together with our GBV Victim Support program. The participants are identified through a skills audit and identification programme that ASA conducts annually at the Durban Playhouse and in institutions for people with disabilities nationwide.
The auditions are followed by a Skills Training Program in Performing Arts, Beadwork Craft Skills Training and GBV Victim Support Training. The trainings offered by ASA are treated as work opportunities as all participants are paid daily stipends for attending.
Qualifying participants from the Performing Arts Program are offered further work opportunities through stage performances where they are paid performance fees for each performance.
African Sinakho Arts produced a National tour of In Blood, an originally crafted disability musical theatre production which was staged for the first at the Durban Playhouse New stages on the 18 October 2008. This production has since toured various major theatre venues in South Africa such as; the Artscape Theatre Centre, the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State, the State Theatre in Pretoria, PE Opera House, and the Mbombela Civic Theatre to mention a few. In Blood edutainment Musical production addresses issues of HIV & AIDS, Xenophobia and disability awareness.
In response to the rise of GBV pandemic, African Sinakho Arts produced Thetha Mosadi, an originally crafted disability musical theatre which was showcased at the playhouse drama Theatre for the first time as a disability month feature from 17-19 November 2022. Thetha Mosadi addresses issues of Gender based violence, femicide, and disability awareness. Trained participants also conduct counselling, victim support, and GBV awareness programs.
African Sinakho Arts beadwork craft skills program enables the participants to gain additional income generating skills through craft. Participants of these program are also empowered with basic bookkeeping, and business skills that would enable them to be independent entrepreneurs after they exit the program.
Our Vision
To counteract the marginalisation of people with disabilities in performing arts through integration of able-bodied and disabled artists in our productions.
Our Mission
To discover, develop and demonstrate the artistic abilities of South African youth, women and people with disabilities in dance, music, theatre and craft.
To break the social barriers due to difference in physical appearance through unearthing unique talents of the marginalised groups and presenting it centre stage.
Sponsors
African Sinakho Arts programs are made possible by the support of the following institutions:
