The Classics on Turf Heritage Concert will honour Sol Plaatje and Kgosi Luka Jantjie through music, poetry and dramatic readings on Saturday, 24 October. Organisers hope the event will encourage younger generations to engage with the country’s history and reflect on how the struggles and achievements of its past leaders remain relevant today.

The concert, presented in partnership with the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, will also showcase Northern Cape talent, with performances by the Northern Cape Symphony Orchestra, local choirs and guest artist Vusi Mahlasela.

Classics on Turf cultural entrepreneur and founder Vincent Mntambo said the concert forms part of an ongoing effort to preserve the stories of influential figures whose contributions are often overlooked. “The arts offer an accessible way of bringing history to life and encouraging conversations about the country’s past, present and future.

“We regard these great heroes of the past as beacons of light and a reawakening of our society, because they help us understand what the past looked like, why we are where we are today, and where we can go in the future.

“We thought we would use music and the arts generally to bring these stories to life and put their lives back on stage so that we can have conversations about their legacies.

“We deliberately want young people and students to attend the concert. We are hoping that close to one thousand students will be in the room, and we want this to be a starting point for them to think about our culture and what we have to offer.”

A dedicated youth access programme aims to bring approximately 1,000 school learners and students to the concert. Mntambo said students will be admitted free of charge upon presenting proof of their student status.

Plaatje, who turns 150 this year, was a journalist, writer, linguist, translator and political activist. He was a founding member and the first general secretary of the South African Native National Congress, which later became the African National Congress. His book Native Life in South Africa, published in 1916, documented the impact of the 1913 Natives Land Act on black South Africans.

Kgosi Luka Jantjie, meanwhile, is remembered for resisting colonial attempts to dispossess the Batlhaping people of their land in the Northern Cape. His efforts to resolve disputes peacefully and subsequent armed resistance form part of his legacy as a leader who defended his people’s sovereignty.

The evening will be led by maestro Kutlwano Masote, conducting the Northern Cape Symphony Orchestra, with performances by guest artist Vusi Mahlasela, the Northern Cape Youth Choir, the Sol Plaatje University Choir and other local cultural groups.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame sm

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