In commemoration of 16 June 1976, City of Johannesburg and R.I.S.E. Mzansi AFURAKA invites you to an exciting Youth Symposium.

Date: Saturday 19 June 2010
Time: 12 noon to 4pm
Venue: Power Park Community Centre, Soweto
Address: The Soweto Twin Towers, Cnr Cornelius Street and Old Potchefstroom Road

Organisers: The Youth Symposium is organised by City of Johannesburg, R.I.S.E. Mzansi AFURAKA in collaboration with June 16 Youth Foundation, Siyaphambili Youth Pioneers, Ebukhosini Youth, Kliptown Youth Project, Indali Agric Project and other youth structures.

Theme: IN THE SPIRIT OF 1976: Youth Uniting Against Afri-phobia. Inspired by the youth of 1976 who protested against a, seemingly, unbreakable system of oppression, Afrikan youth today are claiming their freedom and shaping their future. The topics of the day will include empowerment, self-determination and Afri-phobia (the fear of being Afrikan).

Programme: Young speakers and discussants will present inspirational messages on empowerment, identity and Afri-phobia. Young artists will bless the stage with poetry, drama, music and reflections. Three generations of youth leaders will take part in an inter-generational dialogue on self-determination.

Not only did the Soweto uprising mark a radical shift in consciousness, it also sparked a renaissance in black South African cultural creativity, writes Mphutlane wa Bofelo. While in the 80s and 90s, ‘literature, theatre and the arts were an integral part of political work and writers and artists were visible and audible in political spaces and platforms’, argues Bofelo, today the arts ‘have been marginalised’ by the ‘pop culture which is utilised by the political establishment to de-politicise the masses’. But there are encouraging signs that radical underground artists are finding ways to keep the arts, theatre and music of revolution alive.

Boubacar Diop «Buuba»

Olivier Blamangin

Asha Elkarib

Kali Akuno