Mziwonke Qwesha, 64, who retired and set up an arts organisation in a rural area near Qonce, has provided a home from home for many young and aspiring creatives.
The former teacher and retired employee of the department of sport, recreation, arts and culture transformed a closed primary school into an arts centre.
A master’s arts graduate from Rhodes University in creative writing, Qwesha is now busy with a collection of village stories penned by children, which he intends to edit and publish later in the year.
Without funding, he has been financially responsible for the hive of activity at the Hokwana village arts centre, which offers poetry, traditional dance and writing for healing.
The Local Hero nominee registered his NPO, Hokwana Arts Calabash, in 2023.
About 60 children from the Hokwana rural area have discovered an outlet for their talents.
Qwesha has been involved in arts and culture for more than 50 years.
The award-winning author has penned radio stories and worked with Umhlobo Wenene FM from the late ’70s to the early 90s.
“I moved from teaching to arts and culture because I believe I am a creative,” Qwesha said.
“I am a writer, a poet and someone who has embraced spirituality. All the things I mentioned revolve around arts and culture.”
Qwesha said he had a sense of pride when local children discovered themselves and their passion.
“There are many talents not yet discovered. I saw talent in these children and that’s why I started the organisation.
“Parents also saw a difference because they never knew their children — the same age as my grandchildren — could do so many things such as writing poetry and umxhentso.”
Qwesha has been hosting workshops in different school across the province, teaching young people about African spirituality.
In May last year, Qwesha had a burglary at his home and most of the stolen items were groceries.
The incident sparked the idea of providing an activity centre that would divert children from crime.
He was also aware that many children came from poverty-stricken families.
“This is when I decided to form an NPO, to create a home for these kids.
“Not only that but to have them discover their talents in the process.
“I dig the finances out of my own pension fund. It’s just for the love of it and to encourage children to embrace their different gifts.
“You can hardly sleep at night when you have seen a child with talent and nothing is done to encourage it. So I sleep better knowing I am playing my part.”
Qwesha has given the children a chance to write their own short stories, which will be published in due course.
“I am still collecting their stories about their locality, how they view things in the area they are growing up in.”
Qwesha was nominated by Thembisile Nameka, who described him as a beacon of hope in the area.
“Since he came to stay in our village after his retirement, Mr Qwesha has been helpful in our community.
“When his house was burgled, we saw a different person in him. Instead of being angry, he decided to form an arts organisation where he trains our children in drama, dance, traditional music and poetry on Saturdays.
“And on Sunday afternoon he is busy with village children’s homework.”
Nameka said the transformation of an old primary school into an arts centre had brought so much positivity to the village.
“This has become a game-changer in our village as our children are occupied at weekends as they develop their skills at Mr Qwesha’s arts centre.”
DispatchLIVE
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