About

An incredible journey through the arts!

In the bustling and vibrant city of Cape Town, the Cape Cultural Collective first emerged in 2007 as a gathering of poets and musicians with a vision for creating a progressive cultural space. These early gatherings held on Mondays were held amid the lively atmosphere of an Irish pub in the city where the collective would share their performances. The CCC then migrated to the District Six Museum, where monthly cultural programmes were hosted that included multiple arts forms, including poetry, music, dance, drama and visual arts. It is here that the CCC took root and embarked on a growth curve that is still underway. In 2011, nine poets collaborated to produce At Truth’s Edge, the first poetry anthology of the CCC. The following year, the Rosa choir was born, bringing together singers from across the City who sang in three languages. Several other projects were brought to fruition in the next ten years.

Driven by a shared set of values, and a culture which is underpinned by an anti-sexist, anti-racist and inter-generational ethos, the CCC has forged strong relationships with numerous organisations. Today this collaborative spirit embodies the CCC, which embraces diversity and fosters inclusivity in all of its projects and programmes. Led by a dynamic Steering Committee and an active Board, the CCC works closely with artists, cultural formations and organisations throughout Cape Town and beyond. At its core the Cape Cultural Collective is a celebration of the transformative power of the arts, bringing people together to create positive change and a more vibrant and connected society. The CCC continues to promote inclusivity in practice, through its various projects, and facilitates personal and group development. We strive to transcend fault lines of class, race, religion, gender and spatial separation, through activism. Arts and Culture is vital to the development of any society. It produces critical thinkers, builds self-esteem and unites people.

The Cape Cultural Collective Board

These are the members of the Cape Cultural Collective Board as of 2026. The Board is led by Chairperson Ms Zenariah Barends. Other members are Siviwe Minyi, Imam Dr Rashied Omar, Ms Cherie Hendricks, Luvuyo Kakaza, Dr Neeta A. Ramkumar, and Thulani Dube.

Ms Barends is a freelance consultant in communications and project management. She has served on both corporate and non-profit boards including The South African Institute for Advancement (Inyathelo) and the Cape Cultural Collective. Zenariah has a BA (Honours) from the University of the Western Cape and most recently completed her MPhil in Inclusive Innovation at the UCT Graduate School of Business, which focused on the Kensington-based Wilvan School of Dance during the Apartheid years.

Mr Minyi has extensive experience working in, and with, NGOs. He also has a passion for community media, particularly community radio. He strives for a world that is free from all forms of discrimination and oppression, with a special interest in exploring issues of masculinities. Another of his passions is working with young people in the area of mathematics and physical sciences. He is completing an MPhil in Development at UWC.

Dr Omar is a Research Scholar of Islamic Studies and Peace building at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame, USA. Omar’s research and teaching focuses on the roots of religious violence and the potential of religion for constructive social engagement and interreligious peacebuilding. He has published extensively. In addition to being a university-based researcher and teacher, Omar serves as Imam at the Claremont Main Road Masjid in Cape Town, South Africa.

Ms Hendricks has more than two decades of senior executive experience in corporate governance, sustainability, and regulatory compliance. She served as Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director at a JSE-listed entity, where she was also a member of the Board of Directors. She has served on corporate and listed-company boards, with a focus on ethics, compliance, and sustainability oversight. Ms Hendricks’ community engagement includes long-term involvement with the Where Rainbows Meet Training and Development Foundation in Vrygrond, supporting youth development initiatives. She holds executive education credentials from the UCT Graduate School of Business (Executive Women in Leadership) and the University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership.

Mr Kakaza is a journalist with more than 20 years of experience. He co-founded the Jazz in the Native Yards, a township-based jazz performance space that promotes jazz performances in Cape Town townships. He is currently a Projects Director for the Cape Town Music Academy. CTMA is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to create performance spaces and opportunities for musicians across genres.

Dr. Neeta Ramkumar is an international psychologist, educator, and advocate for cultural arts and community-based healing. Her perspective centers a Global South orientation and is grounded in her Indo-Caribbean heritage as a descendant of indentured labourers. This background informs her academic and applied work on displacement, intergenerational trauma, and resilience. She currently runs a global private practice and is the founder of Psychology Across Borders. Her work encourages the arts, dialogue, and collective practice as pathways toward healing beyond the therapy room.

Mr Dube is an innovative and strategic executive with over 10 years of experience in higher education, innovation leadership, programme management and human capital development. He is Head of Innovation and Advancement at Cornerstone Institute. Before this he was a lecturer and faculty manager at the same institution. He brings extensive governance experience through active service on various boards and committees, contributing to effective decision-making, policy development, and institutional advancement.