Expressions of Freedom at Artscape Lunch-Hour concert
Expressions of Freedom at Artscape Lunch-Hour concert
The Cape Cultural Collective (CCC) served up a lunch-time offering of music, poetry and dance to an audience of more than 250 supporters who filled the Artscape’s Chandelier Foyer on Tuesday 7 April for the Expressions of Freedom concert. The concert was part of a growing partnership between the CCC and the Artscape Theatre Centre.
It was the first of six concerts the CCC will host this year to mark the 55th anniversary of the Artscape building, which opened in 1971 and has been transformed into a home for all, from being the previously whites-only Nico Malan Theatre. Artscape CEO Marlene Le Roux and head of CCC Mansoor Jaffer welcomed the audience to the Expressions of Freedom concert, which explored the theme of freedom in its many forms through music, poetry, and dance.
The programme featured a dynamic line-up of performers, including spoken-word exponents Vusumuzi Mpofu and Mfundi The Poet who delivered powerful and engaging work. Vocalist Cindy Gibbons got the audience singing along, while guitarist Keith Tabisher added depth to the musical experience. Thereafter, Violet from the award-winning Unmute Dance Company introduced the dancers, who mesmerised the audience with their expressive choreography.
The CCC lunch-hour concert demonstrated the meaningful impact of the arts in bringing people together and fostering shared understanding. Thank you to all the supporters who contributed to making the concert a success.To get involved in uniting communities through the arts, follow us on our social media platforms and support the growth of our programme by donating through the link below.
Faces of the CCC: Project Manager
Long-serving CCC member June Knight works mostly behind the scenes, helping to provide access to opportunities for young musicians and lovers of the arts. June serves as the CCC’s Project Manager for Music Lessons and Development, is part of its Cultural Programmes team, and sits on the Steering Committee. Her journey into the arts stems from a lifelong relationship with music, prioritising passion over performance. In this conversation, she reflects on fairness as a guiding value and what happens when instruments reach new hands, among other things. Read the full Q&A below for her reflections.
Q&A
1. Describe yourself in three words or fewer.
Humanist
2. Tell us about your journey into music. What pivotal experience shaped your approach?
I’m not a musician but have always loved music and live music especially jazz and hard rock.
3. If you could have any superpower for a day, what would it be and why?
The ability to distribute resources justly and fairly as they were needed.
4. This is not your day job, tell us a little more about yourself, where are you from and what do you do when you’re not involved in the CCC?
I’m originally from Jozi and stayed here after studying at UCT. At the moment I’m working in Real Estate.
5. What song best describes your personality?
Not so much a description of my personality but one I think of as an anthem:
Talking about a Revolution by Tracy Chapman
6. What’s the most memorable project you’ve been part of or your most memorable experience?
I think the first of the FHR-sponsored community concerts we did, taking place in Bonteheuwel. The way people came together to make a wonderful day happen was truly special, especially as the funding arrived at the last minute.
Some of the most memorable experiences are putting instruments in the hands of young musicians, seeing how they light up at the possibilities ahead
7. How do you get inspired when you feel stuck creatively?
Just remind myself of the Why. Why we do the things we do, which is to make the world better than we found it, even in just a small way.
8. How do you think the arts can bring people together?
When people have fun together, they realise how much they have in common and how much they share, that’s one step toward bridging divides.
The arts also allows us to see people, to begin to understand someone else’s story, to see the world from someone else’s perspective.
9. What’s one thing you wish more people knew about CCC?
How many people are working together to make things happen.
10. What do you enjoy most about being involved in the CCC?
The wonderful people I’ve met and worked with.
11. What’s one piece of advice you received as a young person that still guides you?
Helen Joseph told a group of us young activists in the 80s that we always had a choice. It might be a very difficult choice, but you always had one. We always have a choice.
Mother City Vibes
The Cape Cultural Collective is proud to release Mother City Vibes, an original instrumental track recorded by MJ and the Camissa Knights.
The track is composed by Mansoor Jaffer (MJ) and arranged by veteran jazz musician and music educator George Werner. The two played guitar and keyboard for the studio recording. The other musicians are Carlo Fabe (drums), Peter Ndlala (bass), Muneeb Hermans (trumpet) and Uviwe Caso (guitar).
The track was recorded by Cape Town Sound and filmed by Tri-Squared (video). Mario Jutzen did the cover design and Mike Benjamin took photographs. Gaenor Erasmus Hartenberg did admin and logistics, Vusumuzi Mpofu media support and Kay Jaffer proofing the drafts.
The CCC owes a debt of gratitude to everyone involved in this project.
The project was undertaken under the banner of Triple C Recordings, one of the nine programmes of the CCC.
Read more here about Mother City Vibes’ Reconciliation Day release as covered by Sibulele Kasa in Southern Mail https://southernmail.co.za/news/2025-12-18-new-song-released-on-day-of-reconciliation-celebrates-cape-towns-resilience/
Please view the video below.
AGM
Another year around the sun!
Working with Artscape
Working with Artscape
The CCC and Artscape have been working closely together in recent years, connected by our common goals.
The CCC fully supports Artscape’s misson of building inclusive arts and culture spaces for people in the City and beyond.
In 2017 we hosted our 10th anniversary at Artscape and this was followed by two annual productions, the second one on the life and times of Imam Adullah Haron, a freedom fighter who was killed in apartheid police detention in 1969. Covid interrupted our work, but in the ensuing years, the CCC placed much effort in getting our members and supporters to attend Artscape programmes as part of our Performing Arts Access and Support Programme. We also participated in events such as the Women’s Festival and the Voices in Unity concert during Heritage Month.
This year, we took this collaboration to a new level. Working with Artscape staff, we initiated a Sunset Poetry and Jazz session, which had its inaugural event on 30 September 2025. Artscape began making small venues available for some of our meetings and choir practices.
Faces of the CCC: Project Facilitator
Indiphile Ntlanga has been involved in the arts since her teens, when she joined the Kuyasa Horizon Empowerment initiative for youth empowerment in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch. Originally from Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, Ms Ntlanga loves learning from her students and says that if she could, she would harness the powers of Spiderman for a day. The Xolani Primary School teacher is part of the CCC’s Children’s Arts Group’s Committee and volunteers on Saturdays to ensure that learners arrive safely at Bridgeville Primary School.
1. Describe yourself in three words.
Amazing, free-spirited, beautiful
2. What inspired you to work with young people?
When I was young, I was fortunate enough to become involved with an NGO in Kayamandi that took kids off the street and taught us skills. They also shared the word of God with us. Eventually I became a youth leader for this NGO and now I believe it’s my turn to give back to other young people.
3. Which superpower would you like to channel, even just for a day?
I would like to be Spiderman. He is young, and yet he is loved by young and old alike. I would use this superpower to attract more people to do more art as a career.
4. What song best describes your personality?
The song is called Sondela by Msaki featuring Tresor. It’s soulful and chilled, yet upbeat – just like me.
5. What’s the most memorable project you’ve been part of?
For the last three years I’ve been involved in traditional arts projects that participates in national arts competitions. It’s a big deal as it allows the children involved to push themselves to new heights. I’m so proud to be a part of it. We get the children who are good at drawing to make our posters, the dancers dance, the singers, musicians – there’s something for everyone.
6. How do you get inspired when you feel stuck creatively?
I ask my kids what they think we should do. They minds inspire me and I learn so much from them. I also look to TikTok for inspiration.
7. What’s one thing you wish more people knew about CCC?
I wish they could see how the CCC is changing the world, one child and one artist at a time. I believe the CCC is here to change lives through the arts.
8. What’s one piece of advice you received as a young person that still guides you?
When I was at the NGO, I was very frustrated because I can’t dance or sing. One of my mentors told me one day: “Indi, don’t worry. You have a voice to stand up for other people.” It has always stayed with me that I can speak for those who can’t speak for themselves.
I am a hard worker, but I was an average student. Those words have shaped me so much that I believe it helped become the person I am today.