Imbali yakwa Tyefu is an oral history project based in eNgqushwa, a small rural town east of Makhanda between the Great Fish and Keiskama Rivers. Ngqushwa is the first town in the landmass that was declared by the British as ‘No Man’s Land’ as they pushed eastward against the retreating amaXhosa nation in the 1800s. As a frontier region where many wars between the British and amaXhosa were fought, the land holds secrets of amaXhosa’s bravery and civilization that have been left out of the colonial narrative. Imbali yakwa Tyefu ‘translated’ History of Tyefu lands, is a project where the young in villages are incentivized to actively conduct interviews with the elders and mine oral histories of the land, including mapping out sacred landmarks that contribute to the land's intangible and tangible heritages.
Sara Baartman Creative Scientists is a STEM awareness project that uses the arts to engage learners at Pearston High School (the only high school in town), while healing the injustices African communities suffered in the name of science through the ancestral connection to Sara Baartman. The project focuses on learners in Grades 8 and 9, ages 14 to 15 years, to create early awareness in this age group before they get to Grade 10, where they have to make subject choices that they will continue with for the rest of high school, leading into their tertiary and professional careers.
Thoughtful Thursdays is a socio-political research project that identifies and interviews activists and their family members who were part of the anti-apartheid struggle within and around Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth. This project focuses on creating visibility for silenced narratives around a people’s struggle, particularly those of heroic deeds, to amplify the humanity of township people reminding them of their common sense of Ubuntu and perseverance. These narratives are then retold through theatre performances showcased in spaces and communities that are implicated in the narratives, fostering community dialogue and remembrance of the heroes who lived in marginalized communities.
Creative and Cultural Services
Scriptwriting Workshops
Drama and Acting Workshops
Cultural Advice on Creative Production
Corporate and Community Engagement
Promoting Critical Thinking and Cultural Education
Our JKP Leadership Team
Xolisa Ngubelanga
Co-Founder and Director