by Myolisi Gophe
The success of Ukwanda Puppets and Designs Art Collective demonstrates the power of collaboration between a university, the private sector, and the community in addressing global challenges.
What began as a small youth development project in the impoverished Masiphumelele community near Noordhoek has evolved into a formidable presence on the international stage, participating in productions that tackle pressing universal issues.
Based at the University of the Western Cape's (UWC) Centre for Humanities Research (CHR) Iyatsiba Lab in Woodstock, Ukwanda recently received a significant commission to create prototypes for 600 life-size animal puppets.
These puppets will embark on an extraordinary journey from Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the Arctic Circle, aiming to raise awareness about the climate crisis.
The puppets will represent a herd of animals displaced from their natural habitats due to global warming, traversing urban environments and interacting with communities along the way.
As the puppets travel, they will be joined by animals indigenous to the countries they pass through.
This ambitious public arts production, titled "The Herds," will see the puppets set off on a 20,000 km route from the Congo Basin in April 2025, expected to journey across Africa and Europe to Svalbard, Norway, in the Arctic Circle.
The puppets will be constructed from recycled materials such as metal and cardboard, highlighting the importance of sustainability in the arts.
Ukwanda Puppetry is a resident arts company at the CHR's Iyatsiba Lab, led by Luyanda Nogodlwana, Sipho Gxola, and Siphokazi Mpofu. The fourth member, Ncedile Daki, sadly passed away in 2017.
The company originated as Masiphumelele Youth Development, where they worked with children, performing music, dance, and puppetry for tourists during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Their impressive work led to an introduction to the renowned Handspring Puppet Company, where they became apprentices, learning the intricacies of puppetry from Adrian Kohler and Basil Jones.
The CHR, under former Director Professor Premesh Lalu, was invited by Handspring to join the Handspring Puppet Trust, which initiated a new arts project in the rural town of Barrydale, in collaboration with Net for Pret, a community-based organisation focused on arts education.
Since 2010, CHR and Ukwanda have partnered to create an annual giant puppet parade on 16 December. When Handspring decided to step down from the event, Ukwanda was formed to continue the project with the support of the CHR and artistic and technical guidance from Handspring.
Ukwanda has maintained its commitment to the giant puppet parade, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, making a significant impact in the community.
According to CHR Director, Professor Heidi Grunebaum, a case study conducted by Nasima Badsha last year revealed that from 1994 until 2011, no child in Barrydale who finished high school pursued higher education.
"They were going to work on the farms. Since the start of this collaboration, more than 80 young people have transitioned from high school to tertiary education," she noted.
Ukwanda's performances in Barrydale have attracted international attention, leading to an invitation to create prototypes for "The Herds," directed by Nizar Zoabi. Zoabi, now based in London, previously commissioned Handspring to create "Little Amal," a four-metre giant refugee puppet that journeyed from the Syria-Turkey border, raising awareness about the plight of refugees across the globe.
Impressed by Ukwanda's work at the 2023 giant puppet parade, Zoabi commissioned them to design and create the prototypes for "The Herds," which has enabled Ukwanda to employ four additional puppet makers for the duration of the project.
Over the years, Ukwanda has gained recognition for designing, building, and performing puppets worldwide, earning numerous accolades, including a Fleur du Cap award for best puppetry design in 2024 for the production "MAXEKE: This Work is Not for Ourselves".
Mpofu credits their success to the partnership with UWC and Handspring, stating, "We are artists, and we know the struggle for artists out there. But we are the three lucky artists because artists are often freelancers. Before our workshop in Iyatsiba Lab, the CHR offered us fellowships as artists in residence."
In November, the CHR will host the first International Union of Puppets conference in South Africa at the Iyatsiba Lab, focusing on the significance of puppetry arts in Africa.
This event promises to further elevate the profile of Ukwanda Puppets and Designs, showcasing their dedication to art, community, and the environment.