South Africa is one of the world’s great treasures. Considered by many to be the mother country for the world, South Africa is rich in natural settings, gorgeous beaches, and lots of wild areas. The urban centers are some of the most lively in the world, with a fantastically rich sophistication that comes from living in a place where so many cultures intersect. South Africa has a complicated and fascinating history, and a great place to learn about the lessons of the past first hand. It is also a magnificent place to relax, come back to your senses, and enjoy lazy days in luxury hotels. South Africa certainly has something for everyone.
There are terrific cultural offerings here all throughout the year. Street fairs and festivals are great places to see cultural performances demonstrating some of the best talents in the country. There is also a stunning theatre scene here, and is one of the richest traditions for live performance anywhere. Classical and contemporary plays can be seen in every large city, and local talents have won some of the most prestigious prizes in the world. One of the most active performers these days is Zoleka Helesi. She’s been doing fantastic work with the Community Arts Project, a Cape Town based initiative to teach skills in visual and performing arts to underserved communities, to open up horizons for career opportunities.
This would be enough for most people, but she is also the winner of the Naledi Theatre Award for best actress in a supporting role for her work in Karoo Moose, a presentation by the Baxter Theatre that examines violence within the family using magical realist themes and techniques. The Naledi Awards have been in existence for 7 years now, and are considered one of the premiere, and certainly one of the most transparent, awards for the performing arts in South Africa. Zoleka Helesi’s work is a reflection of the fantastic performance tradition here, and her fascinating background, with her difficult and important day job, gives a wonderful relief for an already dynamic life story.