Um(u)thi Initiative : constitution

April 2005 : Developmentally oriented constitution copy. A detailed, practical philosophy to be used as the skeleton as a Section 21 Constitution.

Um(u)thi initiative
The tree of networking

Bridging gaps of the socio-cultural reality

Need for Rural/Urban Intergenerational Integration

U&I grew from the observation that while there are a number of community projects run in South Africa, little is done to uplift the sustainable working relationship between rural and the urban communities.

Many projects concentrate exclusively on the rural or on the urban communities in isolation. As a result of this polarity in development initiatives, there is a psycho-socio gap between South Africans of colour of the older and younger generations. The older generation, settled predominantly in rural areas, are those who resisted and overcame apartheid and have much to share with all from their experiences. The members of the younger generation, living in a constitutionally democratic society and increasingly migrating to urban centres in search of work and adventure do not consider the Apartheid struggle part of their cultural identity although it has enabled them the privileges that their parents and grandparents were denied in their own youth. U&I aims to address this generational disparity.

Target Group: South African Youth

This project intends to reach out to youth between the ages of 15 – 35 years. This age-group defines the working source of the generation conflict. Young people feeding into the socio-political mechanisms that comprise our society today have much say in the values and ideas that are introduced to and shape popular culture and will affect the future of South Africa on all levels today’s youth are tomorrow’s cultural practitioners, presidents and parents. They are exposed to the voice of the mass media, to nascent political rhetoric, and to the call of individualism inherent in the urban psyche. Their post-apartheid experience of integration, rights and education differs substantially to those of their elders. The older generation - living in a time of curfews and passbooks, uprisings and resistance - have acquired wisdom and experience that can seem foreign, out-of-date or overly political to their children. The passing on of knowledge and wisdom from adult to child is the fundamental basis of instruction between the generations.

Modes of Learning: Oral Tradition and Contemporary Arts

The nature of oral tradition is such that shared experiences and wisdoms are tailored to shift with the times, but the shifts in our times have been of such an extreme nature that both dissimilar lifestyles and geographic separation now hinder sharing between generations, leading to a fragmented sense of self in the youth. We aim to address these breakdowns in communication through the embracing medium of the creative arts.

Integration through Creativity

The project acts as a reference point for redefining and creating a culture that accommodates the sociological diversity of people in current times by using an holistic approach in the fields of music, dance, theatre, visual arts, craft and multi-media. These mediums can be used interactively in workshops and projects to facilitate the development of personal and communal identity, foster positive intercultural communication and exchange, and forge real working relationships for the benefit of all involved.

Personal Security and Collective Sharing

The creative process develops a positive, individual and collective self-image and an appreciation of one’s own authentic origin. The power of movement, image and sound reduces the alienating effect of language barriers, economic divides and cultural riffs. From these combined processes, an individual or group can approach others from a point of security. By discovering a solid self-worth and finding common ground through the arts, hitherto unrelated individuals and communities can communicate with compassion and kindness. We can begin to appreciate that the presence and existence of beauty and strength in others does not threaten our own, but that, working together, it can enhance our collective quality of life.

The stability of any sustainable system depends on a balance of processes, diversity and interdependence of elements. We aim to foster an ecological process of integration through the creative arts.

Global cultural exchange and Artistic Identity

The arts in Africa are currently thriving off different forms of project facilitation developing around the continent.

The Global Aim of U&I [Um(u)thi Initiative ©]

The aim of U&I [Um(u)thi Initiative ©] is to monitor and manage the global, cultural exchange is to ensure that groups in Africa first exchange resources and experiencing with one another to preserve original cultural and expressive identity. Inter-continental creative exchange enriched by confident artistic identities follows as a natural progression of creative sharing and support. By the process of local artistic empowerment, intercontinental creative exchange can then lend itself to the task of its ongoing evolution without threatening the delicate yet dynamic artistic selfhood that comprises the basic elements of the process[1].

Global Cultural State of Affairs

Culture is currently a global, currency-based commodity, focused, by the force of economic envy of the developing world for the first world’s assets and privileges, on the embodiment of western ways.

First World Cultural Domination

It is an attempt to appropriate the power and freedom that the west is imagined to have. This takes place primarily through the global migration of American and European entertainment and news media and multinational, retail colonisation. In this way, cultural homogenisation threatens to establish itself worldwide. The irony that the developed world is abusing its power and neglecting its responsibilities is not lost on those with their ears to home soil. We must first know and love what is ours before we can share in a balanced and progressive way. In reality, the creative messages being disseminated by the first world are superficial, self serving and non-sustainable, as are the political, economic, ecological and cultural structures being established internationally by its prowess and domination.

Preserving Indigenous Identity in the Global Exchange

On an artistic front, it is essential to engage an African perspective in the global exchange to ensure local input and protection of the self-image of indigenous African art so that our creative export has local integrity and international distinction. This leads to an enriching and abundant exchange of diverse artistic realities where sharing appends existing skills and talents rather than compromises or replaces them.

Mandate/values

The Um(u)thi Initiative is non-discriminatory to all individuals regardless of race, religion, education background, economic status and sexual preference.

Using the creative arts, the project encourages the exchange of experience of the diverse cultural realities present in the Southern African region to effect integration and interdependence which work together for the benefit of all.

Vision

To facilitate programmes that visit community projects and the public to initiate innovative intellectual, cultural, social and political expression and exchange through the arts/media.

Mission statement

We are aiming at monitoring and transcending barriers of cultural integration by researching historical experiences (racial, ethnic, linguistic, religious experiences) of individuals, groups and nationalities and by building and networking creative structures that facilitate workshop activities with these individuals and groups.

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“[1] We know where we come from; we know where we’re going” – Bob Marley.