Igugu-Lethu Arts and Leadership Project

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Igugu-Lethu Arts and Leadership Project

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Igugu-lethu Arts and Leadership Project is an NPO that uses the arts (mainly dance) as a catalyst for positive impact.

We are based at the Gugulethu Sports Complex in Gugulethu.

13/10/2026

Growing up and navigating life in the townships of South Africa post 1994 - present is not devoid of struggles, crime, exploitation and substance abuse. People make do with what they have and continue to dream of a better future that offers them PEACE and SAFETY.

The work mirrors the everyday struggles of the townships but also gives HOPE and portrays individual/collective choices that can counter the negative effects of growing up in the townships.

We will remain on the margins and continue to positively impact the community and bring hope to hopeless.

National Arts Council of SA please fund Black owned companies and organizations. Do not fund them because they are associated with “prominent black leaders and White leaders”. Fund them because of the excellent work they continue to produce and the job opportunities they create for young Black people within the margins without exploiting them.

BLACK CHILDREN NEED TO SEE BLACK EXCELLENCE!! we will remain on the margins and continue to do the work until you notice us. We will not:

1. Sell our bodies for employment.
2. We will not speak badly of other creatives in order to get a sit at the table and get crumbs.
3. We will not force ourselves to be part of cliques that do not align with our values.

When you give funding opportunities to young Black artistic directors, choreographers, dance scholars and researchers you assist in changing the narrative and Black dancers have choice to choose who they want to work with instead of being forced to remain in toxic environments that stifle their growth because funding is always directed to “certain organizations”.

WE WILL REMAIN ON THE MARGINS WITH OUR LEGS CLOSED AND OUR DIGNITY INTACT.

The work has been made possible by the support from Western Cape Government Cultural Affairs and Sport

Dancers:

Unathi_Makhambi
Mahle Bulumko Dlambulo
BUlelani.jeramay
Mbulelo DjLelow Tenza

Conceptualised by: Olwethu Katase
📸 Ricardo Dunjwa

10/10/2026

We focus on three epistemological traditions in relation to learning:

1. Objectivism (similar to behaviourism) states that reality is external and is objective, and knowledge is gained through experience.

2. Pragmatism (similar to cognitivism) states that reality is interpreted, and knowledge is negotiated through experience and thinking.

3. Interpretivism (similar to constructivism) states that reality is internal, and knowledge is constructed.

We are an institution of learning that conscientizes the mind. 💫

09/10/2026

We exist in community with leaders of today who are passionate about helping others. Umntu ngumntu ngabantu💫

On being Black, male and navigating life in the townships of South Africa post 1994 - present.

Iyabulela ilali 🙏🏾

Made possible through the sponsorship of: Western Cape Government Cultural Affairs and Sport

08/10/2026

What a time to be alive, young and Black in South Africa.

We would like to extend our heartfelt Thank You to everyone who took time out of their busy schedule to support us during the offering of: On being Black and navigating life in the townships of South Africa post 1994- present.

Thank you to the wonderful dancers

Mahle Bulumko Dlambulo
BUlelani.jeramay
Unathi_Makhambi
Mbulelo DjLelow Tenza

Work is conceptualised by: Olwethu Katase
Choreographed by: Olwethu Katase and the cast
Set-design- Olwethu Katase
Dramaturgy: Buhle T Stefane

Thank you to Bamanye Yeko for the amazing lighting that captured and illuminated the story.

Thank you to Miss Pamela Mtati for facilitating getting primary and high school learners to the performances.

Made possible by the support of: Western Cape Government Cultural Affairs and Sport

16/09/2026

We grew up with the cultural proverb and communal philosophy “It takes a village to raise a child”. However, what happens when the village itself is broken?

1. What kind of child comes out of a broken village?
2. What role/influence do they have on the village?

These are the complex themes embedded into the making of: On being Black, male and navigating life in the Black townships of South Africa post 1994-present.

Dancers
Mahle Bulumko Dlambulo
Mbulelo DjLelow Tenza
Unathi_Makhambi
BUlelani.jeramay

Conceptualised by: Olwethu Katase
Choreographed by: Olwethu Katase and cast

Video edited by: Mahle Bulumko Dlambulo

Made possible by the support of: Western Cape Government Cultural Affairs and Sport

08/09/2026

We present an ongoing research practice titled: On being Black, male and navigating life in the townships of South Africa post 1994-present.

The research performance/production explores the Black family and the disruption of this institution with the absence of the father. We look at the negative discourses of the disruption of the family structure, and how the Black boy child is affected when there’s an absence of the father and a lack of positive role-models eKasi.

In every street eKasi, there’s a boy child who is addicted to drugs and is known broadly eKasi as intshayi or is part of the extortionist gangs. Through the research performance, we ask pertinent questions and seek to come up with solutions to the problems identified collectively with our audience.

1. What happened to the ideology: It takes a village to raise a child? Abahlali are passive, sibukele as the township are burning in flames (not literally but figuratively).

2. Where are the positive male role-models within our Black societies? Bakhona? Or do they flee the township in protection of their safety (umntu uyabulawa eKasi nobody is safe) and that of their families.

3. Are Black boys gravitating towards crime because crime cares? and the immediate family and the society does not?

Conceptualised by: Olwethu Katase

Choreographed by: Olwethu Katase and cast

Directed by: Olwethu Katase

Performed by:

Mahle Bulumko Dlambulo
Mbulelo DjLelow Tenza
Unathi_Makhambi
BUlelani.jeramay

Made possible by the sponsorship of Western Cape Government Cultural Affairs and Sport

20/08/2026

Improvement can only be evident if you show up consistently🤞🏾😊

Changing the lives of Black children and youth one child at a time💫

Teacher BUlelani.jeramay

29/07/2026

“Teaching is a performative act. And it is that aspect of our work that offers the space for change, invention, spontaneous shifts, that can serve as a catalyst drawing out the unique elements in each class. To embrace the performative aspect of teaching we are compelled to engage “audiences”, to consider issues of reciprocity. Teachers are not performers in the traditional sense of the word in that our work is not meant to be a spectacle. Yet it is meant to serve as a catalyst that calls everyone to become more and more engaged, to become active participants in learning”. (hooks, 1994: 11).

An engaged pedagogy:

1. Dance education as a practice of freedom
2. Dance education as liberation
3. Dance education as a catalyst for change

Class taught by BUlelani.jeramay

03/07/2026

Reflections from Lisolethu who was one of our guest dance at the 10th Annual Kasi Dance Bootcamp.

Learning and exposing yourself to more dance styles helps you become an all around dancer.

Made possible by National Arts Council of SA

17/06/2026

The training is for opportunity deprived Black children and youth in the community of Gugulethu. There’s a tendency to associate the word “community” with primitive, however, there’s an etiquette and discipline that goes into the work. In order to produce global thinking dancers and scholars.

Dance as a catalyst for positive in change in Gugulethu and surrounding areas.

Class taught by Bulelani George.

Address

Gugulethu Sports Complex, Ny 1 Steve Biko Drive
Cape Town
7750

Website

http://www.iguguarts.co.za/

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