Since 2011, the kykNET Fiesta Awards have recognized outstanding achievements in the performing arts seen in the previous year at six major Afrikaans arts festivals.
The finest Afrikaans performing artists gathered at The Lookout in Cape Town on Thursday night to celebrate the extraordinary performances they and their fellow artists have achieved in 2023.
Guests mingle on the outdoor terrace with breathtaking views of the ocean, Table Bay, Lion's Head and Table Mountain, sip world-class Simons Frey wines and MCC, and enjoy decadent hors d'oeuvres. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the kykNET team was preparing for the commemorative ceremony. You did an amazing job and are the night's grand prize winner.
Although the arts have experienced difficult times due to the coronavirus pandemic, 2023 has been a dream year for the arts.
All six festivals offered a wide variety of high quality productions: Innibos, KKNK, Momentum Investments Aardklop, Suidoosterfees, Vrystaat Kunstefees and Toyota SU Woordfees. And with its focus on classical music, Klein Karoo Classics once again showed that South Africa's talent and resourcefulness knows no bounds.
This year's Fiesta Awards were a little more special as Toby Cronje and Dr. Ismail Mahomed were recognized as Legends for their lifelong contribution to the arts.talk to citizen After receiving the award, Cronje said it felt weird to be recognized as a legend. “I don't consider myself a legend. I feel like I didn't do anything to deserve any awards, I just did my job.”
talk to citizen When the news broke last month that Dr. Ismal had been honored as a Legend at the kykNET Fiesta, he accepted the honor with great humility and said his success to date is a testament to the inspiration and support he has received from many stakeholders. He said he understands that there is. South Africa's highly vibrant and dynamic creative economy.
Also read: Transforming the arts sector: Dr. Ismail Mahomed breaks through stereotypes
14th KYKnet Festa Award Winners
Vignette Ebrahim and Mandri Sutherland served as MCs for the night and kept guests laughing and entertained with clever and funny wordplay throughout the ceremony. Guest presenters included Dean John Smith, David Kramer, Amanda Strydom, Cornelia Fersen, Wikus Pretorius, Reynard Slabbert and Letitia Pople.
The full list of winners is below:
- Best Festival Production – Drumkuran Chronike (KKNK)
- Best Actor – Frank Opperman – Reünie (Innibos)
- Best Actress – Leigh-Anne Van Rooy – The Woman Who Feed the Dogs (Suidoosterfees)
- Best Supporting Actor – Eben Genis – Mirakel (KKNK)
- Best Supporting Actress – Antoinette Kellerman – Goed wat wag om te gebeur (Momentum Beleggings Aardklop)
- Best Director – Neil Koppen, Craig Leo, Tiffany Saterdart – Drumkran Kroenike (KKNK)
- Best Ensemble – Drumkuran Kronike (KKNK)
- Best New Afrikaans Text, Adaptation, Translation – Lynthia Julius & Véronique Jepsus – My Kroon Se Klank (KKNK)
- Best Theater Design Award – Wolf Britz – Tuis, ek's liefie (Toyota SU Woodfie)
- Best Original Music – Mbuso Ndlovu – Echoes of Heritage (Vrystaat Kunstefees)
- Best Visual Arts Award – Tafadzwa Tega – Chisihachieri Musi Wacharimwa: A Seed Will Take Its Time to Grow (Momentum Investments Aardklop)
- Best Classical Music Award – Eric Dippenaar and Laritza Macheva – Variations (Klein Karoo Classic)
- Best Music-led Work: Outdoor or Podium – Echoes of Heritage – University of Johannesburg Choir (Vrystaat Kunstefees)
- Best Music-Driven Production: Play – David Kramer – The Lost Kitty Version (KKNK)
- Best Children’s or Educational Theater – Braam en die engel (Momentum Investments Aardklop)
- Best Emerging Artist – Kelsha Titus – Jeans and the Pearls (KKNK)
Waldimar Pelser, M-Net Premium Channel Director, congratulated the night's winners and said: When we leave, we are no longer the same people. We change, even on a small scale. We see ourselves, and perhaps each other, a little differently. We forget about our worries for a while and remember what's really important. ”
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