The Faculty of Arts and Design at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) has reignited the creative spirit with the return of its interdisciplinary arts showcase, now rebranded as Umbukiso Wethu (Our Showcase). This vibrant event, formerly known as the DUT Arts and Design Digital Festival (Digifest), made a dynamic comeback after a COVID-19-induced hiatus, transforming DUT’s City Campus on Friday, 01 November 2024, into an inspiring, collaborative space alive with creativity and innovation.
The Umbukiso Wethu Arts and Design Festival was a dynamic one-day event that united students, faculty, and the creative community in a lively showcase of innovation. The festival featured student-led film screenings, art exhibitions, panel discussions, a live fashion show, and interactive installations, offering a platform for students to display their work and engage directly with industry professionals.
The first panel discussion, titled “The Role of Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Creative Arts: Interdisciplinary in Creative Arts Combines Diverse Skills and Perspectives, Leading to Innovative Work that Transcends Traditional Boundaries,” was moderated by Amahle-amanzima Mazibuko, a third-year Journalism student at DUT. Beyond studying at the institution, Mazibuko is also the producer of The South African Conversation by DUT Journalism, a recipient of the Photographers Archive Initiative internship, and a researcher and social media manager at Mabenya Sports Consultancy. Panelists included Professor Phoholo Morojele, a research professor at the DUT School of Education, Keyanna Kyd, a third-year Video Technology student, and Ayanda Mkhize, a third-year Fine Arts student.
Mazibuko explained that social media has enabled collaboration across different fields, allowing Arts and Technology, among others, to work together and shape society. She highlighted that the recent collaboration between Orlando Pirates and fashion house ‘ThebeMagugu’ as a prime example of interdisciplinary partnership in action. The discussion explored challenges like communication barriers, conflicting artistic processes, and the occasional clash in creative vision.
Prof Morojele elaborated on the advantages of interdisciplinary work, stating, “Traditional boundaries have their own discourse and ways of doing things, which, over time, can become boring and predictable. However, interdisciplinary collaboration opens space for new ideas, new audiences, and creative expansion. It allows for a shared vision, uniting diverse disciplines toward a greater purpose, ultimately yielding benefits that wouldn’t be possible within traditional boundaries.”
The festival continued with attendees exploring the vibrant displays across City Campus, where they admired student work across various disciplines. Highlights included intricate jewellery designs from the Department of Jewellery Design, compelling documentaries from Journalism, Video Technology, and Fashion Design, and a gallery showcasing powerful photography and journalism pieces. The excitement crescendo-ed with a concert under the iconic Magic Tree, where students took the stage, with Fashion and Textiles opening in style. The day concluded on a high note, with students joyfully expressing their creativity through fun sip-and-paint sessions and lively karaoke, adding a festive and unforgettable end to the celebration.
The festival marked a successful return for DUT’s commitment to fostering creativity across disciplines, and Umbukiso Wethu promises to be an essential annual celebration of artistic expression and academic innovation.
Pictured: Interim Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Design: Professor Jean Baxen addresses the attendees at the festival.
Photography: Mnqobi Ngobese
Samuel Ntsanwisi and Sthembile Ndlovu
