The Founding Statement

In 2007, two practicing artists and poets Silas Makhubela and Mahlaga Molepo were resting after a poetry session at University of Limpopo(formerly University of the North) when the idea of getting formed into an organisation was conceived. At first, the idea of getting formed into an artists forum was like a far away dream since most artists around Mankweng and its surrounding areas were aware of the absence of a typical Newtown jam type of art presence and so were worried that such a vibrant environment was rare locally.

Mahlaga Molepo came from the outskirts of Mankweng in a rural area called Ga Molepo and had spend years in the already vibrant arts and culture industry of Braamfontein and Newtown respectively during his years as a scholar of African Literature and Linguistic at the University of the Witwatersrand while Silas Makhubela came from Seshego and was a campus resident at the University of Limpopo studying Psychology. Through consistent interaction and the sharing of "artistic" ideas at the University of Limpopo weekly poetry sessions, the two musketeers met other fellow artists and followers. Those included Koketso Marishane, Mercy "Concrete Ground Dliwayo, Onkabetse "Flo" Hlabyago, Noko a.k.a Kamellion and others.

The idea of getting formed into an arts movement started gaining momentum throughout the formal and informal poetry sessions taking place within campus as well as in other places such as Mamohuba Jazz Tarvern. A lot more people were for the idea but very few were interested in taking the idea further into the implementation stages. It so happened that one day Silas and Mahlaga decided "enough with the talking" and started engaging more on the road ahead.

The plan of action started with the circulation of formal invites to interested artists, followers of the word and the community at large. Most of the invites were well received by enthusiasts who also filled in membership forms for a small contribution or free of charge. The most interesting part of BWARF's formation was, it should be confessed, the use of campus facilities such as fax, email and photocopier with the exception of a phone of course. In a few instances, we were able to get access to the phone through one humble sould and fellow writer and academic, Dr Leketi Makalela - who was also running the poetry session at UNILIM as part of the Arts School there. Seeing that we were committed, Dr Makalela offered to contribute as an Associate Committee member during the early days of the formation.

After many months and weeks of organising on the ground, the draft constitution of the organization was tabled with an initial 10 members as founding members. The constitution, together with all the necessary requirements, were later send to the Department of Social Development for registration as an Non Profit Organisation (NPO). BWARF was registered on the department's database mid-April 2007.