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Meet the Organizers of NarowBi Arts, The art event for you!

 

from the left: 
Vuyo Kwanda (21) Mmeli Ntshakala (24)

Dear reader, grab a chair and let me tell you about my rooftop Experience. When it was announced by our president, Cyril Ramaphosa, that the lockdown regulations will be relaxed as the country moves to alert level one. I knew it was the queue for me to get my dancing shoes on and show off my dance moves, and NarowBi arts was the perfect place for that. As our president had stated that we, as a country have "withstood the storm" and the sunset has never looked more beautiful from the urban backpackers roof top.

NarowBi arts pronounced Nah-Roh-bye is a combination of a party and an exhibition. It was established on the 25th Of March 2019 by Mmeli Ntshakala, twenty three years old turning twenty four, who is full time student, artist as well as an artist manager together with Vuyo Kwanda (21) a creative on the most fundamental level ,curator plus a full time events planner, He later withdrew from his studies at the University of Johannesburg where he was an Art student to pursue his new found passion ,events planning. 

“We are trying to run away from the norm” stated Vuyo 

The creatives wanted to extend the definition of art and make fellow artists appreciate and explore other types of art through this event. They wanted to incorporate their definition of fun to the concept of an exhibition.

 “Other exhibitions are too formal” Vuyo said in an interview

Vuyo explained that they wanted to create an unceremonious atmosphere where people can address a  range of diverse key issues whether in society or beyond in an artistic manner, and also spawn a comfortable environment where you are absolutely free to be your own person, whether you are introverted or extroverted, you can appreciate a variety of art and enjoy live music from local artists.

Every second Saturday of every month the artists and people who appreciate art get to share common grounds as well as explore the creative's minds, and for creatives to form collaborations with one another. It is an enchanting and refreshing vibe where you get to appreciate a variety of art from visual art, performances right down to handmade crafts.  

Identity in projection by Themba Shabalala
IG: Themba Shabalala




Eric Katenta
IG: spaceapple1


You are graced by a number of original paintings and drawings, mostly contemporary art when you step foot into the exhibition which was a delightful beginning for the nine hour journey, and I still can’t wrap my head around how  fashionable the people were, they took me from the 90s go-to-looks, to a splash of 2020 fashion trends and administering their looks with a coupe de grâce of their  personality traits into their clothes. Palesa Masemola and I, a fellow creative and fashion-plate maniac like me  spent hours admiring trying to figure out which outfits ideas we were going to borrow for the future.

        

Performer Soul Rich
IG: @maryjanesbrother_

    
Performer Benecia
IG: @beneciaofficial




Sonder the Africanime
IG: @Sonder_The_africanime


Performer ITUMELENG 
IG: @yourmothersbestfriend


  

The mic was honored by moving poetry deliveries and talented local musicians such as Sonder the Africanime, Soul rich, Ana Michela, Jesepy, Earldridge and Benecia kept us singing along and clapping hands. The sweet saxophone played by Elite sax steered my conclusion that I will definitely be showing my face more often at the NarowBi arts events. 



kuumba ii By Jason Langa 
IG@Heiwa_Arts

My highlight has to be going on a hunt of a life time, well to be more specific my first human hunt ever for Jason Langa an immensely gifted visual artist after his work star struck me the instant we stepped into the exhibition. Palesa  and I made it our mission to discover the face behind the amazing work and spending most of our time with the founder of Euphoria gems Tity Muzadi(19) as she told us the story about her craft. She collects stones  and uses them to make rings, earrings, necklaces, waist beads, thigh beads and so on. 


Founder of Euphoria Gems Tity Muzadi (19) with Kopano Tong (24) at NarowBi Arts IG@euohoria_gems


“The artists keep us going, we get to grow with them” said Mmeli

Seeing artists get the recognition they deserve,  forming effective collaborations and watching them grow as artists is what  keeps them going and makes them want to make the next event better than the previous one.

The event started with a team of just two members and it has grown into a team of seven. Mmeli and Vuyo plan on expanding the event by introducing an art market. 

If you are looking for a place where you can meet and converse with a range of creative minds while listening to heart warming music and also need inspiration for your next outfit  NarowBi arts is the place to go.









Euphoria Gems necklace pendant
IG: @euphoria_gems 




Performer: Ana Michela
IG: nice_mahala


Poet: Emihle Lisakanya January
IG: jan.ua.ry

Performer: Jesepy
IG: svdboyjesepy 

Performer: Zango Kubheka
IG: zangothando



For more of the NarowBi Arts event chronicles visit their Instagram page at Narow_bi and be on the look out for their upcoming events.

Photos by: NAROW_BI

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