Lekgutsa Mbele
South African Cultural Practitioner, Theatre Practitioner, and Cultural Advocate, Lekgutsa Mbele from Bethlehem delivered a keynote address at the African Cultural Exchange held at Hleoheng Playgrounds in Leribe, Lesotho on Friday, 05 September.
Mbele, the Founder and Director of Re Phethile Art Production and Provincial Chairperson of the South African Arts and Culture Youth Forum (SAACYF) Free State, was invited as a guest speaker to address distinguished guests, government officials, traditional leaders, artists, and young people from across Southern Africa.
The exchange was held under the theme: “Heritage, Culture and Creative Expression as Instruments of African Unity, Youth Empowerment, and Regional Cooperation.”
Opening his address with protocol and respect for their Majesties, Prime Minister of Lesotho, Honourable Ministers, Members of Parliament, Traditional Leaders, and the people of Lesotho, Mbele expressed profound gratitude for the honour bestowed upon him.
“It is with profound humility, honour, and a deep sense of responsibility that I stand before you today in the Kingdom of Lesotho. I receive this invitation not merely as a personal honour but as an opportunity to represent the broader voice of African cultural practitioners, heritage activists, artists, and young people who believe in the transformative power of culture,” stated Mbele.
He conveyed warm greetings from the Republic of South Africa and the Free State Province.
Culture as a Bridge Between Nations
In his keynote, Mbele emphasized that Lesotho and South Africa are connected by history, language, culture, and family, asserting that cultural exchange is essential for people-to-people relations.
“Where diplomacy creates formal relationships between states, culture fosters relationships between people. Where governments sign agreements, culture builds understanding. Where borders separate territories, culture reminds us of our connections,” he articulated, eliciting thunderous applause.
Heritage is a Living Resource
Mbele called for African nations to cease viewing heritage as a relic of the past, arguing instead for it to be recognized as a living national asset that shapes identity, values, collective memory, and future economic opportunities.
Youth Must Be At The Centre
A significant portion of his address focused on youth. Mbele stated that Africa’s challenge is not a lack of talent, but access to opportunities.
He challenged governments and cultural institutions to establish cross-border youth cultural programs, artist residency programs, heritage research partnerships, school exchange programs, film collaborations, music festivals, and platforms for creative entrepreneurs.
Protecting African Languages and Women
Mbele issued an urgent call for the preservation of indigenous languages, underscoring that language is a vessel of identity, history, and philosophy.
He paid homage to African women as custodians of culture, noting that women have preserved songs, stories, crafts, and community practices across generations and should now be empowered as leaders and entrepreneurs within the cultural economy.
A Call For Lesotho-SA Cooperation
Mbele encouraged Lesotho and South Africa to strengthen their cultural cooperation, stating that such cooperation is not a luxury but an investment in social cohesion, peace, and development.
“Let our artists become ambassadors of friendship. Let our heritage practitioners safeguard our shared history. Let our creative industries become engines of opportunity,” he urged.
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