Ethos

 

eMzantsi is about making a space for people from different communities to come together and express our common culture through carnival arts. eMzantsi people are unique in valuing above all the intercultural interaction at the centre of our endeavours.

Mission Statement

 eMzantsi is about…

  • Bringing communities together
  • Celebrating the cultures of South Africa through our interactive arts programmes
  • Helping to create a shared south peninsula identity
  • Showcasing all this community building at our live events and the annual eMzantsi Carnival
  • Boosting local tourism, our local economy and local pride

eMzantsi Principles

The eMzantsi Principles have been distilled through regular participatory processes such as Open Space over many years, drawing on the insights and experience of our diverse team of facilitators on our schools, music and Mapiko programmes.

  1. Process over Product: ‘It’s not what we do, it’s how we do it – TOGETHER.’
  2. Go with the flow: just breathe, just be.
  3. If you’re not having FUN, you’re not doing it properly!

Our five pillars focus on our fundamental values:

  1. Respect
  2. Positivity
  3. Creativity
  4. Passion
  5. Unity

eMzantsi Top Tips for Working Together

  1. OPENNESS to new ideas, to different ways of doing things. Open mind, open heart.
  2. WILLINGNESS to engage, to be present in the space, to commit to the process.
  3. COMMUNICATION: listen, listen, listen – and get comfortable with being uncomfortable sometimes. CLARITY is vital to avoid misunderstandings; when in doubt – check. Voice opinions – don’t clam up when feeling abused.
  4. BE PATIENT with each other, and with the process. Respect each other’s languages. Resolve differences through a neutral person.
  5. BE PREPARED TO BE FLEXIBLE: give before you take. TRUST THE PROCESS – GO WITH THE FLOW. Be prepared to be surprised!
  6. PROCESS OVER PRODUCT: don’t be pressured about outcomes. It’s not what we do, it’s how we do it: TOGETHER.
  7. TIME is incredibly important: give yourself and your teams enough time to bond as well as produce. Manage time carefully and respect the time of others – don’t waste it.
  8. RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP: show sensitivity and RESPECT at all times and model the behaviour set out above. Teams must share the responsibility of leadership. Be reassuring, well organised, self-reflexive, and lead by example.
  9. CREATE AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT: make sure it is warm, friendly, balanced (especially re: gender etc), show empathy, go to the other’s space, ‘always have enough peanut butter’… Opportunities for just getting to know each other are good – more parties!
  10. CHERISH YOUR TEAM: take the time to demonstrate your trust, support and appreciation.

 

 

 

 

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