I AM [ ]WE ARE[ ] Charity Gala Event

The renowned I AM[ ] WE ARE [ ] is back with its unique Southern African multi-disciplinary multi-cultural spiritually immersive Bantu experience, celebrating our rich heritage galvanizing us through dance, poetry, song and creative design. This momentous event will serve as a fundraiser for the MN Foundation NPC in Ugie, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Founded in during the COVID-19 Pandemic April 2020, Mbulelo Ndabeni sort to enrich his home community of Ugie in the rural Eastern Cape in South African. Thus the Mbulelol Ndabeni (MN) FOUNDATION was born. He embarked on creative initiatives such a ballet dance, Nguni traditional dance. The center instills a culture of communal support, co-creation, empowerment, compassion and humanity. South Africa is struck with the plagues social issues like unemployment; crime and gender based violence. MN Foundations seeks to arm young people and the community with the mental resilience to transcend there circumstances through creative outlets, to express themselves in a safe nurturing environment.

Fast forward to 2022, and the MN FOUNDATION UK was created. Our UK branch seeks to build a home and creative hub for South African arts and culture in London. Here South Africans and the wider African diaspora can commune and collaborate, envisioning new innovative narratives for the future. The key function of the UK branch will be to serve as a highway between SA branch in the rural Eastern Cape and the global MN Foundation network. We hope to manifest cultural exchanges and fundraise for the development of creative initiatives both in SA, and in the UK.

Featuring UK based talent, including works by internationally renowned Southern African artists like Mbulelo Ndabeni, Eugene Skeef, Sandile Gontsana, Be Manzini, Keitumetse, Marco Titus and many more.

This Gala event acts as a reminder of our unique South African humanity bringing us together as one nation despite our history. We have chosen Ubuntu, reminding us that I am what I am because of who we are. Thus the name I AM [ ] WE ARE [ ] is born.

Host: Award-winning Actress, Pamela Nomvete

Curated and directed by: Mbulelo Ndabeni

Associate director(s): Bafana Solomon Matea and Nonhlanhla Makhathini

Supported by:

South Africa House

Q&A, DJ SET AND NETWORKING SESSION

The Gala will end with a Q&A, DJ set of South Africa’s latest music and dance grooves.

Dress code : Kwa-Nguni Afro fusion style

● Afro fusion /smart casual attire (Ready to dance to South Africa’s global music).

❖ ONLINE TICKET BOOKINGS ONLY: Ticket link

MONEY RAISED THROUGH TICKET SALES AND DONATIONS AT THE EVENT GO TOWARDS

The development and growth of MN FOUNDATION SA-UK *so that we continue to fulfill our collective dream of giving every child the opportunity to reach their highest physical, mental and life potential.

1. Operational costs such as paying stipends for teachers to deliver daily creative and performing arts activities, creation of new works and performances both in SA and UK

We also like to encourage those able to support us either with skills, exchanging ideas, time and financial assistance as that is the main socio-economic need that is urgent in the Southern African agenda of: Alleviating poverty in our lifetime - a call to act for us all. Uhuru! (Freedom/Emancipation)

Most importantly for our children to know they are loved, listened to and cared for so that they grow up to become who they want to be in life. They can eventually gain skills that they are able to use as they grow.

I AM [ ] WE ARE [ ] PILOT 2019

MN Foundation SA - Ballet Class

COMING SOON TO LONDON

Bantu Dance Fitness, Movement Therapy Classes

For: Children and Adults

WHO ARE AMANGUNI?

All the southern african ‘clans’ derive from the ‘1 tribe’ called AMA-NGU-NI / Nguni / Ngoni.