On The Couch with Jerry Mpho Pooe

Glenwood resident, director, actor, drama lecturer and facilitator Jerry Mpho Pooe (JMP) started his career at Stable Theatre under the wing of Kassie Govender. Pooe was born in Johannesburg and moved to Durban in 1987 where he matriculated in 1990 at Ohlange High School.


He has produced many actors and actresses who are dominating our screens such as Sdumo Mtshali, Dawn King from Uzalo, Siyabonga Shibe and many more. He also worked for Windybrow Theater in Joburg, PACOFS in Free State as artistic director and National Department of Arts and Culture as director. Tabloid Newspapers took some time to chat to Pooe about his passion for arts, his career and his Pan African Art Centre in Wushwini, KwaNgcolosi just after Inanda.

Tabloid Newspapers (TN):
What inspired you to do arts?

Jerry Mpho Pooe (JMP):
I was inspired by what was happening around us in the 80's in Soweto township and I decided to use arts in fighting apartheid.

TN: Please tell us why you chose to have the art centre in Wushwini and not in the urban or sub-urban area of Durban?

JMP: I chose to have an arts centre in the rural area because I am passionate about development and most of the time, rural communities are neglected and I wanted our society to know that rural areas have a lot to offer as a place where our culture and tradition comes from.

TN: Out of all the productions and plays you have directed, which would you say was the highlight in your career?

JMP: I directed more than 40 productions and travelled the world. My highlights being Peace in The Valley, Let my people go, My voice my life, King DinuZulu The Musical, Ekhaya Poppie, Refugees and King Cetshwayo the Musical. It is difficult to choose because I love all of them.

TN: Your passion for the community can be seen through your work, what community projects are you involved in?

JMP: At the moment, I am busy with building a home for a destitute family who lost their home in Molweni area. I am also training youth and children in arts. We are working with 40 schools helping educators to teach arts.

TN: What programmes are you offering at Wushwini Pan-African Arts Centre and who are you working with in those projects?

JMP: Wushwini offers more than 10 training youth programmes to capacitate our young people, we also offer two international festivals Uhuru Fringe Festival in May and Botho International Heritage Festival in September, we offer exhibitions, we record groups, stage Jazzy Sundays every last week of the month, youth Indaba in June and we provide a venue for any artist who wants to stage their shows or concerts. In most of the projects like film projects, we work with AFDA, we also partner with DUT and Creative Arts College, schools around us, different government departments and the city.

TN: Born in Johannesburg, why did you choose to start a career in KZN?

JMP: I came in Durban at the tender age of 17 to study after completing high school. I studied at UKZN at that time, it was University of Natal while I was a student together with my friend Ben Zungu, we started a company called Eager Artists which will be celebrating 25 years next year.

Our company was focusing on training youth around the townships especially KwaMashu working with Alfred Nokwe, the love of working with young people stole me from Joburg then I was approached by Drama In Aids Education based at the University to work for them. We travelled to all corners of KZN teaching people about AIDS, then worked shortly for the Playhouse then joined DUT as a lecturer for 10 years. That kept me in KZN, and my career blossomed, I ended up working for KZN Department of Arts and Culture as deputy director.

TN: Which international directors have you worked with and on which projects?

JMP: I worked with Roel Twinstra from Netherlands we did Free Birds, Vuka Vuka, Madonna of Excelsior, Respect, Ben Okri, House of Hunger and Swallowed. Lorna Hill from USA - we did My Voice My Life, Tom Burrows from USA we did Living Room. Kees van Loenen from Netherlands, we did Man's World.

TN: Which countries have you been to and which one would you move to if given a choice?

JMP: I have been to Spain, France, Netherlands, Denmark, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Rwanda, Ethiopia, USA, China and Swaziland. I fell in love with the USA but I will never leave my country, I love South Africa too much.

TN: If you were not in arts, what other career would you choose?

JMP: If I was not in the arts I would be cooking. I am also a chef by profession.

TN: On a sunday afternoon when relaxing, what music do you listen to?

JMP: I listen to all kinds of music because l love different sounds and music feeds my soul especially African Jazz, Soul and Opera.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

At home with Jailoshini Naidoo

Image
By Yashika Ramautar YR: Describe your typical morning from the time you get up. JN: I’m not really a morning person, but my TV shoots often start quite early, so my mornings are invariably rushed, with me literally flying around the house trying to get ready on time.  Brush my teeth, shower, hair, make-up, dress up, (I often change clothes a couple of times before I’m completely satisfied). Breakfast is a bowl of cereal with some yoghurt, a cup of green or rooibos tea and a banana. And then I'm off! YR: How long does it take you to get dressed, from after your shower to looking all glam? JN: About an hour and a half...although I've learnt to do it in about an hour if I have to. YR: What are some of your favourite Indian dishes that you can prepare yourself? Can you make Woorunde or any sweetmeats? JN: I’m better at cooking than baking. I make a great curry. Although, as far as Indian sweetmeats are concerned, I make the best Chana Magaj. Got the recipe fr
Read more

On The Couch with Damon Beard

Image
by Yashika Ramautar WG: Firstly and most importantly... Who are you?
DB: My name is Damon Beard, I'm 41 years old and I'm a DJ on East Coast Radio. I present the weekday lunchtime show from 12 - 3pm. WG: Describe yourself in three words? DB: Spontaneous, loyal, approachable WG: What would you describe as the most full-filling aspect of being an ECR DJ?
DB: I have a feature on my show called the Big Favour where I help people in the Province with things they may need. Through this, I've met some incredibly brave and sincere people. Only when you see what other people are going through, do you take a step back and count your blessings. WG: What is the worst thing that ever happened to you on air?
DB: My first night on air, one of the other DJ's decided to pull a prank on me. He swapped the ON and OFF buttons around, so when I was actually live ON AIR, I thought I wasn't, and when I thought I was OFF AIR, I was actually ON AIR...
I decided to sing along
Read more

On the Couch with Elvis Govender

Image
Elvis Govender is a dedicated member of the local cricketing fraternity and has been involved in the game as an administrator, coach and player for more than 45-years. Govender is from a sporting family. He eats sleeps and breathes cricket. He devotes a large amount of his time towards nurturing talent from within Chatsworth as well as Kwa-Zulu Natal. Elvis Govender took some time off his busy schedule to chat to Tabloid Newspapers about his love, family and passion for the game. Tabloid Newspapers (TN): Tell us about your upbringing? Elvis Govender (EG): I was born in 1960 and come from a family which consists of four brothers and one sister. We previously lived in Bluff but were relocated to Chatsworth when I was one-year-old due to the Group Areas Act. I have lived in Chatsworth for 58-years. My father was a soccer player and my three brothers. I played both cricket and soccer. We played cricket competitively and at one stage my brothers Krish, Raymond and Stanley and
Read more