Reflections on the Ezempilo Mental Health Festival and the “Elevating Our Practice” Workshop

At the weekend, I had the privilege of attending the groundbreaking Ezempilo Mental Health Festival at Wits University, Johannesburg. The festival, curated by Art that Matters in partnership with Drama for Life (DfL), was a vibrant platform that brought together artists, therapists, and audiences to address mental health issues creatively.

As part of the festival, I participated in a panel discussion titled "The Arts and the Politics of Being/Becoming". The forum focused on the intersection of politics, identity, and the arts. We explored how the arts can be a vital tool for personal and societal transformation and how they can challenge and reshape political narratives and citizenship.

In addition to the panel discussion, I facilitated a music therapy immersive workshop. The workshop emphasised using voice, singing and vocal improvisation as a therapeutic means to promote wellbeing. I guided participants through various vocal sound manipulations designed to foster self-expression, emotional release, and connection with others. The response to the workshop was overwhelmingly positive, with participants sharing the experience.

On Tuesday, 31 October 2023, I had the honour of participating in the "Elevating Our Practice: Cultivating Creativity and Spirituality for Wellbeing" workshop at Old Mutual, Mutual Place. The day was filled with insightful, interactive sessions and a refreshing focus on holistic well-being.

One of the standout sessions was the "Theatre and Drama for Wellbeing: The Power of Playback Theatre" facilitated by the KOKO! Mental Health Team. The power of theatre to evoke emotions, provoke thought, and promote mental well-being was beautifully demonstrated. The session was a testament to the transformative force of the arts in promoting mental health.

Following the theatre session, Nonkululeko Vilakazi and I co-facilitated a segment on "Exploring therapeutic aspects of dance, movement, and music for well-being". This session afforded attendees an embodied experience of the therapeutic possibilities of intentional and attentional movement interluded with vocal sound and bodily rhythm.

Overall, the "Elevating Our Practice: Cultivating Creativity and Spirituality for Wellbeing" workshop was a refreshing and enriching experience for everyone involved. It served as a reminder of the importance of engaging with creativity and spirituality as a way of promoting well-being and the benefits of collective learning and sharing in fostering a supportive and nurturing work environment. I am excited to participate in more such events in the future.

The two engagements have been nourishing to me. It helps every so often to pause and engage in some activities beyond the therapy room to revitalise myself, so much as with a little refrain:

Slow down, you move too fast.

You got to make the morning last.

Just kicking down the cobblestones.

Looking for fun and feelin' groovy.

Simon & Garfunkel

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