Amanda Mathe

How can the Arts benefit from 4IR

Presentation by Bongani Njalo (artist), Amanda Mathe (Ndlvukazi Online Media) and Juan Steyn (South African Centre for Digital Language Resources). Chaired by Dr Maleshoane Rapeane-Mathonsi 

Biography

Amanda Mathe

A young, bubbly and respectfully outspoken individual that has grown up in the ever-changing society of South Africa. Born in the bustling city of Durban, the seashore and digital are my playgrounds.

Nicked name the digital matriarch and know to agencies as the Olivia Pope of social media. She prides herself in building recognizable brands and providing support in the love of building a better community. As a professional journalist, with years of experience in the news media, corporate social media management and online development the development youth told stories have been woven in my journey to emancipating youth across my country and continent.

Her current goal is to ensure youth of marginalized communities have adequate opportunities to access the benefits of the fourth industrial revolution. Second to this is the empowerment of women to shape and influence the growth of the fourth industrial revolution through their businesses, community efforts and advocacy work.

Bongani Njalo (b. 1987) currently lives and works in Port Elizabeth where he studied Fine Art at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, majoring in Stained Glass. Njalo is a 2014 recipient of the David Koloane Award and was named one of the Top 200 Young South Africans in 2016 by the Mail & Guardian for his contributions to the cultural landscape of South Africa. With extensive experience in public programs and social engagement in the arts in South Africa, Njalo has worked as Project Leader for organisations across the country such as the Mandela Bay Development Agency (PE), Market Theatre Foundation (JHB), Arterial Network (Cape Town) and the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein. In 2017, he was selected as a cultural ambassador to the United States by the U.S. Department of State as a Mandela Washington Fellow and serves as a founding and steering committee member for the African Cultural Policy Network for the Culture, LGBTIQ+ and Human Rights. He is currently employed as the Gallery Manager  and Curator at ArtEC Gallery. Njalo is an MA (Arts Policy and Management) candidate at Birkbeck University of London.

Juan Steyn is the Project Manager at SADiLaR. He has been involved in multiple Digital Humanities and Educational technology related projects. He also has a special interest in training and capacity building through his involvement within the Software and Data carpentry community as well as the Digital Humanities Association of Southern Africa.