This episode is the second in a three-part series featuring conversations between Rangoato Hlasane and  Rubén Gaztambide-Fernandez.
Rangoato Hlasane from the Keleketla! Library and Rubén Gaztambide-Fernandez discuss the process and importance of building youth collectivities, and specifically, within Ra’s program, the Keleketla! Library in Johannesburg, South Africa. Keleketla is a library and media arts project co-founded by Ra that was formerly based at Johannesburg’s historic Drill Hall (2008-2015) and is now based at King Kong, also in Johannesburg. King Kong is a multidisciplinary arts space and concert venue. The Drill Hall is the site where Nelson Mandela and 156 prominent freedom fighters were tried for treason in 1956.
In this episode, they discuss children and youth’s understandings of and commitment to the program and their learning, the importance of ephemeral moments between children and parents in building understanding about the program, and importance of the role of demonstrations and performance in maintaining the structure of a participatory program such as Keleketla! Library.
Rangoato Hlasane is a cultural worker, selector, educator and co-founder of Keleketla! Library in Johannesburg. He holds a Master’s degree in Visual Art from the University of Johannesburg and teaches at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he is a PhD candidate in African Literature. He 'selects' music to expand his research into the social, political, spiritual and economic significance of African oralities, sonic and musicking practices.
This episode was hosted and directed by Naima Raza, produced by Ruben Gaztambide-Fernandez and Sarah Switzer, and supported by Youth Research Lab Research Assistants, Andrea Vela Alarcon and Madeleine Ross.