The South African Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) has taken a bold step toward reshaping the creative landscape by establishing 17 new Sector Cluster Councils, including the Poetry, Comedy and Storytelling Council (PoeComSto Council). This move is part of a national effort to restructure and revitalise the arts sector, following wide consultation with artists and stakeholders during the August 2024 Bosberaad.
The launch of the PoeComSto Council is a welcomed and exciting development, especially for sectors that have often existed on the fringes of mainstream recognition and funding. Poets, comedians, and storytellers are crucial to preserving our heritage and shaping the cultural imagination of the nation. South Africa’s vibrant oral traditions—from the praise poets of yesterday to the stand-up comics and spoken word performers of today—are finally being brought into focus.
But as the creative community celebrates this progress, a few important questions arise.
This initiative suggests a shift in how the state values the cultural economy, particularly the forms of expression rooted in oral performance. The council could become a game-changer for emerging and established artists across the country—creating access to platforms, funding, and development opportunities. There’s a genuine sense of excitement that this could be the beginning of something transformative for artists who have too often operated without formal support structures.
It’s an inspiring declaration. But who will drive this vision forward?
One key area of curiosity is around the composition of the PoeComSto Council itself. Who are the people representing the poetry, comedy, and storytelling sectors at national level? Were they elected by the community, or appointed? Do they have grassroots experience and deep connections to the sectors they’re meant to serve?
These questions aren’t rooted in doubt, but rather in a desire for transparency and accountability. If the council is meant to be a space for real representation, then it’s important for artists across provinces to know who is advocating for them, and whether those voices reflect the diversity of our creative landscape—linguistically, regionally, generationally, and stylistically.
The creative industry has, in the past, faced challenges where well-intentioned structures struggled to deliver on the ground. With this new initiative, many artists are hopeful—but also cautiously optimistic. The PoeComSto Council now has a chance to build trust and deliver real impact, especially if supported with adequate resources and a clear implementation plan.
Will there be funding for workshops, festivals, mentorship, and content development? Will township and rural artists benefit as much as their urban counterparts? How will new voices be nurtured? These are the questions many in the industry are asking.
The formation of the PoeComSto Council is a bold and visionary step in the right direction. It recognises the power of spoken word, comedy, and storytelling as tools for healing, entertainment, education, and empowerment. Now, it’s time to ensure that this council is inclusive, transparent, and impactful.
At Imbizo Magazine, we are hopeful—and eager to see how this story unfolds. We look forward to engaging with the Council, telling the stories of the artists it uplifts, and holding space for ongoing dialogue about the future of South Africa’s creative community.
Because when artists thrive, the nation’s soul shines.