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Ntate Phakela
Ntate Serwai William Phakela is a South African born auteur and artist, born in Vosloorus, a township located in the East Rand district of Gauteng. Phakela's interdisciplinary work is an advocate for the development of the South African film industry, actively creating platforms for independent and underprivileged artists to thrive.

Education
Phakela completed his high school education at Jeppe High School for Boys. He holds a BA in Film and Television, completed with a through a bursary earned from the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF). Phakela is currently completing a specialisation in Modern Art and Ideas at Museum of Modern Art.

In his paper Mzansi Sustainable Cinema , Phakela delves intensively into these themes, discussing at length his vision for a cinema that is both culturally significant and financially sustainable.

Ntate's work draws on a rich tapestry of scholarship encompassing African film culture, national cinema, film as an art form, artistic expression, the film industry, and commercialization. This multifaceted approach constructs an analytical framework that not only supports the concept of a sustainable cinema in South Africa, but also serves as a tool for analyzing films produced in the country.[4]

Key Elements of Phakela's Analytical Framework

African Film Culture: Heritage and Identity & Storytelling Traditions; National Cinema: Cultural Representation & National Identity; Film as an Art Form: Aesthetic Value and Innovation and Creativity; Artistic Expression: Director’s Vision ,Diverse Voices; Film Industry and Commercialization: Market Dynamics and Economic Viability.

Work
Phakela's noteworthy contribution lies in his image series titled Aftermath. In this work, hedepicts the looted Naledi Mall and Goldspot in Vorloorus, Ekhuruleni, Gauteng on July 11. The visuals capture a portion of the aftermath of the 2021 unrest in South Africa, which insued in the form of protesting, looting and riots in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng following the arrest of former President Jacob Zuma.

Phakela's art is known for its striking use of colour, intricate detail, and bold, expressive forms. Phakela uses African literature and ordinary day-to-day African interactions as the base of his artworks and storytelling.