Cancer survivor and activist Nomsa Manaka celebrates cancer patients and survivors through dance
By CityLife Arts Writer
As the cancer month ended Yesterday, October 31, 2023, acclaimed dance pioneer Nomsa Manaka celebrated cancer patients and survivors on Sunday through music, dance and poetry.
Through her initiative Dancing out of Cancer, an idea that developed while sleeping on a hospital bed in 2021, Manaka, a survivor herself saw a need to bring smiles to survivors including those who take care of cancer patients.
According to cancer statistics, in 2018, females accounted for 51,3% of cancers diagnosed in South Africa while males accounted for 48,6%. The median age at diagnosis of cancer was 59 years for females and 64 years for males. However, the median age at death due to cancer was 62 for females and 64 for males, suggesting that cancer in males may be diagnosed at more advanced stages than in females.
This beautiful event happened at Soweto Theatre in Jabulani where Manaka’s friends, family, cancer community and performing arts came out to support her. Artists such as Maleh, Tshedi Mholo from the popular Afropop group Malaika, Billy Monama, Omega and Ayanda Khumalo entertained the audience. The musicians were backed up by the Hugh Masekela Band. Poets Tsoana Nhlapo, Amantle Makhutle and Mak Manaka.
As part of celebrating cancer survivors and patients, Setswana, Sepedi and TshiVenda traditional dancers entertained the audiences they delivered energetic performances. Through the event Manaka, a stage four ovarian cancer survivor, also remembered three important people who were in her life. She paid tribute to his late brother and jazz musician Prince Kupi. Kupi died along with his wife in a car accident in 2008. Kupi’s tribute was done by guitar maestro Billy Monama, the man of the moment. Those who know Kupi’s music were taken back to memory lane. Manaka further paid tribute to her late friend and confidante Sibongile Khumalo who died over a year ago. She also remembered the late Bra Hugh Masekela and the band performed his songs.
For Khumalo’s tribute, she chose her daughter Ayanda who delivered a powerful performance singing her mother’s songs while his brother Tshepo Mngoma was a music director for the whole show. Guitar maestro Billy Monama paid tribute to the late Kupi who died with his wife in a car accident in 2008. He was a jazz musician and played guitar.
Among the cancer survivors who were celebrated is author, motivational speaker, poet and former journalist Victor Mecoamere. The former Sowetan Newspaper assistant new editor is a survivor of prostate cancer. Like a true poet he opted to share his suffering through a beautiful poem called The Mirrored Image. Through his poetry, Macoamere painted a daily struggle for someone living with cancer.
“When the pain comes the lights simply switch off. When the pain comes, I wish I knew what else to do. When the pain comes, I wish I knew where else to go. When the pain comes, I wish I knew what else to say. When the pain comes with vengeance, I wish I really knew how best to endure all the associated agony. When this uninvited guest in my body rears its ugly head one more time that it has become usual, I wish for the beauty of an eternal heaven, but this is surely nor the time to die.”
Mecoamere also paid tribute to the granddaughter of Nelson Mandela, Zoleka Mandela through a poem We Live on Regardless. Mandela died last month after a long battle with cancer. “Cancer is the beginning of a brand-new lifestyle of a biography that is hardest to compile. When known places become new, when life is no longer as one knew. As you retire and rise with pain and when you begin to see cancer as a cancer that crudely cramps your lifestyle. When friends flee at its mention and true friends emerge with style, sharing your joys with sorrows, with grace, poise and compassion. When a strong mind is what it needs to survive all the days of chronic pain. The same as animal as animal brave heavy down pours. Cancer steals all the beauty within. But we should bear it all onwards to give many others’ hope for the world to know one truth that cancer will not end your style and….. we simply live on regardless,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Manaka said: “I am excited to see you all. I stand before you today as a stage 4 ovarian cancer survivor and I cannot express the joy and gratitude that I feel for being here with you. Many of us who have battled cancer know all too well what it can take from our bodies, our minds and our spirits but through darkness we can find light, hope and strength. That is why I founded Dancing Out of Cancer, a project that celebrates lives and gives hope to those living with cancer, cancer survivors and thank caregivers for a great job done. Through music and dance we can find a sense of liberation and a sense of joy. Dancing Out of Cancer has become a community of support where we connect with one another, share our stories and express ourselves through movement. When chemotherapy heals cancer, music and dance therapy heals the body, the mind spirit and soul.”
“In 2016, I was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer and, as I was sleeping on my death bed, my son Mak (Manaka) suggested that I must write a book called ‘Dancing out of Cancer’ and from that moment onwards, I never stopped thinking about that powerful title. It was that conversation that inspired me to continue to fight for my life. I kept thinking to myself, when I leave this hospital bed, the first thing I would do is dance. And I think that’s what healed me at the time.”
General Manager at Soweto Theatre, Vincent Motau said: “While Dancing Out of Cancer is certainly a celebration of life, it is also a call to action for further research, more resources, and increased public awareness. It is a call to gather in honour of people living with cancer and survivors and to show the world that life after a cancer diagnosis can be fruitful, rewarding, and even inspiring.”
Quickfox Publishing is pleased to announce the publication of Mommy, MY BODY’S CHANGING A girl in bloom’s trusty handbook for growing up by leading Ob-Gynae-Sexologist Dr. Mpume Zenda.
The book is being launched at Exclusive Books Rosebank on Thursday 2nd November at 18h00.