Sedibeng Arts and Culture Foundation
Culture is the soil from which a nation grows.
Who we are
Culture is the soil from which a nation grows. When that soil is neglected -when heritage sites crumble, when indigenous languages fade from the tongues of the young, when the stories of ancestors are forgotten a people loses not only its past but its compass for the future.
Sedibeng Arts & Culture Foundation (“SACUFE”) was established to ensure that South Africa’s cultural heritage is not merely preserved in museums but lived, practised, and transmitted through the hands and voices of a new generation.
SACUFE is a registered Non-Profit Organisation. We were established to address this cultural emergency with the urgency and institutional rigour it demands. Since our founding, we have pursued a dual mandate: to preserve and promote South Africa’s diverse cultural heritage, and to develop the capacity of young people to become the next generation of cultural custodians, creative practitioners, and heritage professionals. This dual mandate affords us to combine both traditional heritage organisations missions (with a focus on preservation of our arts, culture and heritage) and traditional youth organisations missions (with a focus on skills training) to achieve our goals.
Since our inception, we have worked at the nexus of arts, culture, and community development. We have and continue to mplement programs that range from heritage site restoration to cultural tourism development, from indigenous music documentation to community mural projects. Our cumulative programs reach spans beneficiaries across Gauteng, Free State, North West, and Mpumalanga.
Our values
Our work is guided by five foundational values that shape every program we deliver:
- Isiko (Heritage/Tradition): We honour the cultural traditions of all South Africa’s peoples. Our programmes are designed not to fossilise culture in a nostalgic past but to keep it alive, relevant, and evolving through the active participation of young people.
2. Isithunzi (Dignity): We approach every community, every tradition, and every individual with the dignity and respect they deserve. We do not treat cultural heritage as a curiosity or a commodity; we treat it as a living expression of human identity.
3. Ubumbano (Unity/Solidarity): South Africa’s cultural diversity is a strength, not a threat. Our multi province, multi-cultural approach builds bridges between traditions and fosters the mutual understanding that is the foundation of national unity.
4. Ubuciko (Artistry/Creativity): We believe that creative expression is a fundamental human need and a powerful tool for personal and community transformation. Our programmes nurture artistic talent and creative thinking as pathways to both cultural enrichment and economic opportunity.
5. Ukuphendula (Accountability): We are stewards of public trust and public funds. Our governance, financial management, and reporting meet the highest standards of transparency and accountability.