Dr Motumisi Tawana, the South African Consul General in New York, is a man of many talents. With over 24 years of experience in South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Tawana has a wealth of knowledge on navigating bureaucracies and establishing relationships with key stakeholders. In his current role, he has not only facilitated trade and institutional relations but has also extended South Africa’s consular reach to cover fifteen U.S. east coast states, with further expansion plans in the works.
However, it is Dr Tawana’s latest venture that has set him apart. In September 2021, he opened South Africa’s first mission-abroad Cultural Center in New York, with the aim of promoting South Africa’s arts and culture to an international audience. The Center’s inaugural exhibition, Washboards and Mirrors, showcased the collages of Zakes Mda, a renowned polymath creative mind.
Dr Tawana sees culture as a catalyst for diplomacy, a tool to build bridges and connections between nations. He believes that the creative industries are essential for employment, jobs, and economic activity, and that South Africa’s story can be told positively through arts and culture. The Center’s permanent exhibition of 2000 records in all eleven of South Africa’s official languages, dating back to 1901, has already impressed visitors seeking consular assistance.
However, the Cultural Center’s success is currently limited by a lack of dedicated personnel and resources. Unlike other consulates in New York, such as Mexico, The Philippines, and Germany, which have dedicated staff for their own Cultural Centers or to handle cultural issues, the South African Cultural Center does not have a full-time cultural affairs officer. Dr Tawana acknowledges that South Africa is decades behind countries like South Korea and Japan, which have established magnificent culture centers, but he remains optimistic about the future.
Dr Tawana’s vision for the Cultural Center is to establish it as a drawcard attraction, showcasing South Africa’s rich culture to a global audience. With his experience in navigating bureaucracies and building relationships, combined with his passion for promoting arts and culture, Dr Tawana is well-placed to make his vision a reality. As he puts it, he is not only a Consul General but also a “Cultural Worker,” committed to bridging gaps and fostering connections through the power of culture.
