Q&A WITH VUYO BOOI: ROOTED IN ART, DRIVEN BY PURPOSE
Monday, 2nd June 2025
Q: You’ve been in the arts since 1987. What first drew you to this path?
Vuyo Booi: I was still a boy in Joza when I joined a group called Masande Players. It was led by the late Andile Khetsheni. He inspired me. He said, “Soul, join a programme — it’ll help you face life’s problems.” I didn’t know then how right he was.
Q: What’s been the biggest challenge in your journey?
Vuyo: Staying consistent. So many groups I started or joined didn’t survive. Sometimes it was internal issues, sometimes no money, no support. But I couldn’t let go. Art is my calling, not my hobby.
Q: How do you continue to reinvent yourself over the years?
Vuyo: I listen — to the youth, to the times, and to God. I also take risks. Like with the giant puppets. No one in the Eastern Cape was doing that. But I said, "Let me try." That’s how I ended up at Afrika Burn. This annual event is known for its arts and culture scene, which includes art installations, costumes, and performances. It also features music and theme camps, all created through a volunteer and gifting culture.
Q: How was your experience at Afrika Burn 2025?
Vuyo: Life-changing. There was no money, just love and art. Everyone shares. I met people from all over. And when I won a medal for my puppets, I cried. Because it reminded me of everything I’ve overcome.
Q: What does being from Makhanda, the Creative City, mean to you?
Vuyo: It means I carry a legacy. Makhanda is full of artists, but not all survive. I’ve stayed because I believe in this place. It raised me, and now I raise others through my art.
Q: What’s your message to young creatives?
Vuyo: Stay grounded. Don’t chase likes — chase truth. And never forget where you come from.
