19/05/2026
X-Wild Project: Carrying the elders’ stories forward
The X-Wild Movement was born to rekindle the X-factor in our artists and make each story told a true expression of our original wild, creative nature. This project is made possible by the Goethe-Institut and presented by Tina Kruger and Beaunella Khumalo for the Jakes Gerwel Foundation.
“Across southern Africa, there exists a body of oral tradition that belongs specifically to women. Stories of wise women, healer women, resistant women. Narratives passed from grandmother to granddaughter, told in kitchens, by fires, in whispers and in song. These traditions are not abstract heritage; they are living knowledge systems,” explains Beaunella.
These stories are slowly disappearing as urbanisation and digital noise drown out the quiet voice of the ancestor. The project’s intention is for contemporary artists rooted in these communities to become the bridge between the elder and the future.
Over 18 months, nine emerging artists are collaborating with traditional storytellers, professional filmmakers and cultural practitioners to produce three short films: The Wise Woman, The Resistant Woman and The Healer Woman. These will be screened at a small festival, KwaNojoli Showcase, at Paulet House in KwaNojoli in April 2027.
“We will also produce three sets of handcrafted costumes that carry the aesthetic and symbolic language of the tradition, and publish both a children’s illustrated book and an online collection of the original heritage stories that inspired the films, so that the source material itself is never lost,” concludes Tina.
We are looking for 3 screenwriters, 3 performing actors, as well as a costume designer to create 3 incredible short films that will broaden the recognition of women-led storytelling practices. In addition, we are looking for a children’s book writer and children’s book illustrator who will turn those narratives to engaging stories for children.
If this speaks to what you dream of doing, then we are looking for you:
Apply today: https://portal.gap.goethe.de/en-US/
For more information: https://www.goethe.de/prj/aep/en/cal/sna.html
Deadline: 29 May 2026
