Using Lesego Rampokoleng’s Oeuvre to Address Self-Awareness and Talent Discovery among South African Unemployed Youth: A Case Study in Teacher Education

Abstract

The problem this study examined was lack of interest among African youth in pursuing artistry disciplines due to minimal promotion of the discipline, its minimal role in self- and talent discovery initiatives. The artistry works of the South African artists such as Lesego Rampolokeng, who promotes self-awareness and Black consciousness are not promoted in the South African school curriculum and communities, and media is also silent about them. The primary objective of the study was to examine the views of student teachers and lectures on the works of Lesego Rampolokeng, and its contribution towards youth’s self-awareness and talent discovery; and how African artistry can be used to promote youth that is self-propelled and self- actualised in their career life. The key findings of the study indicate that black consciousness lessons of Rampolokeng evoke student teachers’ self -awareness and become self-propelled towards self- actualised career life. Furthermore, Rampolokeng is regarded as a role model whose works can be used to promote self- and talent discovery among South African youth. This study therefore, recommends that performing arts should be promoted in African communities and become a compulsory subject in the basic education. The study further proposes an increased exposure of African Performing Arts works in the South African school curriculum; and school Arts competition, as well as through increased number of Arts festival in South African communities.