As the socio-political transformation of South Africa continued to unfold, the National Arts Festival found itself more able than ever to engage with cultural groups, political organizations and artistic movements to which our access had long been restricted. The Festival felt this not only as an encouraging opportunity for new growth, but also as a moral imperative. In his opening address, Professor Alan Crump explained that:

“that the Festival is moving closer to reflecting the richness and diversity of South Africa’s cultural heritage. To criticise and adopt diverse view-points Is also an expected part of a national festival’s creative mosaic… In 1990 the festival committee publicly stated that it would consult with the then newly unbanned political parties and Barbara Masekela presented the first public and official speech on the ANC cultural policy. This seems to have been a long time ago. The speed of change in South Africa has made these events history. Since then the festival committee has consulted with many political and cultural groups. It has been both fruitful, informative and highly beneficial. We have learnt a great deal and have been encouraged by the willingness of all concerned with the arts, to share views in an attempt to mould the cultural future of South Africa.”

Notable actor Ramolao Makhene, a member of the Festival Committee, reflected on the types of cultural and artistic expression that might now begin to feature in the Festival programme, and challenged Festival audiences to continue to expand their ideas of what might constitute an overarching South African culture:

“And so, these cultural happenings lie in wait to be included in the Festival, and to be appreciated by the audiences who know so little about their origins. Do they want to know more? I am asking the question of you, the festival-goer… Can the Festival lead us to restoring, redeeming South African culture and in the process become the vanguard of our culture? Are you the Festival-goer ready to include the Bapedi drums and horns, the energy of African Dance, workers’ theatre, and the beauty and nuance of African languages in your definition of culture?… We must have the moral obligation to remedy the harm done by apartheid culture. Total freedom, total cultural freedom will come when people can read their world with pride, without pain.”