Bulelwa Basse is the founder of Lyrical Base Project, a literary and performing arts organisation that promotes the profiles of writers and performing artists from disenfranchised communities in South Africa, through community publishing projects and creates a showcase platform at corporate events, government events and community cultural events.
She is also the founder of Sisters in Solidarity South Africa, an organisation which empowers women in South Africa, through Skills Development, Capacity Building Workshops, Career Development and Financial Education Workshops.
Through her initiative, Sisters in Solidarity SA, she engages South Africans on the subject of managing its finances well. She offers - with the assistance of financial experts - strategic ways of budgeting and saving finances, in order to self-empower, and in turn, invest in families and communities at large.
Basse is very passionate about issues which affect youth and women, as a result, strives to bring relevant information within rural areas, townships and peri-urban communities as a means of community development.
Her wish is to travel the African continent and engage communities to establish ways toward self-sustainability. Basse believes: “When communities merge to nurture their available resources, they have the capacity to become a great example to the world.”
Bulelwa is also the ambassador of Brand South Africa - Play Your Part Initiative. This inculcates a culture of doing what you can, with what you have, wherever you are!
She is a proud South African - although she considers herself a citizen of the world.
A mentor to the young and an inspiration to the old, Bulelwa looks up to her Grandmother and mother as a source of inspiration, strength and courage.
As a writer, she has been published by the Poetry Institute of Africa, the University of KwaZulu Natal Press, Oprah Magazine and publications supported by the Department of Arts and Culture.
As a performing artist, she has collaborated with Arts Cape Theatre, British Council, Centre for the Book, the South African Museums and the Steve Biko Foundation.
Basse has worked with various national and international community development organisations, literary establishments, creative arts centres in her capacity as Writer, Performing Artist, Arts & Culture Activist/Ambassador, Artist Manager, Community Development Practitioner, Corporate MC/Programme Director, Project Director/Events Co-ordinator, Language Facilitator as well as a Mouth-Piece for 16 Days of Activism against Women and Children Abuse.
Her capacity as a Guest Speaker, incorporated in all her respective roles, has benefited many communities, who have learned through her philosophy, to take the initiatve to play one's part and elevate ordinary lives to become a richly empowered society.
Her stance is: “When the Universe compels you to live up to your purpose - there is no grey area to confuse the plot.”
She adds: “The greatest injustice mankind could ever commit, upon itself, is that of never aspiring to live up to its full potential.”
Bulelwa has travelled as South African Ambassador to India (Coimbatore, Kerala, South Rajastan), and the UK. She has been in solidarity with the Western Saharans who are refugees in Algeria. Basse visited Algeria for the annual FISAHARA Festival 2014.
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BULELWA BASSE’S CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- In the year 2010 - Became South Africa’s Arts & Cultural Ambassador in India (Coimbatore and Kerala) through the Rotary Club Group Study Exchange Programme.
- In the year 2010 – Collaborated with the British Council South Africa, on the Verbalized project, which saw UK and South African based Poets perform in 6 cities in England and 3 cities in South Africa. An anthology called Verbalized, was published as a result of the collaboration.
- In the year 2013 - Was identified by the Department of Arts & Culture as South Africa’s Arts & Cultural Ambassador to honour the national celebration of 20 years of democracy, by being sent to be in solidarity with the Western Saharans, who’ve been refugees in Algerian deserts for more than 40 years, because their land is currently occupied by the Moroccans.
- Became Brand South Africa’s Play Your Part Initiative Ambassador – from 2015 up to date, which entails being a positively active South African citizen, driving the philosophy of doing what you can, with what you have, wherever you are.
- Recipient of the 2016 Western Cape Government Cultural Affairs Award for Best Literary & Performing Arts Contribution through her initiative: Lyrical Base Project, now in existence for 10 years.
- In the year 2016/2017 - Was recognised by the L’Oreal Paris Women of Worth Campaign and Destiny Magazine, as one of South Africa’s top ten most positively impactful women, who’s made a great contribution through community development with her organisation: Sisters In Solidarity South Africa.
- In the year 2017 - Was recognised by Elle Magazine as the January and February Woman of the Month, for her contribution in developing South African women in business through her organisation: Sisters in Solidarity South Africa.
