This chapter focuses on the artistic and activist practice of Cape Town-basedtheatre maker Mandisi Sindo, in order to gain an understanding of artivismand locating this praxis as an alternative form of public intellectualism.According to José María Mesías-Lema, ‘artivismis a neologism derived from “art” and “activism”, where the order of words has its rationale; the termdescribes artists who are committed to creative processes of an activistnature but not activists who resort to art as a form ofvindication’.

Mandisi Sindo is a South African theatre maker, social entrepreneur andartivist based in Cape Town. Writing for Lead SA, LilfordLesabe describes Sindo as ‘the founder, artistic director, and CEO ofMakukhanye Art Room’. The Makukhanye Art Room is Khayelitsha's‘first ever shack theatre’ and was run by Sindo alongside‘technical director Bamanye Yeko, Siphosethu Runqu and Sivuwe Sigudu(maintenance) and Siphosethu Dyonase and Lwazi Thezaphi (operations andco-ordination)’. The space first came into use in 2007, when, as ashack, it ‘served mainly as a rehearsal space for the MakukhanyeEntertainment Act Group run by Thando Mpengezi and Siphosethu Runqu’.The shack was also used as a shared public space for members of thecommunity of Khayelitsha, the second largest township in South Africa, toshare knowledge and ideas on how to make life better for themselves.Following his graduation from the University of Cape Town with a Dramadegree, Sindo became more actively involved with the space, leading to hisbecoming artistic director and producer in 2015. Since he took over, theshack has come to be known as the Makukhanye Art Room, South Africa'sfirst recognised shack theatre.

Sindo has since left Makukhanye Art Room to start another shack theatre witha wider scope of interest. Founded in 2017, Khayelitsha Art School &Rehabilitation Centre (KASI RC), writes Shifaan Ryklief, ‘is a shacktheatre based in the heart of Khayelitsha where locals and visitors canenjoy the performing arts and partake in educational workshops’.

Sindo's contribution to the arts sector within his community providesa basis for engaging with the ways he uses artistic devices to frame hisactivism, thus becoming an artivist. Artivism gives artists who would besocial actors alternative modes of practising intellectualism, which for themost part has been and is expressed through the act of writing.