Draft:Tauriq Jenkins

• Comment: It's almost good to go but the issue is some of the sources are WP:PRIMARY and WP:PASSINGMENTION only. Please provide more WP:SECONDARY sources. Also the Personal life and Legacy section is uncited Warm Regards, Miminity (talk) (contribs) 11:11, 20 August 2024 (UTC)

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Tauriq Jenkins
Tauriq Jenkins Jenkins in 2023
Born	(1981-03-17) March 17, 1981 Harare, Zimbabwe.
Years active	1999–present
Website	tauriqjenkins.co.za

Tauriq Jenkins; Tauriq (pr. /tɔːˈriːk/), is a South African actor, activist, and cultural leader. He is known for his work in theater and his significant contributions to the indigenous rights movement in South Africa.. Jenkins serves as the High Commissioner of the Goringhaicona Khoi Khoin Indigenous Traditional Council (GKKITC) and has been a prominent figure in advocating for the preservation of indigenous heritage and environmental protection.

In 2013, he was awarded the International Davis Peace Prize for groundbreaking theater and rehabilitation work in South African prisons. He also won The City of Cape Town Mayoral Award for Community Bravery in 2021.

Early Life and Education

Tauriq Jenkins was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, to South African parents who lived in exile for 2 decades due to their anti-apartheid activism. His father was a high school teacher and the first Black headmaster of a white school in Zimbabwe. He also founded the first high school for Coloured and Asian children in Gwery, Buluwayo called Founders High School in 1952. Jenkins’ paternal grandfather was chairperson of a Simonstown Civic Association and contested the Group Areas Act. His mother, Thurah Jenkins, was a nurse and a former head girl at Livingston High School in South Africa where renowned anti-apartheid activist Dr Neville Edward Alexander taught her. She was a member of the SACP and loved Shakespeare. Her family has historical ties to Tuan Guru , an influential figure who translated the Quran.

Jenkins attended Tennyson Primary School in Bulawayo and Alexandra Park Primary in Harare. He then went to Prince Edward High School in Harare, where he excelled in chess and cricket. He played for the Zimbabwe Mashonaland cricket team and played chess for Mashonaland and Zimbabwe Junior Teams. After his family returned to South Africa in 1995, he attended the South African College Schools (SACS), earning Western Province colors in shooting and chess and winning the best actor award. He pursued higher education at the University of Cape Town (UCT), where he won the student representative council elections as the first independent candidate in 2002.

Jenkins later earned a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts from Columbia University in New York (2012-2015) and began his PhD in African Studies at UCT in 2021, supported by the Archie Mafeje PhD Fellowship

Leadership in GKKITC

In early 2017, Jenkins formally became a member of the Goringhaicona Khoi Khoin Indigenous Traditional Council (GKKITC). By June 2017, he was appointed as the Senior High Commissioner of the GKKITC, later referred to as the Supreme High Commissioner. Jenkins also serves as the Vice Chair of the Council’s National Executive Council (NEC). Under his leadership, the GKKITC has been at the forefront of campaigns to protect sacred indigenous sites, such as the River Club site in Cape Town, where Amazon's African headquarters are being constructed. This site holds significant cultural and historical importance for the Khoi people as the location of the first recorded conflict between the Khoi and European colonizers.

Acting and Theatre Career

Tauriq Jenkins has a diverse acting portfolio, with roles in film, television, and theater. He is fluent in multiple languages, including English, French, Afrikaans, and several South African languages. His work in film and television includes notable appearances in productions such as "Angel of the Skies" (2013), "The World Unseen" (2007), and "Invictus" (2009). Jenkins has also performed extensively on stage, both in South Africa and internationally, including roles in Shakespearean productions and other classical plays.

Jenkins has a particular passion and talent for Shakespeare which he weaves into his work as a human rights activist. He founded the Independent Theatre Movement of South Africa and Shakespeare in Prison South Africa(SHIPSA), a program that brings the works of William Shakespeare to incarcerated individuals. The SHIPSA program earned him the International Davis Peace Prize in 2015. 

His contributions to theater include numerous acclaimed performances and directorial works as listed below.

• Hamlet, Royal Shakespeare Company (dir. Dame Janet Suzman'')
• Amadeus, Baxter Theatre Centre (dir. Lara Foot)
• Antigone, Baxter Theatre Centre (dir. Sean Matthias)
• Wrote and directed ‘Coconuts and Maroelas’ and performed this at the National Arts Festival
• The Wishing Tree, Signature Theatre Company (NYC) (dir. Mustafa Kaymak)
• A Winter’s Tale, Shapiro Theatre (NYC) (dir. Andrei Serban)
• Twelfth Night, Malvolio, Shapiro Theatre (NYC) (dir. Maridee Slater)
• Midsummer Night’s Dream, Classical Stage Company (NYC) (dir. Tyne Raffaeli)
• Light, Classical Stage Company (NYC) (dir. Brian Kulick)
• Hamlet, Cape Heart Theatre Company, (dir. Mark Hoeben)
• Oedipus, Artscape / Kirstenbosch Dionysos Festival, (dir. Roy Sergeant)
• King Lear, Artscape Theatre, (dir. Roy Sergeant)
• Hamlet, Cape Heart Theatre Company, (dir. Andre Samuels)
• Othello, Cape Heart Theatre Company, (dir. Mary Dreyer)
• The Bacchae Pentheus, Artscape/ Kirstenbosch Dionysos Theatre Festival, (dir.Roy Sergeant)
• Macbeth, Maynardville Open Air Theatre, (dir. Geoffrey Hyland)
• Bucking Palace, District Six Richard, (dir.  Basil Appollis)
• The Trojan Women, (dir. Geoffrey Hyland)
• Les Splendides (dir. Sandra Temmingh)
• The Passions, (dir. Thain Torres)
• Conscripts of Apartheid (dir. Tauriq Jenkins / Kris Marias /)
• Maura Talbot National Arts Festival/ Mcgregor Poetry Festival
• Shakespeare: One Man (dir. Tauriq Jenkins)

Jenkins’ theatrical work is recognized for its depth, cultural relevance, and focus on social justice themes. He has also served as the Chair of the Performing Arts Network of South Africa (PANSA) in the Western Cape and as the Interim Chair of the South African Palestinian Arts and Culture Coalition (SAPACC).

Shakespeare to Gaza

Jenkins is a co-founder of the "Shakespeare to Gaza" initiative, a program that exemplifies his commitment to solidarity with the Palestinian people.This initiative brings together South African and Palestinian artists to use the works of William Shakespeare as a form of cultural resistance and solidarity. The program is an extension of Jenkins' broader activism, which focuses on using art to challenge oppression and support marginalized communities. "Shakespeare to Gaza" has garnered attention for its innovative approach to international solidarity, blending the timeless themes of Shakespeare's works with the contemporary struggles of the Palestinian people.

The initiative, supported by various cultural organizations and activists, including the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign in Cape Town, aims to provide a platform for artistic expression and resistance, highlighting the shared struggles of oppressed communities worldwide. Jenkins' involvement in this program is a testament to his belief in the power of the arts to transcend borders and foster global solidarity.

Activism

Tauriq Jenkins is a prominent Human Rights Defender and a key figure in South African civil society. He has chaired the A|XARRA Restorative Justice Forum and served as the convener of the C19 People’s Coalition, which represents over 400 organizations. Jenkins currently leads the Anti-Repression Working Group, addressing state violence and human rights violations. He holds the position of High Commissioner of the Goringhaicona Khoi Khoin Traditional Indigenous Council and is an accredited South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) Section 11 Monitor.

Strandfontein Debacle

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tauriq Jenkins also played a significant role in highlighting human rights concerns at the Strandfontein temporary shelter for homeless people in Cape Town. Jenkins, acting as a monitor for the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), was critical of the conditions at the camp, which he and others described as inhumane. The camp, which housed over 1,000 people, was established by the City of Cape Town as a response to the pandemic. However, reports and observations from Jenkins and the SAHRC revealed that the site was poorly managed, with inadequate sanitation, overcrowding, and limited access to medical care. Jenkins was vocal in his critique, likening the camp more to a prison than a place of safety, which culminated in a Western Cape High Court ruling that vindicated the concerns raised by Jenkins and other monitors. The court's decision underscored the importance of safeguarding human rights even during emergencies, validating Jenkins' and the SAHRC’s stance on the issue.

His activism includes work with various environmental and civic organizations, such as the Observatory Civic Association, the Two Rivers Urban Park Association, and Oude Molen Eco Village. Jenkins' contributions to human rights and environmental advocacy have been recognized with the International Davis Peace Prize and the City of Cape Town Mayoral Award for Community Bravery. However, his activism has also made him a target for threats, legal challenges, and smear campaigns. Jenkins is also the chairperson of Save Our Sacred Lands, a group involved in legal battles to protect indigenous heritage sites from commercial development, notably in the Amazon River Club development case in Cape Town.

Personal Life

Tauriq Jenkins resides in Cape Town. He is an avid chess player, and has coached and directed tournaments at various levels in South Africa, and has won several championships. Jenkins continues to be involved in activism, education, and the arts, often combining these passions in his work.

Legacy

Tauriq Jenkins is widely regarded as a leading figure in the fight for indigenous rights and the preservation of Khoi heritage in South Africa. His work in theater, academia, and activism has made him a prominent voice in the ongoing struggle for justice and recognition of Indigenous communities and the broader issues of human rights and social justice. Despite facing significant personal risks, Jenkins remains committed to social justice and cultural preservation; and to inspiring future generations of activists, scholars, and artists. 

Awards and Recognitions

• International Davis Peace Prize: Awarded for classical theatre work in South African prisons.
• City of Cape Town Mayoral Award for Community Bravery

Filmography

• "Angel of the Skies" (2013)

Role: Lt. Jimmy Oakes A World War II drama focusing on a British South African pilot's experiences during the war.

• "The World Unseen" (2007)

Role: Sheriff at Restaurant A drama set in 1950s South Africa, exploring the lives of two Indian women under apartheid.

• "More Than Just a Game" (2007)

Role: Clarence Makanda A film depicting the formation of a football league by political prisoners on Robben Island.

• "(2005 film)|Supernova" (2005)

Role: Paramedic A science fiction TV series about a team of scientists trying to prevent an Earth-threatening disaster.

• "Holby City" (2004)

Role: Dr. Makunda A guest role in this British medical drama that focuses on the lives of hospital staff.

• "Human Cargo" (2004)

Role: Antonio A Canadian mini-series that examines the global refugee crisis and personal stories within it.

• "Red Dust" (2004)

Role: Thulani A legal drama that explores South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission and justice pursuits.

• "The Bone Snatcher" (2003)

Role: Titus A horror film about a group of scientists encountering a deadly creature in the Namibian desert.

• "The Silent Fall" (2007)

Role: Eddie Shabangu A drama about a journalist investigating political corruption in post-apartheid South Africa.

• "Charlie Jade" (2005)

Role: 1st Engineer A science fiction TV series that follows a detective trapped between parallel universes.

• "(2008 British TV series)|Gladiators" (2009)

Role: Senator Zabarus A drama set in ancient Rome, exploring power struggles and political intrigue.

• "The Bird Can't Fly" (2007)

Role: Doctor A drama about a woman who returns to a desolate South African town to find her grandson.

• "The Librarians" (2007)

Role: Husband A series about a group of librarians protecting historical and magical artifacts.

• "Mercenary for Justice" (2006)

Role: Village Father An action film about a mercenary caught in a web of deceit and betrayal.

• "Inside" (2016)

Role: Zande A drama centered on a family dealing with the aftermath of a brutal home invasion.

• "Cape of Good Hope" (2004)

Role: Sikhumbuzo A South African ensemble film exploring the interconnected lives of several characters.

• "Invictus" (2009)

Role: Jail Guard A historical drama about Nelson Mandela’s use of the 1995 Rugby World Cup to unite post-apartheid South Africa.

• "Scandal!" (2013)

Role: Father of Kila A popular South African soap opera where Jenkins played a guest role.

• "Crossing the Line" (2011) (2005?)

Role: Doctor A drama that explores the challenges faced by a family of South African immigrants in the UK.

External links

• Tauriq Jenkins Official Website
• Link to artist profile
• University of Cape Town, [Tauriq Jenkins Profile]
• Front Line Defenders, [Profile on Tauriq Jenkins]
• Artfluence Festival, [Tauriq Jenkins Biography]
• IMDb, [Tauriq Jenkins Filmography]
• Columbia Oral History Alumni, [Tauriq Jenkins Profile]

See Also

• Observatory Civic Association
• Two Rivers Urban Park Association
• Performing Arts Network of South Africa (PANSA)
• Save Our Sacred Lands
• A|XARRA Restorative Justice Forum
• Anti-Repression Working Group

This page will be placed in the following categories if it is moved to the article namespace.

Categories:

• Living people
• South African Actors
• South African Human Rights Activists
• South African Environmentalists
• Indigenous Rights Activists