By: Sizakele nduli
ArtiphiQ Magazine, which seeks to help young artists and other talented individuals in the Eastern Cape gain visibility, was developed in 2021. After shutting down for almost a year and reopening, owner Elethu Dlelaphantsi is hopeful that his company will grow. “We are boxed in the Eastern Cape with no hope to grow other than going to big cities like Johannesburg in order to make it in the industry. I wanted to give hope to these artists that we can make it even when we are still pushing from our hometowns, we will get that recognition,” Dlelaphantsi told Vutivi News.
Dlelaphantsi, who is from Mthatha, said that from a young age, he loved the entertainment industry, and his dream was to pursue a career as a DJ, producer, or radio personality. However, as time progressed, Dlelaphantsi’s interests and pursuits expanded, leading him to explore the field of graphic design. This opened his mind to various entertainment-related businesses that he could potentially explore.
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Dlelaphantsi said that he had encountered several obstacles such as a limited team, a lack of resources and financial difficulties when he started the business. “I started this magazine with no funding, and it is still like that. I can’t do all of this on my own. I need a team, and to get a team I need money because we all need money,” he said. “The magazine is going to open some job opportunities. We are going to need editors, photographers, social media marketers and a whole lot of equipment that we don’t have at the moment.” His company relies on a team of three individuals who help write articles and uses the services of a local company, Softech Photography, to ensure that they have high-quality images.
To further showcase local talent, ArtiphiQ plans to start a podcast to capture and showcase the work of local artists and hustlers in the field who are doing whatever it takes to make a living. “We once shot one with Vein Unity, an amazing barber from Mthatha a year ago. It’s called Meet the Hustler. It’s out on our YouTube channel ArtiphiQ Magazine,” he added. In addition, they also have plans to do an official launch of the magazine and address issues with their website where they have been releasing previous issues of the magazine. “We do not sell the magazine at the moment. We are still trying to grow it and once it’s out there we can then sell it. But we’d appreciate anyone who [give] a hand and donate anything to the mag,” Dlelaphantsi said.
The magazine can be found at https://www.facebook.com/ArtiphiQMag/
