The paintings, sculptures, woodcarvings, basketry, beadwork and ceramics have become well known in world markets.
Since the lifting of the cultural boycott, performing art has been transformed. 'protesta' Theater, through which authors obtained international recognition from the likes of Athol Fugard, directors like Mbongeni Ngema and Barney Simon and actors John Kani and Winston Ntshona no longer prevails. The music and dance, represented by blockbusters like The Lion King, African Footprint and Umoja are breaking new ground in the world circuit.
The local music scene is as vibrant as ever, from the distinguished kwela rhythms (pennywhistle) and Kwaito (African pop) municipalities, through the traditional boeremusiek tiekiedraai Afrikaners, to soul, jazz and reggae. Hugh Masikela (trumpet), Dollar Brand (jazz pianist and composer) and Miriam Makeba (singer) are three of the most popular musicians today. But classical music and ballet continue to attract enthusiastic audiences.
The post-apartheid film industry is still in its development stage, but two South African films - Yesterday and Tsotsi - who received international recognition. Today, they are being filmed in South Africa, especially in Cape Town, a lot of footage of the international trading circuit.
Literature is another area in which South Africans have distinguished. Such writers as Olive Schreiner, Alan Paton, Nadine Gordimer, Laurens van der Post, Es'kia Mphahlele, Breyten Breytenbach, Lewis Nkosi, Andre Brink, JM Coetzee and Zakes Mda are known worldwide. Gordimer and Coetzee was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature.
