Palesa Matebesi ,27 years old. Founder of Bonfire~Smiles Galore. The Journey Growing up in the lively streets of Moletsane, Soweto, I found myself drawn to the arts and science. I excelled at school specifically in Science & Biology and took part in modern dance and drama which ultimately landed me a sponsorship from “LoveLife Games “to compete in Durban, alongside my dance mates from Thlolohelo Primary school. I attribute my love for the Arts to my lower primary teacher, ‘Mistress Sara Lesibu’ who was the pioneer behind the creative arts in our primary school.
She organized practice for us after school and the main person who afforded us these sponsorships and opportunities with the department of arts and culture throughout our exciting days in lower primary. Fast forward to 2003, I find myself in the Suburban areas where I relocated to stay with my parents. I was raised by my grandmother in Soweto. I didn’t like the suburbs at all, life was boring and empty, it wasn’t as lively and exciting as Soweto. I found it so hard to integrate, even in school. I was that “Kasi girl” who used to own a little spaza shop at the age of 9, selling quality snacks such as ‘Marie biscuits ‘and highly active in the arts.
Now this “Kasi girl” was forced into this new world of high walls and “don’t care” and neighbors who don’t greet each other. Eventually I tried to integrate at school only because of the year where there was a play for “Sarafina”. I was instantly excited to be part of it. I killed my performance in that play! .I still remember it like yesterday. Music classes with Mr Matthews was also pure bliss.
Fast forward to High School, I had a tough time fitting in and integrating again to a point where I would want to join dance groups but would be rejected. I resorted to painting, drawing and creating things at home to keep the love of ART burning. I would watch some of my classmates in dance groups practicing after school and wouldn’t be invited to join in. I would only imagine dancing in front of the crowd in my head and that’s pretty much where the Arts existed for me in high School, “in my head”. However, on weekends, I would still go to Soweto, where I attended Choir sessions which I pin back to one of the greatest attributes to my creativity. To cut a very long story short, No matter how much I was derailed from the arts, it was something that I never totally let go. It has always been in my blood.
Come 2017, I was on an internship programme as a Medical affairs trainee at a reputable pharmaceutical company, I hold a BSc Biomedicine degree. On that particular year, specifically in October 2017, I kept on getting a persistent feeling that I should be doing something aligned to my passion. I couldn’t shake off that feeling for a while. I would dream of being around that aura or energy of creative arts. One day I woke up from a dream which was the fire-starter to the foundation of what #Bonfire is today. It was like sort of an awakening; it was a time to get back to what I believe I’ve always been drawn to. I told my parents about that specific dream and they told me “an idea is nothing till you action it”. From that specific day, I started jotting down what needs to be done to make this a reality, I knew it will be everything I was rejected from , everything I wish was there, everything I had imagined during my high school days, everything artistic I wanted to do in one combo.
I set a date, 21 January 2018, 2 days after my son’s 2-year birthday. I got together with awesome people whom I thought would help make this dream reality, I was also approached by some random but amazing creatives on Facebook (Which are now part of the team) , sort of like there were sent by God. I knew I had to create an awesome arts space which will bring people of all generations and different walks of life together without any judgment and with the aim of inclusion , fun ,a sense of belonging and togetherness .An element of motivation for the masses to follow their passions and chase their dreams was also key.
I had an “ahaa’ moment which brought about the literal element of a Bonfire.(Story for another day) “Nothing brings people closer together like the warmth of a bonfire.” A bonfire has many different meanings with “ fire” standing out the most.. So on the 21st January 2018, It was the birth of the first Bonfire-Smiles Galore event, (The All generation bonfire chat night).The venue was in my parents’ back yard. My parents have always given me support to explore whatever idea I thought of.(There were also the sponsor of my “little spaza shop” in Soweto.)
What is Bonfire~Smiles Galore?(#BONFIRE) Bonfire- smiles galore is a creative arts and entertainment house/experience. A stress-free zone which brings people from all different walks of life and generations together around a colorful bonfire to break existing barriers e through genuine fun. It is a celebration of Art, love, creativity and PASSION tailored for the masses to come through to relax, retreat and appreciate themselves for who they are without any judgment. It is a fire and colorful atmosphere and exciting platform and event for sharing of passions from different creatives, non-typical motivational chats incorporated into various games such as tug of war, riverbank, dance-offs and more.
The whole manifesto behind Bonfire-Smiles Galore is to inspire the masses to fearlessly follow and explore their wildest dreams and passions .The best way we demonstrate this manifesto is through various forms of ART. We have however expanded and transformed throughout the past 2 years by literally taking the bonfire experience to the people in Tembisa, Soweto, Maboneng throughout to Rustenburg in the North West province. We couldn’t have stretched that further if it wasn’t for our neighbors in the “suburbs” who were forever complaining and calling the police on us for “disruptive behaviour” in a ‘residential area’. We offer our services at camp sites , charity events , birthday party celebrations, and will be exploring schools post -Covid-19 pandemic .
We also offer other services under the Bonfire~smiles galore umbrella which include entertainment at day events, compromising of fun & games and arts & crafts through Bonfire Friendly guys. We also create atmospheres/extraordinary themes at other events and kiddies’ parties. We are also in the business of bringing “smile galore’ via food through our exclusive braai service “Bonfire Chow on wheels as well as SKrumptious KooKies which are freshly baked home-made treats ranging from Annah’s scones, Jam tarts, Chocolate brownies, Death by chocolate treats , and many more. Every branch of the #Bonfire tree drives a motive of chasing our dreams. Each of our Kookies also come with something special to make any customer’s day.
The journey has been a rollercoaster but thrilling. It’s amazing to experience! It gets tough at times but that’s what makes it so worth it when we win. We are not where we wish to be but we’re heading towards what we have imagined and even more. It’s amazing how the first step is all it takes to propel forward. I am currently in between juggling a corporate job in the medical field whilst pushing Bonfire~Smiles Galore, which can be super challenging at times as much as it is exhilarating. I however believe that there is no limit to what one can do. Purpose crosses borders.
It is not always linked to one specific discipline.(Art & Science go hand in hand) Bonfire~Smiles Galore is a community and super experience of gifted people who encourage others to also discover and explore their natural gifts & talents to live a life with purpose.