Art of the hustle

From fintech workshops to live podcasts, HEATSKRS CON blends creativity and commerce, giving youth the tools to thrive in Africa’s creative economy

- Rolland Simpi Motaung

Walking into Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, I am immediately immersed in creativity and knowledge sharing.

I am here to witness this year’s edition of HEATSKRS CON (Heatseekers Convention), a power-packed two-day event that champions youth-led innovation, entrepreneurship and cultural storytelling.

After media accreditations and pleasantries, publicist and host Nikiwe Buhlalu showed me to the first discussion of the day, the #FintechXfilm: Finance for filmmaker’s workshop. I get in while a film guarantor is addressing the mostly young audience on film insurance.

“HEATSKRS is curating spaces where we could find the heat from the latest innovators and creatives but also creating a space for education,” Buhlalu tells me.

The convention aims to blend the worlds of creative entrepreneurship with filmmaking, music, cultural organising and pop culture through carefully curated stages, workshops, talks and showcases.

I asked Buhlalu about the genesis of this convention in its second year.

“It started off basically because of Pride and Petty, which is a YouTube channel we had a few years back.

“With the HEATSKRS events we wanted to create a space for the youth, where independent artists can perform on stage and actually get paid,” she says.

“Those who make short films, for instance, that don’t have distribution deals can come here to show their films and engage with the audience by having a live response.”

HEARTSKRS is a launch pad for young creative careers, including Buhlalu’s. “One of the first acting auditions I ever did was because someone saw me at HEATSKRS, so that’s, at its core, what it’s all about.”

As we chatted amid Joburg skyline views and sips of ginger beer, NotAnotherPodcast Live, hosted by Masego Matiko and guest Monwabisi Rodolo, were doing a live recording.