Centre for Creative Arts Director receives National Order of Merit Award

Issued by University of KwaZulu-Natal
Johannesburg, Apr 12, 2021
Caption: UKZN’s Dr Ismail Mahomed receives the National Order of Merit Award from the Ambassador of France to South Africa, Mr Aurélien Lechevallier.

Director of the Centre for Creative Arts (CCA) within UKZN’s College of Humanities Dr Ismail Mahomed was recently presented with the National Order of Merit award, bestowed on behalf of the President of the French Republic, highlighting great services rendered to France.

It is bestowed on those who have contributed to furthering the influence of France through their personality, the expansion of French culture through their activities, and who contribute to the life of French communities abroad.

Said Dr Mahomed: "I receive the award with humility. I also express gratitude to both the South African and French artists with whom I have been able to work over several years to engage the arts to create a world where social justice prevails."

Ambassador of France to South Africa, Aurélien Lechevallier, said: "We celebrate Dr Ismail Mahomed as a passionate advocate for the arts, who, throughout his outstanding career, has been tirelessly committed to defending the interests of artists and cultural players in this country that we all cherish. We are also celebrating a friend, whose support for France and the cultural exchanges with France has been invaluable, and whose advice we have been seeking year after year in order to build a relationship with the South African cultural scene that would not only be strong, but most of all, meaningful."

In 2016, Mahomed was awarded the Chevalier des l ‘Ordre des Artes et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of the Arts and Literature).

For more information, please contact:

Dr Ismail Mahomed
[email protected]
083 235 8440