PROJECT PROCESS
At the beginning of the year, I had to get into the space on what I will do, what I will communicate, and what my project will be based on. Initially I wanted to focus on socio-political issues that Black South African are struggling through especially Identity and Culture. The process indicates my failures and progress during the project to reach my final achievement with the body of work that guided that final body of work, as to where I am right now in terms of the project. This led to the investigation of what this project means to me as I directed/shifted the focus from socio-political issues to a personal narrative including myself and my mother as part of the body of work to communicate my message and tell a story.
AFROFUTURISM POST-APOCALYPTIC
The first iteration of photographs taken at a domestic farm by Atlantis Dunes. During the first experimental phase of the project, I focused on my mother, on who she is and how to represent her in a multi-cultural manner and her personal struggle with colonial effects. The photographs were not a performative element rather a fashion shoot. The aim was to investigate my mother’s cultural diversity and showcase the colonial effects. This is done with indigenous mixed to represent all her inherited identities and claimed identity.
The mask showcases the colonial effects, with the use of swearing words/text that showcases the harsh reality she had to endure during Apartheid regime in South Africa, as a non-white individual. The mask covers the face to display the idea that these certain words like Kaffir/Nigga were said in her face in a daily basis as she experienced and trail through a nation that was divided by colonial effect in the late 1800s.
The mixture of indigenous attire showcases her cultural diversity either claimed or inherited. The cultures displayed are Sotho, Ndebele, Xhosa, Swati, and Tsonga. But this failed as I could not in still the right items to communicate the message well and did not mix the right stuff.
The colours are representation of the post-colonial society she exists in, showcasing how her world and Identity was damaged and still is in today’s era. The cows assist to represent that the richness of her identity was taken away as cows are symbol of wealth in the Black South Africans and used in many traditions.
.jpg)
.jpg)
AFROFUTURISM INDLOVUKAZI
Indlovukazi translates to Mother Queen. This body of work showcases my mother as the warrior she is. My mother never allowed western influences to brainwash her mindset on Black South African cultures as to who we are and as she carried herself in a post-colonial society about not abandoning her culture and traditions as Black South African just cause colonialism occurred.
The photographs did not fail rather were able to communicate what I wanted to say with Afrofuturism Post-Apocalyptic with different elements. The strong red colour showcases her anger as she is highly frustrated by the thinking of many Black South African around their inherited traditions. But she wears her identity proudly every day, capturing on what the nation is doing to destroy their own identities to teach me and my siblings to succeed.
.jpg)
_1.jpg)
AFROFUTURISM EMABUTFO
Emabutfo translates to A Warrior. During this phase of the experimental photography, I diverted the focus to myself, as I could not get my mother to participate due to distance and location. With Afrofuturism Emabutfo the focus of the project is on me now, but I am not including myself in the photographs yet.
Emabutfo investigates how I am a warrior myself, discovering that I have not abandoned my inherited cultures even though I co-exist with the western cultures and influences. My mother kept me well in touch with my identity and where I come from to fully understand on my identity. But even with positives I looked in deeper and I discovered that there’s a conflicting identity with myself. Growing up, I used to hold conversations with my friends, family and others about who we are as Black South Africans and that’s when I discovered that there’s some conflicting personal identity. This series is what inspired Inkosi Masondo series.
.jpg)
.jpg)