Rebels with a Cause

By Njabulo Ngobese

DUT students embarked on a strike 3 weeks ago over issues concerning student welfare. According to reports, the highlighted issues were the NSFAS cases on the failure to fund first year and B-Tech students for their studies in 2011, security issues at student residents following an alleged rape case of one of the students and the highlight being the disregard for government condoms where students insisted on branded condoms being shelved at campus cafeterias for accessibility through NSFAS funding.

Last week Wednesday on the 27th of July 2011, students were served with eviction notices across various DUT student residents following growing concerns over the safety of property rented by the university. An interdict had been applied for by the landlords of the properties in question at the Master’s High Court for the eviction of students the very next day on Thursday 28th of July 2011.

However the story that led headlines as the reason behind the DUT strike was the complaint of students over the issuing of government condoms. According to students at the Durban University of Technology’s Steve Biko Campus, the revolt against government condoms came as a result of their questionable safety. Sibongiseni Dhlomo the MEC of Health in KwaZulu-Natal has been invited to give a speech re-assuring students of the safety of government condoms. However learners at DUT remain firm on their beliefs of having branded condoms replace the government ones.

“It’s saddening to realize that the media has dwelled mostly on the condoms issue as the primary factor behind the strike we are currently embarking in”, says Mandisa Xaba a third year student at DUT's Ritson Campus. “There is so much more we have been battling with as students in the hands of a failed academic and social system of DUT” as Mandisa further elaborated.

AFH initiated the Break the Silence HIV/Aids print portfolio in 2000, with the purpose to instill a greater sense of social responsibility towards the pandemic and to those who are infected and affected by the HIV/Aids virus. To view the portfolio click here http://www.afh.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=258&Itemid=83

Imagine The Language

"Imagine The Language"


by

Giselle Baillie

Compiled by Njabulo Ngobese

The second day of Women's month continues as we give further acknowledgement to the female form for its contributions to the em-betterment of society on a humanitarian level.

Dwelling deep into the journeyful ventures of the !Xun culture of Platfontein, Northern Cape, Giselle Baillie an MFA graduate who spent her 4 years in Rhodes University studying Printmaking, has expressed her fascination with concern on the battle between democracy and traditional practices and the effects it has had on this particular community more especially the children.

According to her published article on the AFH (Art for Humanity) publication ''Look At Me'' - Women Artists And Poets Advocate Children's Rights, Giselle Baillie expresses her concerns on the effects the state of politics has had on the children of this noted community as far as them finding a sense of identity when it comes to language. Having been forced to cross three political borders over the past twenty years from Angola to Namibia all the way to the Northern Cape due to political campaigns, the !Xun culture's children are the biggest victims to this social ill.

"Imagine their language and then...imagine the Rights of the Child within their form of life", are the highly noted sentiments of Giselle Baillie when it comes to the past, present & future of the children of the !Xun culture and their endangered relationship with their source of identity,..language.

"Die Kind "
by Magasina Majundo

Vertel aan Wejoenke Kambungu deur Magasina Majundo in !Xun. Vertaling in Afrikaans deur Wejoenke Kambungu.

Lang, lang gelede, het die Boesman kind allenig in vrye wildernis van die veld gewoon.

Hy het van streek tot streek beweeg en so deur het hy gebied bestudeer en kennis gemaak.

Hy het ook so kennis gemaak met riviere, heuwels en wilddiere.

Hy het hulle by hulle name geken, van klein tot groot.

Soms as hy gaan jag het, het hy’n kleiner pyl en boog gebruik en somstyds wanneer omstandighede hom toegelaat het, het hy ‘n groter pyl en boog gebruik.

‘n Klein pyl en boog was gebruik om die prooi onmiddelik af te bring omdat gif aan die punt van die pyl gesmeer was.

Die pyle was dikwels gemaak in twee dele. Daar was ‘n voorpunt wat geskei was van die lang deel wat dan aan die voorpunt geskik gestel om in die prooi te bly wanner dit geskiet was.

Hy het alles geken wat jag betref.

Wanneer hy verdwaal in die nag, het die sterretjies met hom gepraat deur rigtings te gee en die maan het hom geantwoord deur helder bo te skyn in die nag.

Hy het die ideale om ‘n kind te wees geken in veld, alhoewel hy ‘n swerwer was en van een gebied tot ‘n ander gebied rondbeweeg het.

Hy was meestal aanpasbaar en het gou aan alles deel geword.

Die kind van ‘n Boesman het meer ondervinding baat gevind om ‘n swerwer te wees.

Polities het dit vir hom sterker gemaak.

En niemand sal hom van die reg wegbaan en isoleer nie.

"The Child"


English translation: Marí Peté

Long, long ago the Bushman child lived alone in the free wilderness of the veld.

He moved from region to region and in this way he got introduced to, and became familiar with, the environment.

In this way he also got to meet rivers, hills and wild animals.

He knew them by their names, big and small.

Sometimes when he went hunting, he used a smaller bow and arrow. And sometimes, when circumstances allowed him, he used a bigger bow and arrow.

A small bow and arrow was used to bring down the prey immediately, since there was poison smeared at the end of the arrow.

The arrows were often made of two parts. There was a front end that could separate from the longer part. This enabled the tip to stay in the prey after it was shot.

He knew everything about hunting.

When he got lost at night, the stars spoke to him by giving him direction, and the moon answered him by shining brightly above.

He knew the ideals of a child through the veld, although he was a nomad and moved from one region to another.

He was mostly adaptable and quickly became part of everything.

The child of a Bushman gained more experience by being a nomad.

Politically it made him stronger.

And nobody would take him off the right course or isolate him.

About Magasina Majundo

A brief biography of Magasina Majundo according to the AFH (Art For Humanity) publication "Look at Me" - Women Artists and Poets Advocate Children's Rights :

Magasina Majundo was born in 1934 in Angola. In the 1980s, she moved together with the !Xun people to Namibia, and then again, moved in the 1990s to the Northern Cape. Magasina has seven children, Wejoenke being one of them. She is the storyteller within the !Xun community of Platfontein.

Laughter Remembered.

August has arrived and with it we pay tribute to all the women who have, are and will make a difference in society. 

Today, we pay tribute to all the female artists and poets who participated in AFH's "Women for Children" Portfolio.  The portfolio consists of 25 artworks ad poems by women from around the world. The aim of the project was to advocate through art the unfortunate issues our women and children are faced with.  

Today, we look at the work of Louise Almon, a South African artist who graduated as a Bachelor of Fine Art in 1981 from Rhodes University. She was an anti-apartheid activist who through her work as an artist portrayed the struggles South Africans and the youth of South Africa were facing. 

"Laughter remembered" by Louise Almon

Almon's work displays the the relationship between a "child's feeling of total love and the security and comfort of a free woman." The work shows the importance of love and happiness.  About "Laughter Remembered," Almon says, "In the moment captured in the image, intensive happiness and comfort in relationships can be seen, nurtured and embraced."

Along with the artwork is a poem by Myesha Jenkins, who posses a BA degree from the University of California. Jenkins began writing poetry when she immigrated to South Africa in 1993 and works in community development. 

My sweet girl

by Myesha Jenkins

it is the vulnerability of your innocence that I vow to protect.

For I value the peace that I find in your laughter

seek courage in the fierceness of your tight hug

am inspired by the directness of your truth.

In you I see myself as you learn and grow

full of opinions and impossible questions

running into the wildness of your own imagination.

Playing is the only work you should know

passionate about living you sing with the birds

sleeping dreams of future worlds.

You make me human again.

 Xihleko lexi tsundzukekaka

 Xitsonga tranlsation: T Baloyi

 Mpama ya mina

 I xichavo xa ku hlantsweka ka wena leswi ndzi lavaka ku swi sirhelela.

 Hikuva  ndzi xixima ku rhula loku ndzi ku kumaka eka xihleko xa wena lexi

 kumaka nsusumeto wa ntsindziyelo wa swandla swaku!

 Ndzi tsakisiwa hi kongomelo ra ntiyiso wa wena

 Eka wena ndza tivona, loko u ri  karhi u dyondza no hlakulela miehleketo ni

 swivutiso leyi ya swa vu chavela-whawha!

 Ku huhwa hi wona ntirho lowu u wu tivaka,

 Ku rhandza ku famba u karhi u yimbelela na tinyenyana

 loko ti lora tiko ra mundzuku

 u ndzi endla ndzi titwa vumunhu nakambe

Help Somalian Refugees!

Millions have been affected by the instability that Somalia is now facing, with Somalian refugees having to take plight in Kenya and Ethiopia.

To  assist the refugees and make a difference in their lives, click HERE.

Happy Birthday Madiba!!

By Kailene Pillay

18 July, 93 years ago, a distinguished leader, father and friend was born. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born in a little village Mvezo located in the district of Umtata. Christened as Rolihlahla at birth, which means "troublemaker", his English name Nelson was given to him by his teacher.

Mandela was the first person in his family to attend school. He furthered his studies at Fort Hare University which is the place he met lifelong friend Oliver Tambo. Later in his life, he studied Bachelor of Laws while in prison.

After the 1948 election, Mandela became actively involved in politics. In this time he also started a law firm with fellow lawyer Oliver Tambo, providing free or low cost legal counsel.

He was committed to non-violence resistence, aka: Satyagraha- influenced by Mahatma Ghandi. Mandela along with 150 others were arrested on 5 December 1956 for treason which later became well known as the Treason Trial.

Mandela has been in and out of prison, Robben Island being the longest where he remained there for 18 of his 27 years in prison. It was in prison that he became known as the most significant black leader in the country.

Friederik Willem de Klerk, President of South Africa at the time, announced the release of Nelson Mandela in February 1990. In that same month, de Klerk reversed the ban on the ANC and other anti-aparthied organisations. Between 1990 and 1994 Mandela led the country to their first multi-racial election.

Mandela was inaugurated as President of South Africa on 10 May1994.

His humanitarian efforts do not go unnoticed. Mandela is a not only a political leader and freedom fighter, but also a human rights activist. He holds dear to him the education of children, the building of schools in rural areas and HIV/AIDS campaigns to name a few. Mandela day is focused on broadening humanitarian work. A particular humanitarian project which is close to Madiba's heart is the Nelson Mandela's Children Fund which started in 1995.

Mandela, known lovingly as 'Tata Madiba' by the people of the world, is one of the greatest, most significant, honest, loyal and hard working men of our time. We celebrate this special day with him by giving our time to the less fortunate. This day is dedicated to do good, just as Tata Madiba has taught us. This day is a hope to inspire people to embrace the values that Mandela shared.

The Art for Humanity team would like to wish Mr Nelson Mandela a very happy 93rd Birthday and our blessings and good wishes upon him, always.

June/July 2011 Newsletter

Art for Humanity: what is art?

AFH defines art as that which is created to inspire all of humanity with freedom of  expression, the quest for excellence, pride, dignity, and respect for individual rights,  reflection and heritage. In this month’s issue:

 Dialogue among Civilizations News

      - Dialogue Among Civilizations Book Launch

      - Dialogue Among Civilizations Exhibition KZNSA Gallery 2011

      - Dialogue Among Civilizations Exhibition Leeds 2011

      - Profile:   Berry Bickle

Women for Children News

      - Gabisile Nkosi Remembered (4 February 1974 - 27 May 2008)

      - Youth Day 16 June 2011

      - “Precious Cargo” by Ernestine White

      - DUT Students view on Youth Day 2011

Break the Silence News

      - 5^th SA AIDS Conference - June 2011

      - Art work: Yehoshua Comforting an Aids Victim by Mduduzi Xakaza

 General News

     - ASJ Conference

     - Nelson Mandela Day – 18 July 2011

Click here to see the June/July 2011 Newsletter  

Please remember all comments and letters are welcome.

Warm Regards,

Thireshni Sanasy and Kailene Pillay

AFH Media Team

Dialogue Among Civilizations Exhibition in the Mercury

The Mercury published an article on the Dialogue Among Civilizations Exhibition!

Click HERE to read the article