Dlala INDIMA ePhakamisa

We have finished painting the exterior of the Old Butchery. So much activity everyday. We've started getting in the mood for possible crafts workshops and Mak1one gave the first demo in an interior space that was still undergoing finishing touches. There are a lot more visitors lately.  

DLALA INDIMA - Phakamisa

Renovation of the Old Butchery

We are fortunate enough to have a lot of talented bricklayers and construction workers in Phakamisa so scouting around for help with renovation proved relatively easy. We found help within a few days and here are some shots from a site that seems to be evolving daily. It was really exciting being in the new cleared space that was undergoing plastering and leveling. More good news was that the clearing of the glass has encouraged the glass recycling company to collect ALL the glass and pay the owner lady her collections worth. 

So we have seen that the collection of glass from the dozens of shebeens that litter our streets along with the empty beer bottles could fuel a good relationship with a recycling cause. 8 Drums have been bought, these will be used to keep the bottles ready for the collectors and during renovations.

The space is changing radically, and finding interesting ways to use the original, raw,textured shape of the building whilst seeking inspiration are taking vicious shape. 

15 Jan 2011

DLALA INDIMA - Phakamisa

Preparation and Renovation

The youth have definitely taken up the call and the words DLALA INDIMA are quickly spreading. Kwanele has successfully put together a local clean-up team that has done an outstanding job in clearing the site and preparing it for renovation. Here are some before and after shots.

Work was in the harsh sun and intense. Neighbors have occasionaly brought over ice water to the clean-up team and small crowds gather and enquire at times. The building has been cleared and readied for preparation. 

01 January 2011

DLALA INDIMA - Phakamisa

Exploring King Williams Town, Phakamisa and its surrounds.

This day was to be spent connecting with the spaces and surrounding areas.

The hip-hop workshops that we have been conducting have increased in volume and now tour the neighboring townships and locations.  So off we went to Ginsberg (6km outside Phakamisa) with Mak1one publicizing Dlala Indima. It is important to note that because of the proximity of the townships, the “ripple effect” of the street shows and workshops has a huge effect on the strength of Dlala Indima because the foundation has been laid long before. A few possible ideas involving the inclusion of local artists on a soundtrack to a DVD of the making of Dlala Indima  were finalised.

Mak1one, Angelo Charles and myself spent the rest of the afternoon carefully inspecting the derelict building that will be renovated, discussing ways of preserving the history of the building into the design of the renovation. Creative ways of integrating the glass recycling aspect into the space and activities were discussed. Matters involving the registration of interested parties were also taken to mind.  Kwanele has successfully rounded up volunteers and we are now ready to remunerate local assistance for the loads of cleaning up to prepare for renovation.

From here we viewed the bus stops, manholes and streetlights and made relevant measurements and notes to consider aesthetically.

07 Nov 2010

DLALA INDIMA - Review Posts

We will be starting with some of our journals that we havent had a chance to post on the blog. Starting from our very first meeting and brainstorms last year (below).

We set up a meeting in the local Small Business Centre with all interested youth and community leaders to introduce Dlala Indima and our collaborating artist Mak1one to the community and get ideas flowing on what the community expects along with all their input. 

 

The youth involved came prepared and a vast amount of inspiration and relevant insight was shared. Among some of the ideas shared were :

·      Encouragement to pursue sports, as the EC is rich in sports talent

·      Awareness to Education

·      Teenage Pregnancy

·      Breaking down the inter-social barriers (a common topic in most the projects as noted in the workshops)

·      Getting to the bottom of drug and alcohol abuse by instilling a strong family, social, cultural message as a foundation to build from

 

The discourse lasted well into the late afternoon with heated debates all round. The turnout was not as we expected and we immediately set out to counter that with a strong word of mouth campaign. It was noted during the debriefing that an awareness campaign using posters and pamphlets was to be taken up (since then we have designed, printed and distributed pamphlets with information regarding registration and support in and around Phakamisa; see attachments)

 

We ended the day with a quick live painting session that was received very well by some of the children and locals. 

06Nov2010

DLALA INDIMA

This is our first attempt at a post. So much has transpired over the past few months. We now have a clean building ready for artwork and the community will be doing a "bring a spade" day where volunteers will partake in the cleaning of the surrounds. So many pictures from our progress thus far are still to be posted...

Dlala Indima - Phakamisa, Eastern Cape

Kwanele Mboso, Zingisa Nkosinkulu and Buntu Fihla

This team of artist plans to engage the community in giving the township a face-lift using street art as a vehicle, inspired by the idea of Dlala Indima (meaning: “playing your role”). The project will involve the transformation of the townscape, with a particular focus on buildings that will become facilities for skills training for the large population of unemployed youth in the area. Working with several well-known graffiti artists, the aim of the project is to involve these youth in the beautification of the township in order to instill self-esteem and self-worth.

Zingisa Nkosinkulu is an East London born artist who graduated from Walter Sisulu University in 2010 and currently works as an art teacher at the Belgravia Art Centre. Nkosinkulu's interest lies within the intersections street art and fine art. He is currently working towards his 2nd solo exhibition to be held in the National Art Festival, Grahamstown 2011.

Kwanele Mboso was born in Ilitha township.and had his primary education at Ilitha primary and attended Hector Peterson high school in Zwelitsha. After matriculation in 2003 he enrolled at Buffalo City Public F.E.T College where he achieved an N6 certificate in photography.

Buntu Fihla is an Eastern Cape born graphic designer, photographer and graffiti artist with a ND Graphic Design from CPUT(2006). Fihla's work stems from an interest in all of all these different practices and is mostly aimed at social commentary and/or community upheaval. Currently working as a Graphic Designer for Ogilvy Cape Town, he has been active in the creative industry since 2006.