Telling Stories of Pain and Hope:                                                 Museums in South Africa and Ireland - Book Launch

written by Ayanda Ngcobo 

(ARROWSA Local Authorities Portfolio leader and Museum Officer Bergtheil Local History Museum Durban)

The book, Telling Stories of Pain and Hope: Museums in South Africa and Ireland, was launched on 9 February 2023 at Bergtheil Museum in Westville. The book is authored by Dr Mary Lange, Independent arts, culture and heritage researcher, ARROWSA management and CCMS, UKZN Honorary Lecturer and Prof. Emeritus Ruth Teer-Tomaselli  of the Centre for Communication, Media and Society (CCMS), University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and published by the University of South Africa (UNISA) Press.  

The book launch was beautifully opened by performances by a group from ARROWSA Bechet, alumni and South Roots International youth that was captured in three videos and followed by a performance by ARROWSA alumnae, Monique Mukendi. 

The MC for the evening was Mrs. Mohau Qalaza, Senior Curator of the Durban Local History Museums and based at the Bergtheil Museum. 

                                           

Dr Nthoesane, representing UNISA Press, was the first speaker and his remarks on the book were centered on how it will set the stage for generations to bring life to what is kept in museums.

                                                    

Dr Lange, of ARROWSA management and CCMS,UKZN, in her talk focused on museums and storytelling and where it is used as a sources on the lifestyles, belief systems and moral and values of people in the past and forms part of experiential learning. The spiritual wellbeing of the individuals telling traumatic stories in museums and their connection to themselves, others and with the environment were some of the key points in her address. The book explores how individuals, or their descendants, who have suffered traumatic experiences, tell these stories which include conflict and forced removals and how doing this impacts their spiritual wellbeing. Some of the museums which are covered in the book include the District Six Museum in Cape Town, Ncome and Blood River sites in Dundee, KwaZulu-Natal.

Prof Emeritus Teer-Tomaselli, of CCMS, UKZN, focused on the spaces and places where traumatic events took place and why the sites need to be commemorated. She also explained how the book explores how these sites remain sustainable and what happens if storytellers move on. Her talk also discussed briefly how structures have meanings and stories to tell. Teer-Tomaselli referred to places like the Constitutional Hill describing how it urges one to imagine the spirits that are there. She also referred to the Bloody Sunday massacre that took place in Derry, Northern Ireland.

The first respondent was Dr Mlungisi Ngubane, the director of uMsunduzi and Ncome Museums. He started his discussion on issues of social cohesion and referred to the Ncome and Voortrekker reconciliation bridge. He emphasised how healing is still an ongoing process and the process of healing is needed for pain to go away. He referred to stories narrated at KwaMuhle Museum in Durban and referred to the movement against historical statues and museums that were created to address past imbalances. Ngubane stressed the need for museums to move away from being dumping sites but should rather be places that make people talk. People need to talk about what they see in museums. Overall, he emphasised how South Africa has not healed, histories like that of the 16 December 1838 war over land between amaZulu and the Voortrekkers are still painful and people have not healed. Ngubane reiterated on how the book addresses a contemporary need in museums.

                                                

The second respondent, Prof. Emeritus Donal McCracken pointed out how museums deliver a message and deal with controversial subjects. He drew on examples from Northern Ireland and South Africa to offer a discussion about stories of trauma that form part of museums. This includes civil wars in both Northern Ireland and South Africa.

                                                  

The main programme ended with closing remarks from Mrs. Innocentia Swanepoel who reiterated that the book is an important contribution to museum studies.

The book launch was well attended and attracted academics, museum professionals, local media and stakeholders from arts, culture and heritage spaces.  ARROWSA management and ARROWSA Bechet learners were also represented at the launch. 

ARROWSA Management (left to right) Prof Sarah Gibbons, Bheki Dlamini, Luthando Ngema (Chairperson), Dr Mary Lange, Prof Lauren Dyll, Ayanda Ngcobo and Vincent Salanji.

Copies of the books are available through Unisa Press. See https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Unisa-Press/Books/History-and-Political-Africa/Telling-Stories-of-Pain-and-Hope

Enjoy our video of the ARROWSA, South Roots Int. production 

Despite that there is Joy!

This video is of the musical community theatre production "Despite that there is joy!"

The production is supported by the National Arts Council South Africa, ARROWSA, Bechet High, South Roots Int. (SRI) and UZKN Dept of performing arts. All songs and music included in the video are original and were devised and composed by Sue-Livia van Wyk, SRI. in collaboration with ARROWSA and creatives in the organisations and institutions mentioned above. Lighting was done by Nicole Sacco, SRI and the slide show created by Shanette Martin and operated by Angela de Fava, SRI and ARROWSA alumnus. The musicians in this production included Sue-Livia van Wyk on guitar and Njabulo Nxumalo, ARROWSA, Khwezi Mngomezulu, ARROWSA and Gracia Nicholls, SRI on drums. The film is introduced by Bheki Dlamini of ARROWSA who leads the ARROWSA Bechet group. The production also features Gracia Nicholls, SRI, and her original poem "Brilliant Black Beauty". The final version of this video was edited by Shanette Martin of South Roots Int. The video footage was by Shanette Martin of SRI and Vincent Salanji of ARROWSA. It builds on two previous ARROWSA projects - "Arts and Mental Calmness" supported by National Arts Council and "Despite that" supported by the British Council. These projects and "Despite that there is Joy!" were managed by Mary Lange of ARROWSA and coordinated by Bheki Dlamini, ARROWSA Durban, Shanette Martin, SRI, Cape Town and Alix Harris, Beyond Face, United Kingdom. The production of Despite that there is joy! is the result of a collaboration of directing and performance by ARROWSA management, ARROWSA Bechet, ARROWSA alumni and South Roots International creatives from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal and Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. A film "Despite that" was included in the production and was the result of a collaboration between creatives from ARROWSA management and alumni, Durban, South Roots Int., Cape Town and Beyond Face, United Kingdom.

Despite that there is joy! 

ARROWSA presents a musical production at UKZN Square theatre, Howard College Durban on Saturday 10th December at 2pm!

Join us at this uplifting musical including original songs and dances created by 

the ARROWSA teams with South Roots Int. (SRI) 

directed by 

Bhekithemba Dlamini 

(ARROWSA management Performing Arts)

assisted by 

Sue-Livia van Wyk (SRI musical director) 

Shanette Martin (SRI technical director) 

Gracia Nicholls (SRI performer)  

Nicole Sacco (SRI performer)

 Vincent Joseph Salanji (ARROWSA management Visual Arts) 

Sethe Ntando (UKZN Drama and Performance)

Lizwi Moyana (UKZN Drama and Performance)

Monique Mukendi (ARROWSA alumni)

Njabulo Nxumalo (ARROWSA alumni)

Nkanyezi Vilakazi (ARROWSA alumni)

Sanele Madlala (ARROWSA alumni)

Sfiso Langa (ARROWSA alumni)

Sindisiwe Precious Mkhize (ARROWSA alumni)

administrative assistance by

Luthando Ngema (ARROWSA Management Chairperson)

Mary Lange (ARROWSA Management Fundraising)

Miranda Young-Jahangeer (ARROWSA Management Creative Arts)

Lauren Dyll (ARROWSA Management Finance Executive)

supported by 

National Arts Council

UKZN Department Drama and Performance Studies

 

 

Despite that there is joy marketing

Despite that there is joy! 

ARROWSA workshop theatre production 

In October 2022 ARROWSA youth, teenagers and ARROWSA and UKZN artists came together, led by ARROWSA Mr Bheki Dlamini, to refine and rehearse the workshop theatre production "Despite that there is Joy!"

Here they share their experience and invite you to attend their performances in December. The video is part of the skills transference of filming and editing led by ARROWSA Vincent Salanji. The project is supported by the National Arts Council South Africa.

 

Happy Youth Day 2022!

ARROWSA Alumni having fun filming towards the Despite That... film as part of the co-creative project with UK partner Beyond Face and national creatives from South Roots International. The project is supported by British Council. 

ARROWSA Durban work on their film script for the Despite That... project

Supported by British Council 

In collaboration with Beyond Face in UK and South Roots Int. in Western Cape

The ARROWSA Durban team is made up of ARROWSA Bechet alumni and led by Bheki Dlamini assisted by Vincent Dlamini as the filmmaker. The team started in May to create and film their contribution to the collaborative film for Despite That...

The ARROWSA Durban Despite That... team includes above from left to right:

Monique Mukendi, Sfiso Langa, Sanele Madlala, Nkanyezi Vilikazi, Nicole Pillay, Sindi Mkhize and Jabu Nxumalo

          

 
ARROWSA presented at the Webinar: Arts, youth conscientization

 and environmental issues at COP 26: Reflections on Phone call to

 the world on 28 April 2022

The webinar was part of the Centre for Civil Society - Special Webinar Series that took place

between March and May 2022. The series is titled Reflections on COP26 and remains online

for 2022.

ARROWSA Speakers were: Mary Elizabeth Lange and Luthando Ngema and ARROWSA invited

South Roots Int.  Noluthando Shandu and Rachelle Ngalula Mukendi  to present with them. Bheki

Dlamini of ARROWSA assisted in the devising of the presentation. 

The topic of the webinar was:

ARROWSA, a registered voluntary non-profit organization based in Durban South Africa, led South Africa’s participation in an international project titled Phone Call to the World. This collaborative project with youth utilized the arts to address environmental issues. It was led by Scottish Youth Theatre, funded by the British Council and culminated in a COP26 exhibition in Glasgow of outputs from the hubs in Scotland, England, Palestine, India and South Africa. Representatives of ARROWSA and their national partner South Roots Int. in the Cape Flats will in this presentation share how ARROWSA came to be involved in a COP26 project, who the participants from Durban and Cape Flats were, what methodology was used in the project, what the project outputs were and which of these were included in the COP26 exhibition. The challenges, success and impact of the project on the participants and the organization will also be explored in the presentation.  

 

vlog days 3 and 4

ARROWSA Bechet learners continue on Day 3 and 4 of the Arts and Mental Calmness project to explore social issues through the arts that culminated in a community performance. The perfomance was made up of rehearsals of aspects of the the craft, singing, dancing and drama workshops led by ARROWSA and Department of Performing Arts, UKZN and South Roots Int. artists. Supported by Bechet High and funded by National Arts Council.

ARROWSA NAC Arts and Mental Calmness vlog day 2

Day 2 of ARROWSA NAC Arts and Mental Calmness. A wonderful time of  creating art for social change. Thanks to artists from ARROWSA, South Roots Int. and the Department of Performing Arts, UKZN. Bechet High for the venue and funding from National Arts Council South Africa. Filmed and edited by Vincent Salanji of ARROWSA and Vinnies Vision.

 

 Phone Call to the World - ripples created

As the Phone Call to the World project, led by Scottish Youth Theatre and funded by the British Council, draws to a close the ripples created by the project are felt in the South African hubs that were led by ARROWSA: ARROWSA Bechet Durban and South Roots Int. Cape Flats. 

The project came to a close with three online sessions for youth selected by each participating country. These youth were selected as Green Ambassadors. Lisa Allen of Indra at Home in Manchester, facilitated that Home ran the Phone Call to the World, Green Ambassador sessions HOME Manchester (homemcr.org) The youth that represented ARROWSA Bechet reflected on the sessions as follows:

"My Green Ambassador workshop experience was really amazing - Learning how to work with other people from around the world and how our countries are experiencing the same climate change challenges. We came together to create ideas how to help limit the increase in climate change and to create projects which was amazing and inspired me!" Monique.

"The whole week of the workshop was very informative and in my perspective a huge success. Everybody's input and ideas were amazing and I absolutely enjoyed working with everyone." Nicole.

ARROWSA and South Roots Int. (SRI) are both now involved in new projects that were inspired by our participation in the Phone Call to the World environmental project. Both organisations are also continuing the environmental work that was started during the project e.g. ARROWSA continues to nurture their vegetable and cultural garden and have plans to extend their mural. 

SRI has taken the cleaning of the dam on the doorstep into their own hands as the authorities have done nothing to clean it up despite being alerted to the negative environmental impact.

PCTW TV Monitor They stand their ground installation

Tv monitor added to the They stand their ground against gender-based violence exhibition

As part of Phone call to the world project a tv monitor was added to the They stand their ground against gender based violence exhibition hosted at the Old Court House Museum, Durban Local History Museums. ARROWSA chair Luthando Ngema  met the Durban Local History Museum staff at the exhibition and they discussed the importance of the exhibition. Videos of original work created by ARROWSA Bechet and South Roots International youth that links to the exhibition is played on the tv monitor. The tv was funded by the British Council as facilitated by Scottish Youth Theatre.

#phonecalltotheworld #togetherforourplanet #reverberation #creation #artforsocialchange

Dance movement Come Closer PCTW

ARROWSA youth, Angelique, Zainub, Sinenhlanhla and Aleze create a dance-movement to an original song 'Come closer' created in workshops with ARROWSA youth and South Roots International creatives during the Phone Call to the World October 2021 workshops in Durban. The song workshop was led by Sue-Livia van Wyk and is sung by Monique Mukendi, Noluthando Shandu, Sphelele, Sue Livia van Wyk and Intomibikile Khena. The song is a creative response to environment issues and is a song of inclusivity of all people - calls us to come together, inviting all to the table, and take note of what is happening. The project was led by Scottish Youth Theatre and funded by British Council. Filmed by Vincent Salanji of ARROWSA. Edited by Vincent Salanji of ARROWSA and Shanette Martin of South Roots International. The sound engineer was Brendan Nicholls

Phone Call to the World - "Call to the World" SRI Durban Tour to ARROWSA

South Roots International trip to ARROWSA 

- a creative collaboration as part of 
Phone Call to the World  and a digital contribution to the Scottish Youth Theatre COP26 exhibition in Glasgow as funded by British Council

Edited by Shanette Martin, SRI

#creation #reverberation #togetherforourplanet #theclimateconnection #indigenousknowledgesystems #artscultureheritageforsocialchange

Production day edited by Vincent Salanji ARROWSA - Phone Call to the World

Phone call to the World production day 

with ARROWSA Bechet 

and SRI 

at Bechet High Durban

Video edited by Vincent Salanji of ARROWSA 

@arrowsa.artpeace @southrootsint. @scottishyouththeatre #ARROWSABechet #ARROWSA #SouthRootsInternational #Scottishyouththeatre #PhoneCalltotheWorld #COP26 #Togetherforourplanet #TheClimateConnection 

Textile Women

South Roots International youth visit 

ARROWSA- SRI - Indra Congress -LHM collaborative exhibition

They Stand Their Ground 

The exhibition is at the Old Court House Museum, Durban and after seeing it and the nearby struggle exhibitions it triggered the youth to sing iNkululeko Freedom! Filmed and edited by Shanette Martin of SRI.

iNkululeko ingeyakho nawe

Freedom ingeyakho nawe

(Freedom belongs to you too)

 

#recycling  #theystandtheirgroundagainstgenderbasedviolence #theystandtheirground #oldcourthousemuseum #togetherforourplanet #freedom #theclimateconnection #phonecalltotheworld  #nationalartscouncil #durbanlocalhistorymuseum #gorsehillstudios #indracongress 

Heritage Day Vegetable garden ARROWSA PCTW

ARROWSA Bechet youth started their vegetable and cultural garden on South Africa's Heritage Day. The project is thanks to funding from National Arts Council for the vegetables and Phone Call to the World British Council funding via Scottish Youth Theatre for the arts materials.  The garden is an ongoing process and was continued in the Phone Call to the World ARROWSA and South Roots International week's workshop and production in the first week of October 2021. The video was filmed and edited by ARROWSA Vincent Salanji of Vinnies Vision.

#artsforsocialchange #phonecalltotheworld #COP26 #togetherforourplanet #theclimateconnection @arrowsa.artpeace @scottishyouththeatre @britishcouncil 

In this together

In this together video!!

by ARROWSA featuring Sue Livia van Wyk

Including art works by ARROWSA, South Roots International and Indra Congress Gorse Hill Studios

Including video footage by Shanette Martin and Vincent Salanji

Mouth organ played by Felipe Pozo of Indra Congress Shef

Edited by Devin Carter

 Celebrating our natural and cultural heritage

Heritage Day 2021 

 

ARROWSA Bechet as part of the Phone Call to the World project will create a vegetable and herb garden that celebrates our diverse use of plants for food and wellbeing. The garden containers will be from recycled objects.

#phonecalltotheworld #togetherforourplanet #theclimateconnection #creation #reverberation @scottishyoutheatre @britishcouncil