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

 

 
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.  

 

Launching officially our  international co-creation project 'Despite that...' 

ARROWSA Durban team for Despite That... (from left to right): Nicole Pillay, Monique Mukendi, Nkanyezi Vilakazi, Sindi Mkhize, Jabu Nxumalo, Sanele Madlolo and Sfiso Langa, The team is led by Bheki Dlamini

ARROWSA is pleased to lead this project which is a collaboration with Beyond Face in the UK and South Roots Int. in Cape Town, South Africa. The project is supported by the British Council.

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

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 

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

THEY STAND THEIR GROUND

They Stand Their Ground video

by Vincent Salanji ARROWSA management

partially funded by National Arts Council and including ARROWSA partners South Roots International, Cape Flats and SHEF, India.

The culmination of the Scarecrow project that ARROWSA led with Indra partners South Roots International in Cape Town, SHEF in India and Gorse Hill Studios in Manchester, UK culminated in They Stand their Ground against Gender Based Violence exhibition of large figures made from recycled materials that each hub made. Vincent Salanji of ARROWSA narrates this video that includes the voices of some of the project youth and their ideas on the impact of the project.

Casey Spinner Environmental Justice response Web2 PCTW

ARROWSA 

Phone Call to the World ARROWSA webinar 2 - Environmental Justice by Shannon Landers

ARROW-INDRA were privileged to host a webinar presented by Shannon Landers, a PhD candidate, lecturer and Enviro-activist from the south of Durban as part of the Phone Call to the World project led by Scottish Youth Theatre (see https://www.arrowsa.org.za/projects/short-term  Phone Call to the World). Shannon's participation was organised by ARROWSA partner CCMS, UKZN.

Shannon's presentation stimulated much discussion and debate amongst the youth and leaders from ARROWSA Bechet (Durban), South Roots International (Cape Town), Abasha Bash LHM (Durban), Shef (India) and Gorsehill Studios (Manchester).

Casey Spinner of ARROWSA Bechet responded to the webinar with a video calling for the youth to play their part in protecting our environment.

#creation #reverberation #COP26 #collaboration #TheClimateConnection #TogetherForOurPlanet

 Webinar 1 Phone Call to the World

Ecobricks as a tool for environmental education

by Jessica Ross

Jessica Ross facilitated our first ARROW-INDRA webinar as part of The Phone Call to the World project. One of ARROWSA's non-arts partners in the project, CCMS, UKZN organised Jessica's participation in the webinar. Jessica is a passionate advocate for the environment.  She has a MSc in Geography, and is currently a student teacher of Geography and English. Jessica's passion for the subject of Eco bricks shone through as she presented a PowerPoint on the subject. Jessica included her context, how to make Eco bricks and the process and results of her MSc on Eco bricks.

The webinar was attended by approximately 45 youth and leaders from South Africa, India, England and Scotland. 

                         

Mr Bhekithemba Dlamini of ARROWSA led the webinar and an ARROWSA Bechet participant Monique Mukendi warmed up the session with a beautiful rendition of "Hero" by Mariah Carey.  Monique opened the way for Jessica to show how we can be hero's in the fight for our environment. Or as Jessica said: "Eco warriors" and "Eco worriers"!

The break away sessions in the webinar, after Jessica's presentation, resulted in creative responses inspired by what she had shared. Some groups focused on what they would create from eco-bricks from chairs, tables, walls and dirt bins. Other groups focused on how they would create an awareness campaign on Eco bricks through media such as cartoons.

If the ARROWSA Bechet participants' inspired reaction to the project are anything to go by Jessica has sparked a renewed drive in how to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle plastics with innovative and creative products as an outcome.

#phonecalltotheworld #creativity #reverberation #cop26 #togetherforourplanet #theclimateconnection

 

They Stand their ground 

against Gender-Based Violence 

in UKZN NDABA online

https://ndabaonline.ukzn.ac.za/UkzndabaStory/Vol9-Issue28/Gender-Based%20Violence%20Exhibit%20at%20Durban%20City%20Hall/?fbclid=IwAR02X4mnPpwYxE3u_DRF9qBz3l8_nIdfQ7oEgpuwVM5STg48KfV46XURdLM

Photo: FJ Lange 

 ARROWSA YOUTH DAY 2021

While remembering the pain and suffering of the past upon which youth day is built the youth of ARROWSA Bechet and ARROWSA management also emphasised the responsibility of today. The responsibility of creating sustainable projects that will impact future generations and the responsibility of being a positive influence on today and the future. 

Photo: Frik Lange

ARROWSA projects at ARROWSA Bechet, with Indra Congress partners across the globe, CCMS, UKZN, school programmes linked to Durban Local History Museums and Palmiet Nature Reserve and South Roots International do this in three main ways. Firstly in the process of using arts, culture and heritage for youth to build their intrapersonal knowledge and skills of where they come from, who they are now, how they relate to others and where they would like to be in the future and secondly by the collaborative art, culture and heritage products that they create which includes interpersonal knowledge and skills as they learn about other youth and through knowledge gained learn to appreciate similarities and differences and to identify and empathise. Thirdly the dissemination, exhibition or installation of their art, culture and heritage products to the public - local, national and international ensures that the collaborative messages that they create through their products is heard and seen by as many youth as possible.

                                                                        Photo: Frik Lange

                                   

                                                                          Photo: Frik Lange

On Youth Day 2021 ARROWSA Youth from three collaborative projects took part in two activities that  emphasised their belief in making a positive change. The first event, led by Mr Bheki Dlamini, emphasised the process of creating change as winners of - Miss Bechet and Mister Bechet 2021 from ARROWSA Bechet - committed to starting the creation of a vegetable garden making use of recycled materials in a creative way at Bechet High School. The vegetables once grown will contribute to the school soup kitchen feeding scheme at the school and for the disadvantaged. It was an inspiring morning of planning, creating and working! Mister Bechet, Comfort Mchunu, emphasised that they wanted to be part of projects that were sustainable.

                                         

                                                                       Photo: Frik Lange

The second event emphasised a product of the 'Scarecrow' collaborative project of ARROW-INDRA that included youth from ARROWSA Bechet in Durban, Lucknow India, Gorsehill Studios, Manchester, UK and South Roots International in Cape Flats, SA. The product is a song 'We're in this together!' that was the result of three online song-writing workshops, funded by National Arts Council and facilitated by Sue-Livia van Wyk of South Roots International. Vincent Salanji of ARROWSA management organised an interview with Ntombi Mtolo on Durban Youth Radio. Vincent and Sue-Livia were interviewed and the song was played over the radio. An exciting moment for all involved! Sue-Livia van Wyk of South Roots International made a call on the youth to be themselves and true to where they come from and are and not to try and be someone else. Vincent Salanji of ARROWSA management emphasised that Youth Day should be called Future Day and as that it should include youth coming together and devising strategies to ensure a bright future.

                                    

                                                              Photo: Kaylyn Govender

Photo: Kaylyn Govender

                                         

Photo: Kaylyn Govender

The ARROWSA youth's initiatives on Youth Day 2021 as part of their drive for sustainable change are an inspiration to all generations and give hope for a better today and future.

               They stand their ground               against gender-based violence!

It was an exciting morning when partners from the ARROWSA Durban team of the They stand their ground against gender-based violence came together at the installation in Durban City Hall foyer. This is the Durban leg of the ARROW-INDRA SAUKINDIA part of the project. ARROWSA Bechet learners who are based at Bechet High School created two textile 'people' from recycled materials with the assistance of Mary Lange, ARROWSA chair and Bheki Dlamini, ARROWSA performance and schools portfolio leader and an educator at Bechet High School.  

The ARROWSA Bechet participants contribution was guided by three ARROWSA Bechet leaders namely Casey Spinner, Sne Mbisi and Mary Tsheteya. Banners in the installation included images from the South Roots International contribution to the project that will be exhibited in Cape Town. One banner included an image of Naledi.

The textile people from recycled materials were inspired by the work of Maggi Squire (see her instagram page @maggisquire) and one banner included an image of Maggi's She who stands her ground created by Maggi during lockdown. Maggi hosted an online workshop with the ARROW-INDRA participants from ARROWSA Bechet, Local History Museums and CCMS, UKZN from Durban, South Roots International from Cape Flats, Touchstones Rochdale and Gorse hill Studios in Manchester, UK and Study Hall Educational Foundation in Lucknow, India.  Maggi's workshop formed part of the ARROW-INDRA SAUKINDIA 'Scarecrow' project.  

The 'Scarecrow' project stimulated creative thinking of us as a community guarding each other against gender-based violence in the same way as a scarecrow guards the crops from predators.  ARROWSA Bechet created two textile 'people' from recycled materials such as empty dog food containers, old curtains, brooms and place mats. They created two 'people' one named Deli who represents abuse in the domestic space, either of wives, girlfriends and partners or of domestic workers. The other 'person' is Thanaka who represents the LGBTQ+ community, particularly boys and young men who are often ignored in discussions on gender-based violence. 

The installation is interactive as visitors are invited to add words of support to Deli and Thanaka. There is also a book where comments may be written down by visitors. Already the pages are filling with comments. Join us in standing against gender-based violence by visiting the installation at the Durban City Hall foyer - at the entrance to the library.

Thanks to National Arts Council for funding towards this project

Thanks for assistance with the installation to Local History Museums, DAG and Author Jewellers.

Photos by Frik Lange