PROJECTS
VOICES at 2011 Franschhoek Literary Festival
Voices A compilation of testimonials: African Artists living & working in Cape Town & surrounds.
A collection of narratives of African artists currently living and working in the Western Cape is one of two publications to be launched by the African Arts Institute (AFAI) at the Franschhoek Literary Festival on 14 May. The other is a Birthday Calendar featuring writers from across the African continent.
Voices: A compilation of testimonials: African Artists Living & Working in Cape Town was commissioned by the African Arts Institute as part of the organisation’s ongoing African Diaspora Project. The project, launched in 2010, aims to advise and assist artists from Africa living in South Africa, whilst at the same time showcasing their work.
Voices features the stories of 23 arts practitioners from ten African countries, Angola, Cameroon, DRC, Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The collection includes fine artists, multi-media artists, performance and installation artists as well as writers, poets, actors and musicians, drum makers, a bead maker and wood carver, two traders and one gallery owner/ educator. At the time of being interviewed, some of the featured artists had been in Cape Town only a few months whilst others had been living in the country or the city for a number of years. Some of these artists have had very limited public exposure or recognition whilst others have been showcased on local stages and in galleries.
The Institute’s Diaspora project include a cultural help desk from where African artists are advised and assisted in accessing resources and infrastructure, in obtaining legal documentation where necessary and in distributing and showcasing their work, in South Africa and around the continent
Prof Harry Garuba, Director of the Centre for African Studies at the University of Cape Town and chairperson of the AFAI board said in his forword to Voices: “This collection represents an initial gesture towards expanding the language, scope and grammar of representation of African immigrants in South Africa. We are taken into the world of these artists – where they come from, their aspirations, their dreams, desires and frustrations; in short, the circumstances that set them on the ‘long walk’ to South Africa.”
The stories for Voices were collected by Mwila Mambwe from the Democratic Republic of Congo and artist portraits were taken by photographer Mimi Cherono Ng’ok, from Kenya. The publication was compiled by Rucera Seethal.
Voices will be launched at an event at the upcoming Franschhoek Literary Festival on Saturday 14 May at 5.30pm. The launch will be held at Essence in Huguenot Square in Huguenot Street. To request an invitation, please email info@afai.org.za
It will be on sale from Exclusive Books at the Franschhoek Literary Festival for the duration of the festival. Following the launch it will be available at R120 from the African Arts Institute, 25 Commercial Street, Cape Town 8001 or email info@afai.org.za