Dans Afrika Dans!!!

What a treat! If you have had a look in the recent Mail and Guardian (last Fridays actually), you might have come across a two page spread for the Danse l'Afrique danse! festival. The festival is in its 9th year. It includes most of Africa's top dance pieces and other work.

Upon deciding to meet a fellow Peenutt Batha Jahmer, she told me she would be watching a dance show by Gaby Saranouffi and her brother. I had thought the festival was on the weekend, so I missed out on some of my favourite choreographers.
Last night I was treated to Soritra by Gaby Saranouffi, Skwatta by Vincent Mantsoe, Les sorciers by Aly Karambre, Inhabitant by Sello Pesa and 111-1 by P.A.R.T.S graduates. 

I fell in love with lines; movements; negative & positive spaces on stage; colour and my childhood games. The trio really brought it. I was also told that the Soritra we were watching is the original Madagasca version with the original cast. These are some of dance's African veterans.

The program for the last days

The next piece did not keep me at cloud nine. I am a big fan of Africans finding new movement vocabulary and telling stories through their own movements and not from white Liberal so-called African schools. Whilst Vincent really sweats and repeats these so-called African movements that have made him famous in European cities, I as a progressive African, saw nothing more than a regurgitation of Magogo's M.I.D syllabus. Leaving me asking the question: If white women or men do not tell us how to move, how would we move as Africans? And does the world really set such low expectations of movement for us?

The next piece was brother Sello Pesa.  Most of Sello's work is misunderstood and from personal experience, he is o.k with that.  The piece was site specific close to John Foster square police station, on the road during afternoon traffic.  We witnessed scenes of a high-brow business meeting, recyclers taking recyclables to the recycling building, walker-byes, taxis driving past looking for people and the audience gasping as the performers rolled on the street in front of cars passing.
A tale of a city living with homelessness, blue collar workers and of course high class bosses. An interesting interaction of performers, civilians and an audience that didn't know they were part of the performance.

P.A.R.T.S graduates took the stage in their oh-so-relaxed attitude that has become synonymous with Aunt Theresa's school. My interaction with P.A.R.T.S was with George Khumalo the late, who introduced me to the love of my life....internal based movements. The quartet explored phases of movements in different spaces, times and in different combinations. As a mover one could appreciate the beauty of movement as it was presented as purely movement, no costumes masking the performance, no death-defying acts, not spectacular movements or arabesques...just movement. The piece showed how different movements sit on different people.

This did seem like a great end to a great evening...but alas I spoke too soon. The last piece took place over 40 minutes and seemed more like a ramble of movements and just a knick-knack of ideologies, props, costumes and movements. This was not to be mistaken with a beautifully considered, clean piece of dance.  In many ways I can appreciate that this piece represented how we are in Africa...confused, scattered and just plain random due to colonial issues. This is by way no excuse to presenting work like that and it has been said many times before...Dance reflects our society. If Africa is so fragmented and still stuck on colonialist whiplashes, how do we take it forward as movement practitioners?

I did not complete yesterdays programs due to taxi constraints...but I would have loved to see my homeboys Thami Manekehla and Thabiso Pule would have been a great way to end the day and see my friend's work.

I'm off to watch today installment of dance pieces starting with Moeketsi Koena's piece.

Yukata Chalenji!!!

A friend of mine has invited me for fashion week this weekend. Fierce Couture has invited Beading Dancer to sell her jewellery in sandton on Saturday. The show on the ramp will start at 1pm.

My idea for this event, as I thought I would be there for three days, was to relearn tying obi on a yukata.  Last week when I went to Velvetrobes event, I wore a yukata…most people call it a kimono. I think I have only seen once person wearing a kimono and she was a geisha. Everyone around Japan usually wear a yukata because it is lighter. The one I will be wearing is cotton..so comfortable and breathes...unlike most yukata. I really love wearing my all in one dresses and cloggs with kutsushita...they make me feel lady like and oh-so mature and motherlike.

As it is looking now…it could only be for a day. But I have the perfect Saturday yukata. I only tried this particular yukata on earlier this week. It really fits me better because it sits closer to my skin.  The yukata is in a festive flower pattern in navy and the rest of it is white. It would be great if I had a yellow obi…but I only have a simple purple and pink one.

Tying

My challenge really with my yukata skills is tying the obi and keeping it in one place the entire day. I have tried!!! And this obi business seems like it needs a little more muscle or a good technique…this technique must be lying in some ancient Japanese scroll in the middle of the Alps close to the Kiso valley. I am in search of the way of the obi….obido.

If you know a technique I'm not aware of...please share.

(damn, obi(s))...

Material

(Had this on my chest for sometime)

I feel this material life slipping away .

It really is no importance to me what things can do and how they can make other people respect you.  What does it matter?

Does it matter?

Does my matter matter?

Or will I find my peaceful end in the ground…where my clan awaits at the cave of  the beginning and end.

It is here that the smell of rain was imagined.

Rain was thought to be the sky dancing on your skin.

It is here that thoughts like touch manifested.

Here that we run to for prayer.

Ke lona legaga la popo.

I love breathing in African sunsets that burst with compassionate beauty.  Slithers of light rays that calm the spirit if prayed for. It is this mantra that is created its heart in my home.

Life happening

Life happens at a fast pace sometimes, sometimes it is slow. I feel like I'm living in the middle of those two conditions. So often do I dream about the future and think about my past and how it influences my future.

My consciousness has been stuck on this one brother...he had my full attention and my consciousness. I have been questioning how it is that he can get to do that. I carried him in spirit, I believed, I have been analysing his presence in my spirit. I was aware that I had not told him of any of the weight I carry because of him....but wait! The poor brother does not know that I pictured a life with him...and his children..in fact he doesn't know that I even have feelings for him.

I really struggled with this. My thoughts:

I was conditioned as a girl to build castles with a man in my head because in reality love stinks. So having a mental oasis was taught as a self-preservation method.

This brother has no clue that I carry all this baggage, believing it is for both of us...when in fact...it is all me. I have been using a sort of meditation for my emotions. One that says that...before the emotion rises: I should be able to recognise it, acknowledge it and be able, at some point, to say..."o.k. I give you permission to exist in my space...go ahead...but I am watching you".

I have also started speaking to an old...friend. I guess I did realise that I really am into him. I have been into him, we love everything about each other plus our long term goals are similar.  Although he live far from me, I guess I figure it is time I lived my life...I am not getting any younger and he is always in my life. I am just thinking of keeping him as a permanent fixture, which would be great for the next part of my life. Cause it will be beautiful. Teaching. Kids. Life and this great planet...can i really go wrong?

I know that I will be opening a new window in my life, but if I do not open it...it will never be closed(in a sense that I will always wonder why he isn't with me).


I cannot wait to go back to teaching and enjoying life with its great life gestures. That holds promise of happiness and general well being for me and people around me....

On the other hand I know that I am about to make life changing decisions soon...so I would like to tour the continent before I do that. So far I have decided to move from Gauteng (South Africa) to Kenya...everyday seems to tell me that this may not be possible because of my budget.
I really do not feel like starting new business relationships these days...even though I need the cash. I think my peace is far more valuable than making money. Sad for me...striking the balance between money and peace of mind is hard. I have never been good at that balance...but I will need to learn...if I am to raise children of my own.

I need to raise money to leave here also...no way around it.

photo albums and phoenix

I woke up to continue working. So much work. I have to start and finish some illustrations for a client. I love illustrating and his project is something I have been looking forward to.

Yesterday I had to go buy paper. It is hard to find books or photo albums I would like so...I decided to make my own. I finished my yearly daily planner and now I am making albums from all my adventures in Japan. I just didn't like posting all my photos online...So I am going old school...helps with people not steak\ling my identity.

I will post pics when I am done with one...quite exciting and expensive actually....but really dope.
I just fetched Phoenix(my red bmx) from a friends house...I think she was glad to see me. Long trip ahead...cycling.

Thinking into silences

Went to the ashram with a friend today.  I felt like Elizabeth in Eat, pray, love.  Try as I did, today I could not find that place.  I started meditating before the Swami came…and I could not concentrate after the Swami said so.  The frustration of not being to concentrate is a real frustration. But I think I should listen to a wise friend…that I should just observe.

I really feel like I’m at crossroads in my life…this is the time I make a more informed decision about my life.  But if I do make a decision…I would need to commit.  Running my mouth about how I have learnt this and that, been here and there would need to stop.  I would literally need to shut up (mentally too)…that's some serious ninja-shogun-monk technique.  I need to be that ninja-shogun-monk who trains her mind to yield a sword of honour, discipline and concentrated focus that will guide her towards light and silence.

The latter I have fallen in love with recently.  I love waking up in the morning and keeping silent for about 30 minutes to an hour.  It is beautiful. And it’s even more beautiful when the first beings you speak to are flowers, trees and birds…that excite my being.

I wish I could take that feeling into every part of my life.  It may be easy to find happiness but keeping it is difficult.

Finding answers

Crucial questions:

Am I ready to commit to something that's going to change possible direction in my life?

Am I ready to leave everything behind...guess this is an expression cause everything moves forward in my life.. And me leaving something behind would mean it would be stuck on my sub-conscious, which means I would be stuck with it.

Can I hold out till these big decisions happen?

Some background…I have dreams that kind of give me a timeline of my life. So far I have glimpsed as far as...I’d say around 40 to 50 years of my life (I think). I was really old in one of my visions.

Thing is I know that I have spirit guides, so does everyone else, and mine do guide me and have always guided me (whether or not I wanted them there is not their concern). I think we promised that they would be there with me, as I would be with them in different lifetimes. I guess this is my turn now.

For as long as I can remember I have always had this lady when I was younger…I’ve recently thought her to be a relative…but these days I question everything. What if in reality, our spirit guides are our spirits that are travelling in time, backwards and forwards, to guide us. Just a thought. Which would make sense right? Since I feel really comfortable with this woman. She could be a relative…relative soul…related to my soul…and since we are one, it could be hard to tell her apart.

Anyway..today. I talk about a different issue. I am really not sleeping well these days cause I have too much on my brain. Yesterday I really was not a happy camper. I do mention in one of my posts in Japan, how I felt the Buddha’s spirit at the Buddha garden. This is really not a joke. But I think Gotama is playing jokes on me.

I went to a Buddhist retreat not so long ago, to get perspective. It was a mandala-type retreat. Mandala is an offering…kind of like a fast-tracked Buddhist’s way to blessings, I think. After sitting in a Chinese sitting posture (that's what we call it where I grew up) from 8am till 7pm, after the second day, I really felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders.  There are no words to describe the joy and peace that comes over you after that. I think that retreat saved my life.

Anyway…the Buddha’s revenge...right?  I met these two monks at the center, really nice and open…real inspiration. This one monk asked me how it is that I came across Buddhism. I choked. After some time it did come back…and not pretty at all.

This is the deal. I once dreamt about sitting at an alter with a man, this spirit felt close…like we were married. We were praying, offering incense. Very strange right? I was lank old in that picture probably about my 40’s or 50’s.  I think I was between 13 and 18 when I dreamt that. It was really confusing but I think that set my spiritual agenda. I went to Nan Hua after that…through someone I knew. I was in awe...spiritual heaven. After that, I had interactions with monks from Hare Krishna, but my biggest interaction was in Japan.

A lady I met last said that a funny thing is that she has always found herself at Buddhist temples. This is how I feel. For no reason at all, I found my way to some Shinto shrines, and ended up chilling with monks in Japan. There was a monk we went to chill at his house for a braai. He was a nice guy with a nice family. I did not understand this in the beginning cause I thought monks were not allowed to have families. But I read it up…most people in Japan are born into families that have a certain skill or place in the community.  This guy, I guess, was born into a Buddhist monk family and has to carry the family tradition much like the samurai did.

I found myself again in Nara, which I recently read has a big significant Buddha sitting there with many others. I was there. That place was a trip…I know that that day was Buddha-full. I walked in the gardens, lit some incense and asked for blessings. Amongst the conversations I had at the retreat…some things started making sense after I came back home.

But you know, I have wanted to leave this materialistic life I find myself in…with no options. I really am scared to make big romantic spiritual gestures…cause it would mean I actually leave some stuff I really like holding on to (like graffiti, illustration, dance, beading).  I think I can become accustomed to a material-less life in a mountain faraway. This has been a burning question for the last…say 15 years of my life. I really did want to join the order…but I thought it was impossible, but these days it seems to be the only way I can find happiness. This question came back to give me a sleepless night yesterday, after I looked up the order of Buddhist’s that wear the grey uniform.

Buddha is really kicking my ass, from Africa to Japan and back…maybe one of these days I should listen.

Big Squash!!

OK, so on one of my journeys to Gantsa ho ganye, I bought a squash-like thing. Apparently It is called ithanga/uthanga. I found out the Tswana name for it is Leowane. Traditionally you cook it with pap mixing it in or you make it into some sweet pudding thing. I chose to use the sushi rice I had and mix it with it to make a rice pudding. I put some cinnamon in and some sugar. I like, i like. I ate it for three days straight for lunch. Its filling actually.  Here are the pictures on how I made it.

Cut into required portion.

Skin the outside of the squash (it is quite hard).

Cube it.

Throw into a pot.

Cook on low heat with a little bit of water because it naturally has water.

Throw in the rice or pap, the portion is up to you also. I wanted the squash to be a lot more than the rice.

If you find it gets a bit dry for the rice, pour in some milk to keep the consistency you would like. I used milk cause mine was going to be a desert anyway, so I wanted to make a little more creamier.

Cook on low heat till the rice gets cooked.

Season as you wish. I used cinnamon so cause I was making rice pudding and I added some sugar and a pinch of salt. 

My rice was cooked.

Once done, scoop into a cup and serve. I put a dollop of honey on top.

 The way of the brush

So I created a site on concrete 5 about my favourite font....which is not a font. Nani!!! you might say...
I chose hiragana as my inspiration, but actually it is about writing with using your God-given hands!!!

I am a hacker...meaning I take stuff apart and remake it with my hands or find ways to use old technology in today's times. I repaired my old Polaroid land camera, made a book, made my Macantosh a jumper out of an old jersey. I'm in the habit of taking old things and using them cause they are.....damn cool!

For my latest college project we had to create a site celebrating typography...the one you love the most. So naturally I picked a font that lends itself to my hands. The beauty and grace of penmanship can never be replaced by machine. The magic of receiving a letter in the mail can never be replaced by an email.

The site focuses on Shodo which is the way of the brush like you would have kendo. The difference with Shodo is that it is not just about writing beautiful letters, it is about a deeper meditation. Life force moves from the heavens, travels through the artist and descends on the paper by way of the ink....this is the poetry of shodo.

Shodo is the coolest way to write anything important:

It saves space cause its syllabic(you don't write out each letter) or you can write in kanji.
It fuses meditation and typography...

in case you missed it....


It fuses meditation and typography!!!
 
Could there be anything cooler than that!

Kami by kisaragichiyo

anshin(peace of mind) by kisaragichiyo

azami by kisaragichiyo

I am not the biggest fan of kanji (chinese characters) but after looking at different artworks, I do appreciate kanji for its beauty and poetry. My favourite kanji has always been kokoro which is you soul/ wellbeing/spirit...for that kanji to roll with another character and mean peace of mind is BEAUTIFUL!!!

Shodo also incorporates pictures like the last artwork. I find that it becomes more whole when the artist has included their interpretation with a picture.

The intensity of the ink from the really dark to light gives it a different meaning, the word chosen, where it is placed and the zen-ness of it all gives you hope and peace at the same time...

"(...) dharma art refers to art that springs from a certain state of mind on the part of the artist that could be called the meditative state. It is



an attitude of directness and unselfconsciousness in one's creative work."


Tibetan meditation master, the XIth Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche 



Aaaggghhhhhh.....monday again?

I had a touching weekend, Spent it with a certain RainQueen. It had the great makings of a great weekend: eat, pray, love.
I will elaborate further in the week. It's monday and I can't handle this....not sleeping and working late nights and get up in the morning traumatised by waking up too early. I think it psychologically affects my spirit and lifeforce. I cannot believe the world buys into torturing itself by waking up early in the morning and not letting their bodies get up as they naturally should......ahhhhhhhh!....let see what it brings.

Spiritual Ramblings.....

So, I am a recently back to school and making accessories type person...and free to roam wherever I want. I have been doing a lot of outward observation. For instance why is it that we humans are never or hardly satisfied with life?
I have a lot of questions around this cause I find it troublesome. The great Buddha taught us that what we seek materially, can only be answered by our true selves. I have been floating around this orb in space...not going forward or back...but trying to maintain. I think I know that I need a drastic change in order for me to be truly happy or happier.

First of all...although I am living in this material world, it doesn't mean that I like it. I think I know what my plans are for the next 10 or so years. I have been preparing for my exodus to a far away place that soothes my spirit and lets me live in the now.

Any who, recently I have been put back in touch with an old colleague from Japan. I guess I can't indulge in more emotional terms but....I can say that everything in my life has just gravitated towards going back to a picturesque mountain view and a couple hundred students. We regularly speak or in fact...facebook. Very simple conversation that I find add meaning to the simplicity of where I want my life to be.  I have an intense need to escape my Jozified state of life or things. I am even having communication issues as I don't feel I fit into this construct any more. He makes me think of my life in a clearer way and even why I am still here. The strangeness of it all is that he just randomly appeared two countries away...very unexpected and dare I saw awesome.

I have given up hope fitting into this construct, cause I just can't believe my life is less of a blessing. I cannot dilute my human experience into labels, house parties and general South African culture. My spirit and life means more to me now than it has ever meant.


I think Goddess brings certain people into my life to remind me where I am supposed to be. And because my life is reflected in the dreams and visions I receive, why spoil a good solid foundation that has been handed to me.
I need Goddess close to me...there is a comfort in having nature/God/the creator close to me and my spirit.


O.k so all that aside...I am learning code at college, syntax...XML all that. And my grand plan right now is to figure out how I will use it for teaching and for my business in the near future. It is extremely hard....to a point I think it is punishment for me not following the Grandmaster's plan.

OK....so also that City Press article that got published that other previous Sunday....there have been random calls about it and I didn't think people read that paper a lot. But here is the article. If can't read it....let me know and I can attach it and send it.

The ramblings of a 29 year old...

My ramblings...

Ja, ne. I think these days aer as confusing as ever. I think I am going through a quarter life crisis. I have no idea where it comes from...but it is just getting in the way of progress.

Anyway, I am reading "The last concubine" by Lesley Downer...Its an interesting read and a long one for someone who lost their mojo for reading. It starts with a description of the Kiso valley, ironically, I used to live there and the many customs in Japanese culture. It also goes through the motions and rituals of a girl becoming a woman at a very early age. I would recommend it after reading "Memoirs of a Geisha"(funny thing is geisha happens to be my mothers name)....both are equally think but beautiful books. I guess I find this book relevent as i am looking at issues around my own roles as an African female.

And just as I am reading this book, one of the teachers I used to work with in Kiso tells me he is living in Africa...well not for long but some time...weird right. Then I get to collect my graduation pants...I think they are called hakama.

Ok...I have seen people wearing these. but I still have to really figure out how exactly I wear these. If you have any tips...please pass them my way.

Relaxation vibes

To be honest with myself, I have not been taking my much needed rest...I fear this will catch up with me,soon. I have been through the year, and holidays and now I'm in a new year. I need just a little more sleep and mountain hills to get over this.

Sleeping patterns aside though, I have managed to come up with a new line and have been thinking of shooting a look book for this years collection which only means I have to finish the different seasonal ranges so that I can shoot everything and start production.




I have made some articles...I think more Ethnic or Oriental and more mature....very proud of the divinity that helped me put these together...here's a taste.