Give me honey Any day And I’ll find a place for Sweet to counter the bitter. We move through our days Trying to keep our stories On the margin of our memories Trying to be present to What we encounter in the moment. Then… As I have, We just move on. Or is it that […]
Reflections #2: Honey is Home — Fiesta Estrellas
I chose this post and image for my reblog. The choice for today might have been inspired by my blogging friend Janet Weight Reed at the same time as I was reviewing my past poetry to begin my next publication. This drawing is linked together with my poem “Honey is Home“ that appeared in my publication of Art for Art, 2017.
The drawing above is my own; I probably should have signed my art when I was in my teens and making it, circa 1995. This is a portrait of one of my best friends, Jana. I did it in a cubist style, inspired by Picasso and Paul Cézanne. In the 20th early century, Cubism was a new movement in art where subjects were depicted with multiple perspectives, and nature was often interpreted through a geometric shapes. I didn’t know it at the time, but Picasso was not only inspired by Cézanne but he was inspired by African art. African art appealed to my soul from a very young age, all forms of African art, including music and drum signatures. This was a theme that continued for me well past the time I visited S. Africa, and into the present as I enjoy playing djembe in the local Women’s Drum Circle.
Due to apartheid, townships were places that could be very dangerous for white people to go. It’s understandable why. Because white people created and enforced apartheid, and destroyed homes and lives in the process. White people destroyed a whole people. Since my educational trip was focused on service and expanding the minds of Westerners, I was admitted into these exclusive spaces which, as I said, existed as a direct result of heinous racism which drove blacks from their homes and communities.
“The Apartheid (1948 to 1994) in South Africa was the racial segregation under the all-white government of South Africa which dictated that non-white South Africans (a majority of the population) were required to live in separate areas from whites and use separate public facilities, and contact between the two groups would be limited. The different racial group were physically separated according to their location, public facilities and social life.”
source
I was an anthropology student at the time of this visit to a township in Capetown, S. Africa. As an artist, photographer, and a person devoted to the mission of sharing the beauty of these communities with my then very small reach, I took pictures of these children with permission. The following is one of the many images I photographed of some of the township children. These children were so cute. I was in love with them. Interestingly, the people in the township often had designer clothes, but lived in very, very poor conditions–without electricity, and even lived in shacks that were put together with reclaimed materials. Why did they have designer clothes? Well, just ask yourself what all the wealthy of the Western world do with their designer clothes? It’s increasingly happening among the extreme wealth of the whole world, not just the West. The clothing is expendable and tossed down the line through donation. See this post for my short discussion on disposable goods and consumerism. So this is how you can have designer clothing and can be extremely poor. Kind of changes the status of designer clothing, doesn’t it? These old neighborhoods, before apartheid, these communities had street signs and livelihood. They had roads, and owned their own land. “
Quick Facts
Between 1960 and 1994 over three and a half million people were forcibly removed to the homelands.Their land was taken away from them and sold to white farmers at very low prices.People were unable to make a living in the homelands, and many had to work as migrant labourers in the cities of South Africa. (source)
I was there in 2001, and sadly, by 2014 (see article linked below), not much has changed. Racism is cruel.
From 2014 article, a resident explained, “When it rains, the public toilets overflow into my living room,” she says. “Water comes in through the ceiling and the electricity stops working (Guardian)” See links below for more information.
For more on Apartheid:
https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/africans-resist-white-control
For more on Cubism
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/c/cubism/all-about-cubism
https://www.thecollector.com/african-art-the-first-form-of-cubism/
Fiesta Estrellas 
It is great Ka that you are sharing about Apartheid. I am afraid it may be among the many heinous events in history that many are unaware of. I was alive when the Anti-apartheid movement was gaining traction but from this vantage point is seems like a lifetime ago. So many younger people are simply uninformed but this can be changed. ❤
Yes I agree, Linda. Slavery followed by indentured workers and apartheid, are all subjects where many are completely uninformed. One of the problems is that the education system itself was not only a perpetuator, but a reinforcement for racism and racial segregation. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-02-02/the-roots-of-america-s-apartheid-schools
Your art is truly stunning 💜
Really so true said dear Dinnah!💕👍🙏
Thank you, Yaksh
My pleasure dear friend! By the way please do visit my page also and help me in improving myself💞😊😉✌🙏
Truly, I have visited. All of us are all here for each other. Have a great day!
Thank you so much Dear friend! You are really so kind.
And If you like my blogs then you can support me by following me!
Stay happy and Stay Safe.🤗😊💝👍✌
When I click on your blog, kind soul, it says that your name is Veronica; and so this is a big confusing. Are you Yaksh or Veronica? I also do not see a follow button on your blog. From what I can see beyond these confusing bits is you are writing to uplift and make connections. I wish you well! I’m happy to visit. All the blessings your way.
No My Dear actually it’d be Probably a issue because My name is Yaksh and Not Veronica! And thanks for your efforts Dear friend. I’ll surly look upon this issue thanks for telling me this.
By the way my ID is:- yaksh5.home.blog please do visit this link!
Have a great day🌹✌🤗💕
Thanks, Yaksh
Thank you for clarifying. Yes, I am able to navigate to your page without a problem. Check that maybe some of the default aspects of your page aren’t still up there. Wishing you lots of success with your blog and with making all these lovely connections that we have here. I’ve been blogging for over 11 years. I’m grateful for my blogging friends. Glad to meet you, Yaksh. Keep writing.
Please do visit my page also😉🤗💕
I love your art ka… my friend who is a great artist too is learning to paint portraits with this technique now. I love too how you bring awareness to the poorer countries, showing how we treat one another! We must remember however, in this respect, our history has been about creating blame and division between us, the people. When it’s really the same rich families who knew of Africa being rich in resources and wanted to keep it all for themselves and made the country an example of deep lack! Today we still see this pointing of fingers in society as we have become fragmented more than ever. The apartheid is no longer about being black or white but sexual orientation, male and female, rich and poor, political sides, religious sides… and much more! If we are to change this we all need to take back our power from the evil centralized world we have created! But we all know that most of the population have been totally hypnotized and don’t see how our leaders don’t care for us. Only a few see the truth, waking up to their own loving presence, Consciousness or love and are being the change… forging new paths, coming together in community. It’s not about fighting (that’s only fuels them), we can show them we mean business and stand up and say no and work along them. I’m very proud to be doing just this in Benalmadena with our children and parents. Thankyou ka for your post and giving me food for thought. Much love to you and I’d love to see more of your art and musings on history! Much love x
Barbara, these are extremely sensitive topics which require the utmost care. It’s important to keep in mind that for many, these events are not historic but are still taking place today. Society is very fragmented right now, so it does serve us best to focus on finding unification and coming back into wholeness in a way that doesn’t downplay the trauma or worsen it anymore. We are still in a state of examination which is important and also necessary but it does need to be done with tenderness and respect.
My photographs here are also reflective of my travels and experiences that sadly, are still very similar to how things are now in the townships. I’m very interested in lifting up these communities.
I’m sure your artist friend is marvelous with portraiture. Thank you for admiring my art work here. It’s time capsule; and reflects a sincerely special friendship in my life, over time, as well as Cubist art.
I appreciate your reflections and your dedicated work in Benalmadena. Keep heart and love, and all my best wishes! May we all wake up that loving consciousness within ourselves.
Of course Ka, the trauma and abuse of power continues to happen today, but it only happens because we don’t take our stand. The fear of punishment runs deep. Some of my family and friends lived and still live in the middle of it all in South Africa. My dad, bless him went over with some affluent people with the intention to help. However it was and remains apparent some, if not the majority don’t want help. Daily we are amidst this conflict in all parts of the world, it is on my doorstep and there is many of us who do the best to educate in the name of consciousness and sovereignty with all love and respect. Always grateful for your depth of sensitivity❤️ much love x
Yes, history lends itself to so many “first hand” and “second hand” encounters. I remember your father passing away not too long ago. I’m sure he has left his legacy in you. I’m so sorry for your los. I think that from an anthropological perspective, I learned a lot in my years of studying ethnography that people don’t want their oppressors to lift them up. They also don’t want what they perceive as “hand outs from the rich.” They want to stand up from the inside, from their own means, and with their own grace and strength. One’s dignity needs to be witnessed in this uprising of inner wealth. May we all heal these atrocities of the past, and witness and remedy where these suppressions and divisions continue to take place. I honor your good will and your heart. Be well, Barbara. And blessings your way!