AFRIKABURN 2011



The most beautiful "burners" in the Karoo- Mbe and Tania

 I know how much time has passed since AfrikaBurn was held but now I have the time to write something much more substantial on it. My housemate and former housemate went traipsing off to the Karoo over Easter while I was stuck in steamy Durban going through a horrid breakup. No Easter Vortex or AfrikaBurn for this person- felt very much like someone who missed out on a chocolate layer cake and only got green beans and broccoli (although do love my veg so...).

First, a little history. AfrikaBurn is a four-day festival combining art, music, dancing and communal living. The point is to bring whatever you need to survive in the desert and exist without cash.  There are no vendors or stalls but a ‘gift economy’ instead. As the manifesto says; ‘expect nothing in return.’ The festival is mainly about the constructing of art in a free space without commerciality and consumerism. How you participate is completely up to you- a theme camp, painting your body, creating your own art installation or volunteering to help out. What people create is truly the highlight of the festival. The theme this year was STOF, the Afrikaans word for dust. The theme is not policed so any "Burner" can interpret it as freely as they want. It’s merely a platform. From what i have gathered about this festival, it is not just about hedonistic exploration but the freedom to have a space where people can be as creative as they want without any outside influence or critic. All the art is then burnt in a cathartic manner to create something else- reflection. Many AfrikaBurn artists take months for the creation of their pieces and yet they burn them happily while reflecting on the journey and the people that have brought them to this place. It is all about engaging!

My friends decided to paint their bodies. Neo, whom we call Mbe, go into the vibe by painting eyes on her nipples and walking around topless. Her rationale was “if you are going to stare at my breasts, they are going to stare back at you.” A group of Americans and other foreigners who stayed at our house in Grahamstown afterward decorated their bus.  Mbe is a phenomenonal person and photographer. Here are her snaps from AfrikaBurn; they explain the wonderment much more succinctly than I can ever hope to. For more, click on Afrika- She Burns, Mbe's album.

RIP DJ Solarize; 4 June 1985- 5 June 2011

For all of you out there who haven't heard, South Africa lost an innovative and talented DJ and visual artist last weekend. Leon Botha/DJ Solarize was only twenty-six years old. Famed for his passionate love of hip-hop music and culture and art, Botha collaborated with galleries and recording artists to combine the two including Liquid Swords; I am HipHop and Who Am I? Transgressions. Many know him for his musical collaborations with Die Antwoord.

Botha suffered from a rare degenerative disease that causes premature aging called progeria. After suffering a heart attack in November last year, a weakened Botha died at his home in Cape Town one day after his twenty-sixth birthday. A philosopher, hiphop lover and accomplished artist and entertainer, he will be missed. Check out DJ Solarize’s art and interview with onesmallseed and a clip of his latest art exhibition, Transgressions.

Mix N Blend Party- Tunnels, Grahamstown

It may have been more than chilly last Friday night in Grahamstown at a low 5 degrees but that didn’t stop the party monsters who love good music, a good venue and good times.

The 3 Chimneys Property behind Rhodes off a long dirt road is known affectionately as the “Tunnels” and officially as the “Sound Kiln.” The Tunnels is basically a farm with many different properties and homes surrounding high, now defunct brick-making towers and a long tunnel running through the hill. Since 2008, I have had the pleasure in knowing that even though I stay in a town in the middle of nowhere with free-roaming livestock and ever-present cow crap, Tunnels will always be the place where one can escape pop radio and have a good old stomp to innovative electro, drum and bass, dub and trance. As they say it is a “collaborative affair focused on bringing you the epitome of diversified, outdoor clubbing. Our aim is to get your hearts racing, your feet stomping and your imaginations soaring as we create sonic waves that'll keep you twitching for weeks.” Over the years, the Tunnels have held successful shows and music events during the arts festival and throughout the seasons. Guests have included Niskerone, Guns N Lazers, PHfat and Martin and Bells of Wacky Woods fame. Last Friday, the Tunnels were rocked by Mix N Blend from Cape Town.

The night started off with Grahamstown well-known local dub DJs, Smash N Grab, made up of Juan Levin and Justin Shaw as well as Kadabra and local boy Dan Robinson. Inside the tunnels was the haven for the trancers with notable sets by the Genie, the Squig and Psymethyst, both from PE. The Squig, Brendan Stauffer, who melted everyone’s faces off with experimental, dirty yet tight trance beats, was the highlight of my night. Mix N Blend was undoubtedly brilliant, their music is awesomely South African and their stage presence gets everyone dancing and screaming for more. The party was in full swing until six the next morning. Grahamstown definitely has more to offer than it lets on. Great photographs were taken by the talented Craig Marais. Here are some snaps- for more visit http://www.facebook.com/CraigMaraisPhotos

The Sound Kiln will be open for music events from early July for the Grahamstown Arts Festival.