When the Zeitz MOCAA does a book launch, it a big deal, and an all day event. I was thrilled to be invited to their recent launch of The Stories that Ran Away (Volume 2):
Honestly I could think of nothing better than a day out at the Zeitz. A while back they launched The Stories that Ran Away… Four stunning story books introducing stories of creation from all over Africa. They recently introduced three more stories for the collection and they are fabulous. I absolutely loved getting to meet the author and illustrators again.
I love that there is a continuity, over time, in this community project. From humble beginnings… and one sentence stories, came a flock of African Myths and Legends. Stories of how the world began, stories deeply rooted in African Folklore, and stories that until now have been based in the oral tradition.
The stories that might have had very humble beginnings, have been translated into picture books by the multi-talented Meridian Berndt.
Meridian has created stories from Africa, providing a heritage for African children and stories to be enjoyed around the globe. This is not a small project, considering that we live in a part of the world where the connection between the natural world and the human world is ever present and totally intertwined.
Add in some incredibly creative artists and the stories are now incredible artworks, with a beautiful traditional story at the hear of each of them.
Each artist had the opportunity to talk to us about their art and their book… followed by an afternoon of glorious drama…
Meet the Artists and their Books
One World One Family
This book, is a story from the Fon people of Benin, it has gold leaf and twirls and whirls on the cover, it is the epitome of magical. This is the story of wild beginnings, when each and every day was different and higgeldy piggeldy. Everybody lived together in a joyous and delightful world. All creatures gave birth to all kinds of creatures… but there were two human women that decided that they would like to give birth to human babies, and they had a very compelling case for the ancient creator.
The ancient creator eventually said yes, but only if certain rules of nature were strictly adhered to, going forwards. Freedom and diversity may have been lost and a lot of the joy slipped away. But animal families had their own families and human families had their own families… The art in this story is colourful and energetic, humorous and quite literally a wonderful romp.
All the animals were out on show…
Nkanyamba
When two cultures, Xhosa and Zulu, have a creation story about a slithery snake, and two artists get together to create… you get “NKANYAMBA.” For thousands of years the world was at peace, each family had their own peace of land, each village was self-sufficient and everybody shared what they had with each other. There was enough (of everything) to go round… but then people started being greedy and wanting more and more for themselves, the people that had more expected the people that had less to pay for their needs… and soon the world became unbalanced and destructive.
Mother Earth was devastated at these events and shape-shifted into the dreaded mythological snake, Nkanyamba, and protected her creatures and resources from the greedy, grabbing humans. The story ends, filled with hope that human kind will remember how things were and return to the old ways. Vics and Zhi describe their teamwork as a tennis match, ideas batting to and fro. While the story highlights the conflict between nature and humanity, the story ends with a question mark, not softening or glamorising the problem, and leaving space for the young reader and their reader, to think about it. And of course Nkanyamba took to the stage!!!
Why Fire and Water are Enemies
Bongi, the beautiful daughter of the Chief, was ready to get married and she had two suitable suitors: Fire and Water. Fire brings warmth and comfort, while Water quenches thirst… Fire’s anger leaves horrific scars, and Water can be just as fierce with floods and drowning. Bongi could not decide which suitor was better, so her father suggested a race.
A brave and courageous race followed, with the crowds cheering the suitors on… and while there was only one winner, what followed was years and years of bitter enemies and conflict. While the artist, Jax, lives on an island in the Indian Ocean, it was hard for him to get hold of the materials necessary to create his artworks… but where there is a will, there is a way, “so to speak,” and his Afro-futurism, realistic art is incredible… and will stop you in your tracks for a closer look.
Questions and Answers with Liesl Hartman
Interesting questions about interesting artworks, and how we can get these books into communities. How the book can reach the children that the stories were created for!!!
And a Fun Tour of the Exhibition
This exhibition is in the basement, and well worth a visit to the Zeitz on a wintry day. Detailed close up artworks by each of the artists…
Fun activities for young artists to enjoy…
A really interesting exhibition, with art and sculptures to look at…
As well as artworks by local school children…
Artworks on the wall to actually engage with.
Followed by an Afternoon of Drama
The stories were performed by actors from the Magnet Theatre, children and their adults had a most spectacular time.
Followed by cake…
And book signings…
Massive thank you to the Zeitz MOCAA, the artists and Liesl and her creative team for a wonderful celebration and launch day!!!
These books are all available for sale, either as a complete collection or individually, along with some adorable merchandise, in the Zeitz MOCAA art shop.