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Colours and Motion

Art workshop with Maya Freelon Asante

On the 19th of December, 2013, Maya Freelon Asante – award winning artist and daughter of jazz musician Nnenna Freelon – held a one-of-a-kind art workshop in Morija, Lesotho. The workshop took place at Linotšing art studio, adjacent to Maeder House – one of the oldest recorded buildings in Lesotho – and involved 35 local youth between the ages of 4 -25.

Throughout the afternoon, young people were given the chance to discover and create with a range of materials. In the space of a few hours, Linotšing was transformed into a bustle of activity as the children discovered the myriad of exciting creations that could be made by combining paper, water and multi-coloured tissue paper. Finally, working together under Maya’s guidance, the children helped to glue and stitch together a quilt of tissue paper, which will be used by Maya and Nnenna in their multi-discipline theater project – Clothesline Muse – set to premiere in the US in April, 2014.

At the end of the workshop, as the children contemplated the final creation, Maya said to them: “with your hands, hearts and your energy, you have made art that is going to help your community.”

The workshop coincided with a fundraising concert titled A night with the King. It was held to benefit the renovation of Morija Scott Hospital, where Nnenna, invited by King Letsie III, was the headline performer. Auctioned at the concert were two collages, created by Maya and the group in Morija the day before, with proceeds also going to Scott Hospital.

More information about Maya Freelon Asante:

Maya Freelon Asante is an award‐winning artist whose artwork was described by poet Maya Angelou as “visualizing the truth about the vulnerability and power of the human being,” and her unique tissue paper work was also praised by the International Review of African American Art as a “vibrant, beating assemblage of color.” She was selected by Modern Luxury Magazine as Best of the City 2013 and by the Huffington Post’s “Black Artists: 30 Contemporary Art Makers Under 40 You Should Know“.

Maya has exhibited her work nationally and internationally including Paris, Ghana, and US Embassies in Madagascar, Italy, Jamaica, and Swaziland. She has been a professor of art at Towson University and Morgan State University. Maya has attended numerous residencies including Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, the Korobitey Institute and Brandywine Workshop. She earned a BA from Lafayette College and an MFA from the School of Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

More info: www.mayafreelon.com | theclotheslinemuse.com

Mini gallery:

Follow this link to view more photos on Faceboook.

Maya’s work in Madagascar:

Place of the Cannibals – Malimong

By Lineo Segoete

Lesotho, a place that resembles the feeling of being wrapped in the warm arms and voluptuous bosom of a favourite grandmother, a feeling transfixed in her enigmatic mountains and meandering valleys basking under clean clear skies, is home to many unknown and remarkable gems of nature. Among them are the Kome Caves in Teyateyaneng Berea.

Ha Kome is a tranquil village in an area known as Malimong (Place of Cannibals), she is dappled in jade and potent greens in the summer and blushing red earth basking in a marvellous gorge in the Phuthiatsana valley below magnificent peaks who are protectors of centuries of history including evidence to the first occupants of the acreage now known as Lesotho; the great San.

One version of the origins of Basotho inhabitants at the Kome Caves suggests that Kome’s grandfather, father of Teleka of the Basia clan, was designated the site by King Moshoeshoe I because the King felt that his talents in magic and mastery of the herbs could be a powerful weapon against the cannibals who were a major nuisance to Basotho especially in the area of Malimong.

Ha Kome is a national heritage site famous, among her many attractions, for her immaculate cave houses tucked away under a great hill below the Ha Kome Tourist Centre. It provides a unique opportunity to learn and revel in the true Basotho way of life as it is and as it once was.

Recently the first Annual Kome Beer Festival was hosted there with aims to entice the curiosity of visitors and offer them an escape from the sporadic realities, noises and fast-pace of the concrete jungle.

Although meddled in controversy in terms of petty crimes that took place as well as unsatisfactory delivery with regard to the entertainment and services offered, the event came as a challenge to the public and curators of national heritage sites to take notice and proactively invest energy into educating Basotho and the world about our natural treasures.

Lesotho is an arena hosting suave tangoes between apexes and precipices; her inconspicuousness is nowhere near fully understood nor discovered. Thankfully urbanisation is also gaining grounds therefore making the best sites- such as Ha Kome and others- accessible for peace of mind and freeing of the senses. Vigorous investment into the preservation and promotion of these wonders adds to our national pride and marketing our country as the ideal tourist destination for fun-lovers and adventure and history enthusiasts. It’s worth a thought and a try.

In true service to ill Hip Hop

By Lineo Segoete

I listened to Return Of The Astro-Goth by Yugen Blakrok for the first time on Bandcamp and it blew me away. I have not heard an album this PHAT in a very long time, ESPECIALLY from a local (Female) Emcee. Blakrok is a gifted Emcee.

Prior to the release of Return Of The Astro-Goth, Blakrok has been earning and defining her stripes for years in the Hip Hop under-ground scene in South Africa under indie label Iapetus Records which is a bayou of interstellar dopeness.

Produced by music virtuoso Kanif, who also makes a guest appearance on the album, Return Of The Astro-Goth features iconic giants; Robo The Technician, Shorty Skillz, Alka and Likwid Skillz of Recess Poetry, the same rap group Blakrok was in prior to launching a solo career.

Blakrok’s intelligent and meticulous insight has had me bumping her steadily since I copped the CD. It is the perfect tonic for heads whose minds and ears have been parched, aching for music that would take them on a nostalgic trip that renders boombap eternal.

Listening to this album is like reading a modernised ancient manuscript that assimilates occult mysticism, awareness of the environment, the core principles of martial arts, combat, introspection, self-knowledge, and dedication to one’s passions and spirituality all into one.

I appreciate that among the 15 tracks she blessed us with there is not a single lovey-dovey track, squashing one of the most typical pigeonholes about Emcees who happen to be female. Blakrok is more concerned about making an intellectual impression and severing the ego while retaining her elusive feminine sensitivity.

She overtly advocates wisdom over book-smarts through intricately crafted allegories woven from movies, writings, clever voice samples and everyday life such as unruly children getting up to no good, to reinforce her messages.

Blakrok demonstrates her artistry in the manner she manages to tap into the intimate sphere of her listeners. She shares knowledge so flexibly and eloquently that the listener is able to freely draw from her energy and also grow in his own journey while bobbing his head.

Basic Facts about Yugen Blakrok: Hails from the Eastern Cape, based in J-sec, has dreadlocks and will take out even the strongest Hip Hop contenders with her effervescent rhymes. More about her is strewn throughout her album and is not at all difficult to grasp for the acute listener.

Tracks to look out for are: Constellations, Verspertine 13, Some People Say, Medusa Complex and Swirl Of The Dervish.

Rea qapa – We create

By Lineo Segoete

Originally posted on Morija.co.ls

Friday October 25 marked a ground-breaking development for the Morija Arts Centre when the Germond Art Library was added to its assemblage in an official launch held in the Morija Printing Works canteen.

The Art Centre through Linotšing Studios and Maeder House Gallery, has grown steadily since 2011 when it was opened, making great strides to conscientise the public about art.

One follows inspiration in order to understand. When Patrick Rorke was entrusted to run the Morija Arts Centre on behalf of Morija Museum and Archives (MMA), everything gelled perfectly.

It would take an exceptional character to bring such a powerful vision to life.

In addition to being a seasoned artist, Patrick fills in this unique position as a direct descendent of Paul Germond one of the second group of missionaries to work in Lesotho after Casalis et al.

The Germonds invested a lot of energy towards the building of infrastructure in Lesotho and connecting with Basotho.

Like his great ancestors Patrick wishes to contribute his knowledge and skills to the people of Morija and Lesotho in general.

When the Bezençon family (also descended from a line of missionaries to Lesotho) and their fellow churchmen and women in Switzerland caught wind of Patrick’s work at the Morija Art Centre, they reached out to contribute.

What better gesture than to donate books and financial resources in order to transform a once dilapidated storeroom into a much more inviting space for learning and curio, namely, a library.

Reading plays a critical role in learning everything, Fine Art is no exception.

In his speech at the launch of the Germond Art Library, Patrick mentioned; when I got to Lesotho, I noticed that the most popular arts for Basotho are song and dance. Lesotho lacks in fine arts.

He added: “Whenever I would take an art book to class (at Morija English Medium), 20+ children would swarm around it in a matter of seconds, devouring with eager curiosity the information contained therein – that is what inspired me to open a library”.

Lerato Bereng, Curator of Stevenson Gallery in Johannesburg and Friend of MMA, also donated a generous number of books to the library.

Patrick said that Ms Bereng inspired the slogan he coined for the library, which is: “selibeng sa ho qapa”. He quoted her saying “one of the outstanding qualities of the art centre is that rea qapa (we create)”.

The library will also be equipped with a computer that will aid access to videos, tutorials and interactions with other fine arts enthusiasts across the world.

Patrick said he is weary of the perception projected about Lesotho/Basotho that sums an entire culture through a paltry number of images; that of a hut, blanket, horse, mountain and hat.

It is important that more creativity and a broader perspective be applied in terms of what this nation has to offer.

Having a library opened that is dedicated to art is a modest yet huge step for the sake of future artists and those working on establishing themselves.

On behalf of the MMA Board, Mr Mashologu said the Morija Art Centre is one of the most important projects of the Museum.

He added that artists need training so that they give us new meanings and interpretations of the past, present and future.

“We need to groom artists so they can make a living with their talents; they are the custodians and ambassadors of our culture. Therefore, we are grateful for this library as it will function as a tool toward that goal.”

In between speeches by chief Matete, Patrick, Guy Bezençon who represented the large delegation from the Evangelical Reformed Church in Switzerland, Mr Mothusi Mashologu vice chairman of the MMA board and Honourable MP for Matsieng Matšepo Ramakoae, the Ha Matela Youth Centre graced the gathering with Liphotha, Litolobonya and Mokhibo and the LEC Youth Choir entertained with choral music.

The event was sealed with a tour of the Library followed by delightful Indian treats courtesy of Mrs Aasha Rorke. The youth who already frequent the art centre are obviously going to make great use of the facilities and these developments will certainly capture the curiosity of artists elsewhere in Lesotho.

Walking for awareness – Together in pink

By Lineo Segoete

My maternal grandmother’s older sister died of cancer that had spread from her breasts to her brain in 2000. The cancer escalated in spite of the removal of both of her breasts and intense chemo therapy, a battle that lasted for as long as I knew to name the difference between the sun and the moon.

Her torment had me fully aware of cancer especially that of the breast since then, so participating in the Breast Cancer March this past weekend was a no-brainer.

Barali Business Associates (BBA) and the Lesotho Breast Cancer Network (LBCN) introduced the pink march in October 2010 as a breast cancer awareness initiative, the 2013 leg being their best attended yet, proof that their efforts are not falling on deaf ears.

It was great to see various kinds of people; African, European, Asian, young and old, men, athletes and even pregnant women, all engaged and showing great enthusiasm in the race at 6h00 on a Saturday. It takes dedication to be up that early on a weekend.

It rained the night before (after a long trial of hot dryness that plagued the country very close to the point of panic) making the air fresh, humid and soothing.

The landscape was florid and beaming with life, the grass becoming more blatantly green in contrast to the brown that dominated for so long it almost seemed like the normal order of nature.

People ran and walked in groups of twos and threes, painting the streets of Maseru pink as they cheered each other on and conversed on healthy lifestyles and what the race meant to them.

Upon completion, participants were welcomed back at Pioneer Mall and awarded medals which they wore around their necks in unison.

Smiles filled the Pioneer parking lot as participants treated themselves to the healthy snacks available which consisted of sandwiches, fruits, energy bars, juice and water.

It was easy to notice that everyone present had a personal motivation for taking a part and they were happy to have made it.

Kholu Lieta said on behalf of the Lehakoe Fitness Club, that it made perfect sense to sponsor the race because a healthy lifestyle is a basic requirement for both cancer patients and none-patients as it boosts the immune system and benefits everyone’s general well-being.

LBCN’s mandate it to break the silence, it promote advocacy and awareness of Breast Cancer as far as Mokhotlong, schools, churches, the streets everywhere and anywhere they can reach.

‘Malord Mefane said so far the Network operates through a volunteer-ship as they have limited supportive infrastructure.

They do however work in collaboration with Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital (Tšepong) where individuals can go for mammograms, pap-smears and consultations.

Mefane said that the LBCN has had several events besides the pink race to honour international breast cancer month including the Pink Banquet, bike spinning marathon as well as a breast cancer testing tent at Pioneer mall until October 31.

She added that of the 300 examinations done so far, at least 60 per cent of the people heard about it on the radio which pleases LBCN because it means their PR efforts are not in vain.

Spokesperson for BBA kept her comments short, saying: “guys examine those breasts for your women, show your support” which was received with an uproar of laughter.

She went on to demonstrate how a self-breast cancer examination is conducted, with all the partakers discarding their inhibitions and imitating her in between giggles and jokes.

To add more fun to the event, a raffle was held in which 20 lucky participants stood the chance to win thorough breast cancer examinations at Tšepong at no cost.

Among the sponsors of the event was Apex who provided free blood pressure, BMI, sugar and HIV/AIDS examinations to mention a few. Dr Nyathi one of the directors of Apex, said their mission is to promote healthy living among Basotho.

It is not often that one goes to an activist event and sees such positivity resonate from all present. It is my hope that next year and in years to follow, people (especially women) will take a deeper interest in events of such nature.

Not only is it refreshing to go for a run or a walk in the waking hours of the morning when the earth is just readying itself for the sun’s grace, it is even more fulfilling to do it for a worthy cause.

Breast cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among Basotho women, we need to make lots of noise about it so that our sisters know what symptoms to look out for in order to get early treatment and avoid fatalities.

When October ends, let us not carry on as though our work is done. One does not have to be a direct victim to be affected, good health is everyone’s concern.