Rooted in personal and familial narratives, this collaborative group exhibition unpacks the role of black women as custodians of stories and preservers of knowledge. The title comes from combining the isiZulu word abafazi ("women") with the prefix ba ("those who are" or "those who do"). Abafa(ba)zi refers to "women who die knowing" – pointing to the fact that women who possess knowledge can either choose to pass it down or keep it to themselves.
Abafa(ba)zi is a collaborative group showcase that includes commissioned works and artistic experiments, as well as existing works by transdisciplinary artists and researchers from Africa. "This exhibition highlights the ways in which women have served as conduits of knowledge in ordinary settings and communities; it also positions us (black women) as preservers of our own narratives," reads the curatorial statement.
Central to this exploration is recognising the bravery of women who navigate spaces of political and social uncertainty, conscious of the risks involved yet unwavering in their pursuit of justice, freedom, and a meaningful life. The agency of African women and the qualities of femininity, imagination, and innovation present in African societies are celebrated in Abafa(ba)zi. The exhibition also draws attention to our collective responsibility to evaluate and reframe existing narratives, foregrounded by a growing self-awareness.
Seven visual artists were invited by Katlehong-born cultural practitioner and curator Thina Miya to participate in Abafa(ba)zi. They are Amanda Mushate, Piloya Irene, Armel Mbouda, Wilfried Mbida, Laeila Adjovi, Lafalaise Dion, and Margaret Ngigi. Alongside these artists, musicians Kayise Khumalo, Hidaya Mwashe, Mandisa Ngwane, and Zetina Mosia were commissioned to compose a song that captures the essence of the show. The artists, bringing their diverse perspectives together, hail from Zimbabwe, Uganda, Congo, Cameroon, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and Ghana.
Abafa(ba)zi – Those Who Die Knowing opens at 18:00 on Thu, Nov 21, 2024 at Goethe-Institut in Parkwood and shows until Fri, Feb 28, 2025.
